A landing net is one of those pieces of fishing gear that doesn’t get enough attention until you lose a fish at the boat because you didn’t have one. The right net lands fish cleanly and safely — protecting both the fish and your hands from hooks. The wrong net tangles hooks, damages fish, and costs you catches at the worst possible moment.
These are the best fishing nets that serious anglers are actually using in 2026.
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Quick Comparison: Best Fishing Nets
| Net | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Frabill Power Stow Retractable Net | around $35 | Best Overall |
| EGO S2 Slider Fishing Net | around $65 | Best Premium |
| Plusinno Telescoping Fishing Net | around $20 | Best Budget |
| Frabill Kwik Stow Folding Net | around $25 | Best for Kayaks |
| SF Fly Fishing Landing Net | around $30 | Best for Trout |
1. Frabill Power Stow Retractable Net — Best Overall
Price: around $35
The Frabill Power Stow is the best all-around fishing net under $40. Frabill has been making fishing nets for serious anglers for decades and the Power Stow combines the features that matter most — retractable handle, rubber mesh, and a hoop size that handles most freshwater species.
Key Features:
- Retractable telescoping handle extends to 48 inches
- Rubber coated mesh — fish and hook friendly
- 20×23 inch hoop — handles most freshwater fish
- Magnetic clasp keeps net collapsed
- Lightweight construction
- Corrosion resistant hardware
The retractable handle is the Power Stow’s defining feature. Fixed handle nets are bulky and awkward to store on a boat or kayak. The Power Stow collapses to a compact size for storage and extends instantly when you need it — giving you the reach to land fish at the side of the boat without leaning dangerously over the gunwale.
Rubber coated mesh is essential for catch and release fishing. Standard knotted nylon mesh removes the protective slime coat from fish — damaging their skin and reducing their survival rate after release. Rubber mesh is completely slime-coat safe, hook tangle resistant, and easier to clean than nylon. Any angler who practices catch and release should use rubber mesh exclusively.
The magnetic clasp holds the collapsed net securely during transport and releases instantly when you grab the net — no fumbling with clips or straps when a fish is running alongside the boat.
Bottom line: The best all-around fishing net under $40. Retractable handle, rubber mesh, and Frabill’s proven construction make it the first net every serious freshwater angler should own.
2. EGO S2 Slider Fishing Net — Best Premium Pick
Price: around $65
For bass tournament anglers, serious walleye fishermen, and anyone who lands big fish regularly — the EGO S2 Slider is the best premium fishing net available under $100.
Key Features:
- Telescoping handle extends from 24 to 48 inches
- Rubberized mesh — fish and hook safe
- Large 21×25 inch hoop
- Lightweight carbon fiber and fiberglass construction
- Locking handle at any length
- Lifetime guarantee
The locking handle at any extension length is the EGO’s practical advantage over standard telescoping nets. Standard telescoping handles extend to fixed lengths — fully collapsed or fully extended. The EGO locks at any point in the extension range, letting you set exactly the handle length you need for your boat setup and fishing position.
Carbon fiber and fiberglass construction keeps the net lightweight despite its large hoop size — critical for nets you hold extended over the water while landing fish. A heavy net causes arm fatigue during long fishing days.
The lifetime guarantee means EGO stands behind this net forever — the kind of warranty that only manufacturers with genuine confidence in their product offer.
Bottom line: The best premium fishing net under $75. Locking telescoping handle, carbon fiber construction, and lifetime guarantee deliver professional features worth the price premium for serious anglers.
3. Plusinno Telescoping Fishing Net — Best Budget Pick
Price: around $20
For anglers who want a functional telescoping fishing net at the absolute lowest price — the Plusinno delivers the essential features without the premium price tag.
Key Features:
- Telescoping handle extends to 63 inches — longest on this list
- Nylon mesh
- Foldable hoop for compact storage
- Lightweight aluminum handle
- Available in multiple sizes
- Corrosion resistant
63 inches of handle extension at $20 is remarkable — longer than any other net on this list. For shore anglers and pier fishermen who need maximum reach to land fish from elevated positions, the Plusinno’s extended reach is a genuine advantage that more expensive nets don’t offer.
