I am going to soon purchase a kayak a (relatively) cheap one (about 400$) it is the Lifetime Muskie Angler sit-on-top Fishing Kayak. My question: should I use a long handle or a short handle for a landing net. No I can't just lip the fish there are plenty of pike in the lake that would enjoy chomping on my hand if I tried to land them. I have a net with a short handle but it has the rope mesh that hurts the fish. I couldn't find the right size rubber replacement net but could use a bigger or smaller replacement bag from frabill if that would work. (The net is a yard sale 1$ special with a perfect frame and handle if it would work in a kayak I just need a rubber net bag. The frame dimensions are about 20 inches wide and about 18.5 inches long. It is the scoop type net by the way.

There is a 17 by 19 inch rubber replacement there is a 20 by 23 inch and a 23 by 26 inch.

You can easily hand land pike without putting your fingers in their mouths. Grab them by the back of the head. No net needed. Nets just get in the way in a kayak anyway.

I don't like a net in my kayak but i know many like the leverage landing net for kayak use.

 

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/YakAttack_Leverage_Landing_Net/descpage-LEVNET.html?from=basres

 

For toothy critters where i fish i either grab them by the back of the head as was already mentioned or use my fish grippers.

I've used and still use nets in my kayak.

Easiest has been the el-cheapo nets with 
hard nylon webbing you get at Walmart, 
etc.

 

I've lost two of them ... yeah they float.
You need to pay attention to 'em.

 

Currently have a measure net but have

not used it yet. I lip most of my fish of
late, but a net is a God-send in some
circumstances.

 

Sitting? I'd probably go with a shorter
length. My current net has a telescopic
handle. My third that has that. Quite
nice.

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

Easiest has been the el-cheapo nets with 
hard nylon webbing you get at Walmart, 
etc.

 

I've lost two of them ... yeah they float.
You need to pay attention to 'em.

 

Currently have a measure net but have

not used it yet. I lip most of my fish of
late, but a net is a God-send in some
circumstances.

 

Sitting? I'd probably go with a shorter
length. My current net has a telescopic
handle. My third that has that. Quite
nice.

Thanks I will try to replace the old mesh on my short handled net with the rubber stuff. About 30$ Replacement rubber which makes the net cost 31$ altogether  haha. Do you think the 20 by 23 rubber mesh would fit on the 20 by 18.5 frame?

It is a scoop type net if you know what I mean so it might take a few extra inches of net

On December 20, 2016 at 8:42 PM, Darren. said:

I've used and still use nets in my kayak.

Easiest has been the el-cheapo nets with 
hard nylon webbing you get at Walmart, 
etc.

 

I've lost two of them ... yeah they float.
You need to pay attention to 'em.

 

Currently have a measure net but have

not used it yet. I lip most of my fish of
late, but a net is a God-send in some
circumstances.

 

Sitting? I'd probably go with a shorter
length. My current net has a telescopic
handle. My third that has that. Quite
nice.

 

Thanks I will try to replace the old mesh on my short handled net with the rubber stuff. About 30$ Replacement rubber which makes the net cost 31$ altogether  haha. Do you think the 20 by 23 rubber mesh would fit on the 20 by 18.5 frame?

It is a scoop type net if you know what I mean so it might take a few extra inches of net

25 minutes ago, Largemouth21 said:

 

Thanks I will try to replace the old mesh on my short handled net with the rubber stuff. About 30$ Replacement rubber which makes the net cost 31$ altogether  haha. Do you think the 20 by 23 rubber mesh would fit on the 20 by 18.5 frame?

It is a scoop type net if you know what I mean so it might take a few extra inches of net

 

Unsure about that.

On 12/20/2016 at 6:19 PM, Largemouth21 said:

No I can't just lip the fish there are plenty of pike in the lake that would enjoy chomping on my hand if I tried to land them.

Just for giggles...anyone who thinks we don't need nets...

 

Lip this:

 

 

...ain't gonna grab that big girl by the back of the head, either...

 

To answer the original question...I use one of these: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Frabill-Power-Stow-Landing-Nets/1158472.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3D129019%26CQ_st%3Db

...in the musky size.  At ~$190, it ain't cheap, but it'll put 50" fish in the boat if you need to and takes up very little space in the boat.

It landed this:

for my friend Brian...with two of us in the boat...

...and this:

...just over 40"...when I was by myself.

 

We used it for several mid - to high 30" pike as well:

 

 

 

 

 

Handle is not too long for a kayak, but I'd tether it to the boat (did I mention the darned thing cost $190?)

 

You won't be disapointed.

I use a pretty cheap and short aluminum handled net in my kayak. Depending on the type of bait I'll just lip the bass but anything with trebles or any toothy critters get the net treatment. 

8 hours ago, Further North said:

Just for giggles...anyone who thinks we don't need nets...

 

Lip this:

 

 

...ain't gonna grab that big girl by the back of the head, either...

 

To answer the original question...I use one of these: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Frabill-Power-Stow-Landing-Nets/1158472.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3D129019%26CQ_st%3Db

...in the musky size.  At ~$190, it ain't cheap, but it'll put 50" fish in the boat if you need to and takes up very little space in the boat.

It landed this:

for my friend Brian...with two of us in the boat...

...and this:

...just over 40"...when I was by myself.

 

We used it for several mid - to high 30" pike as well:

 

 

 

 

 

Handle is not too long for a kayak, but I'd tether it to the boat (did I mention the darned thing cost $190?)

 

You won't be disapointed.

Daaaang those are some big uns