Fishing Nets

Landing nets at Charlie's Fishing: Rapala Karbon nets, rubber mesh nets and nets for boat, kayak and float tube

The last metres of a fight are where most fish are lost, and the right landing net makes them calm and quick. On this page you find our landing nets: the Rapala Karbon nets with carbon handles for pike, perch, trout, kayak, float tube and the coast, the Rapala Pro Guide Net, the folding Rapala Fold Net, the Rapala Floating Net with rubberised mesh and the Rapala Scoop-R with silicone netting. You also find a trap for crayfish and mitten crab. Below we explain which net suits which fish and which place you fish from.

How to choose a landing net

Three things decide which net you need. First the size of the fish: the hoop must take the whole fish and the bag must be deep enough to hold it. For pike that can grow past a metre, choose a hoop of 60 to 70 cm and a deep bag; for perch, zander, trout and sea bass a smaller net is easier to handle. Second the handle: from a high bank, quay or harbour wall you need reach, from a kayak or float tube a short handle is easier. Third the mesh: lure anglers lose a lot of time picking trebles out of knotted netting. A rubberised or silicone mesh releases the hooks more easily and is gentler on the slime coat and fins of the fish.

Rapala Karbon nets: light carbon handles for every situation

The Rapala Karbon nets all have a light, rigid carbon handle, an ergonomic grip and a fish friendly net. Each model is made for one kind of fishing:

• Rapala Karbon Pike Net: the net for big pike, with a 70 x 57 cm hoop, a 70 cm deep bag, 12 mm mesh and a 90 to 160 cm handle, for the bank and the boat
• Rapala Karbon Net Fresh & Salt: the biggest one, with a 70 x 60 cm hoop, 60 cm depth, 20 mm mesh and a 180 cm handle, corrosion resistant for fresh water and the coast
• Rapala Karbon Net Allround: one net for many species, as Allround (50 x 40 cm hoop, 40 cm depth, 50 cm handle) or Allround XL (60 x 50 cm, 60 cm depth, 100 cm handle), both with 12 mm mesh
• Rapala Fishing Net Karbon Kayak: a floating net with a 60 x 50 cm hoop, 60 cm depth, 12 mm mesh and a 100 cm handle, light enough for one hand from a seated position
• Rapala Karbon Net Float Tube: the same 60 x 50 cm hoop and 60 cm depth, but with a short 50 cm handle and a floating design for float tube fishing
• Rapala Karbon Trout Net: a compact net with a 40 x 30 cm hoop, 35 cm depth and a 35 cm handle for trout in streams, rivers and still waters

For pike from the bank or the boat, the Karbon Pike Net is the safe choice. If you fish harbours, quays and the coast for zander, pike and sea bass, the long handle of the Fresh and Salt net gives you the reach you need. The Allround XL suits most perch and zander anglers who want one net for everything. See all nets and lures on the Rapala page.

Rapala Pro Guide Net and Rapala Fold Net

The Rapala Pro Guide Net is a heavy-duty landing net with a deep bag and a strong frame, made for frequent use. Size M has a 58 x 47 cm hoop, 50 cm depth and a 100 cm handle; size L a 68 x 57 cm hoop, 60 cm depth and a 120 cm handle. Size L suits big pike, size M perch, zander and medium pike from the boat or the shore.

The Rapala Fold Net folds up for transport and storage, and opens quickly when a fish is ready to land. It has a 48 x 43 cm hoop, 50 cm depth and a 75 cm handle. That makes it a good net for street fishing, canal sessions and anglers who walk a lot, for perch, zander and pike of average size.

Rubber and silicone mesh nets: Rapala Floating Net and Scoop-R

The Rapala Floating Net is a single-hand landing net with a short 20 cm handle, so your other hand keeps the rod under control. The black anodised aluminium frame floats if you drop it, and the rubberised mesh protects the slime coat and lets trebles slide out instead of tangling. The hoop is 45 cm with a 50 cm deep bag, and an elastic lanyard is included so you can clip it to your back or vest. It is made for the boat, kayak, belly boat and wading, for pike, zander and perch.

The Rapala Scoop-R Net has silicone netting that does not absorb water or smell, and hooks do not tangle in it, so you unhook faster. It comes in three sizes: S (36 x 31 cm, 16 cm handle), M (50 x 50 cm, 90 cm handle) and L (48 x 60 cm, 110 cm handle), all with an aluminium frame and a deep net. Size S is a handy net for perch and trout, sizes M and L take pike and zander from the bank or the boat.

Crab and Crayfish Trap Pod

The Crab and Crayfish Trap Pod is not a landing net but a trap for signal crayfish and Chinese mitten crab in rivers, canals and still waters. It has a click system to open and close it, a weighted base that sinks fast and stays in place, entrances that make it harder for crayfish to escape and an open throat so protected fish can swim out. It stacks for transport. Rules for trapping crayfish differ by country and water, so always check that you are allowed to use a trap where you fish. See all our own products on the Charlie's Fishing page.

Which landing net for which situation

• Big pike from the bank or the boat: Rapala Karbon Pike Net or Rapala Pro Guide Net size L
• Harbours, quays, high banks and the coast: Rapala Karbon Net Fresh & Salt
• One net for perch, zander and pike: Rapala Karbon Net Allround (XL)
• Kayak fishing: Rapala Fishing Net Karbon Kayak
• Float tube and belly boat: Rapala Karbon Net Float Tube or Rapala Floating Net
• Lures with trebles that tangle in the net: Rapala Floating Net or Rapala Scoop-R Net
• Trout in streams and small rivers: Rapala Karbon Trout Net or Rapala Scoop-R Net size S
• Street fishing and travelling light: Rapala Fold Net

After the net comes the unhooking: a long plier such as the SPRO Extra Long Nose Pliers 28 cm and the Charlie's Fishing Glove make it safe for you and the fish. Find them in Essentials, and the right lures on our Pike, Zander, Perch, Trout and Seabass pages.

Why buy landing nets at Charlie's Fishing

We picked landing nets for the way predator anglers fish: from the bank, the boat, a kayak or a float tube, and often with lures with trebles. Each product page lists the hoop size, depth and handle length, so you know exactly what you get. Everything ships from our stock in the Netherlands, with fast delivery across Europe. Not sure which net fits your fishing? Send us a message and we will help you choose.

What size landing net do I need for pike?

For pike choose a hoop of about 60 to 70 cm and a deep bag, such as the Rapala Karbon Pike Net (70 x 57 cm, 70 cm deep) or the Rapala Pro Guide Net size L (68 x 57 cm, 60 cm deep). A big pike then fits in the net easily, and you can leave it in the water while you get your pliers ready.

Is a rubber mesh landing net better for lure fishing?

For lures with trebles, yes. Hooks slide out of a rubberised or silicone mesh much more easily than out of knotted netting, so you unhook faster and the fish spends less time out of the water. The Rapala Floating Net has a rubberised mesh and the Rapala Scoop-R has silicone netting.

Which landing net is best for a kayak or float tube?

Choose a short, light net that floats. The Rapala Fishing Net Karbon Kayak has a 100 cm handle, the Rapala Karbon Net Float Tube a 50 cm handle, and the Rapala Floating Net a 20 cm handle for one-handed landing. All three float if you drop them.