The foldable hoop collapses flat for storage — fitting in a backpack, tackle bag, or car trunk without taking up significant space. For anglers who walk to fishing spots and need to carry everything in a pack, a collapsible hoop net is far more practical than a fixed frame net.
What you give up at $20: Standard nylon mesh rather than rubber — more likely to tangle hooks and not ideal for catch and release. For anglers who keep their catch rather than releasing, this trade-off is acceptable.
Bottom line: The best fishing net under $25. Maximum reach and foldable hoop at a price that makes it easy to keep one in every vehicle and tackle bag.
4. Frabill Kwik Stow Folding Net — Best for Kayak Fishing
Price: around $25
Kayak fishing presents unique net challenges — space is limited, you’re sitting low to the water, and you need a net that stores flat without taking up precious kayak deck space. The Frabill Kwik Stow is designed specifically for these constraints.
Key Features:
- Folds completely flat for storage
- Magnetic hoop closure
- Rubber mesh — catch and release safe
- Short fixed handle optimized for kayak use
- Lightweight construction
- Attaches to kayak via carabiner
Flat folding storage is essential on a kayak where every inch of deck space matters. Standard nets with fixed hoops take up significant space and catch on gear, lines, and paddle strokes. The Kwik Stow folds completely flat — stores under a bungee cord or in a hatch without getting in the way.
The magnetic hoop closure keeps the net folded securely during paddling and releases instantly when you grab the net to land a fish — no fumbling with clips while a fish is running.
The short fixed handle is optimized for kayak use where you’re sitting close to the water — long handles are awkward and unnecessary when the water surface is 18 inches below your seat.
Bottom line: The best fishing net for kayak anglers. Flat folding storage, magnetic closure, and rubber mesh designed specifically around kayak fishing constraints.
5. SF Fly Fishing Landing Net — Best for Trout
Price: around $30
For fly fishermen who wade streams and rivers targeting trout — the SF fly fishing landing net is purpose built for the specific demands of stream trout fishing.
Key Features:
- Wooden frame — traditional fly fishing aesthetic
- Rubber mesh — completely catch and release safe
- Magnetic release clip for wading vest attachment
- Compact size optimized for stream trout
- Floating design — won’t sink if dropped
- Lanyard included
The magnetic release clip attaches the net to your wading vest or pack, keeping it accessible without getting in the way while wading and casting. A quick pull releases the net instantly when a trout is on — no unclipping, no fumbling, no losing the fish while you retrieve your net.
Floating construction means if the net goes overboard in a river current it floats downstream rather than sinking — retrievable before it’s gone. For wade fishermen who regularly work fast water where dropping gear means losing it, floating construction is a genuine safety net.
The compact size is optimized for stream trout — large bass nets are unwieldy in tight stream corridors. The SF net’s smaller hoop maneuvers through streamside brush and tight quarters that larger nets can’t navigate.
Bottom line: The best trout fishing landing net under $35. Magnetic vest clip, floating construction, and compact size purpose built for stream fly fishing.
How to Choose a Fishing Net
Hoop size: Match hoop size to your target species. Small 12-16 inch hoops for trout and panfish. Medium 18-22 inch hoops for bass and walleye. Large 24+ inch hoops for pike, muskie, and saltwater species.
Mesh type: Rubber mesh for catch and release — completely safe for fish slime coat and hook tangle resistant. Nylon mesh for anglers who keep their catch — more durable and less expensive than rubber.
Handle length: Longer handles for boat fishing where you need reach over the gunwale. Shorter handles for kayak fishing and wading where you’re close to the water.
Storage: Folding and telescoping nets for anglers with limited storage space — kayakers, bank fishermen, and backpack anglers. Fixed frame nets for boat anglers with dedicated net storage.
Weight: Matters most for nets you hold extended while landing fish. Lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum handles cause less arm fatigue than heavy steel handles during long fishing days.
Our Top Pick
For most freshwater anglers the Frabill Power Stow at around $35 is the best all-around choice — retractable handle, rubber mesh, and Frabill’s proven quality cover the majority of freshwater fishing situations.
For kayak anglers the Frabill Kwik Stow flat folding net is the obvious choice — designed specifically around the space and storage constraints of kayak fishing.
[CHECK CURRENT PRICE — FRABILL POWER STOW NET ON AMAZON]
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a rubber mesh fishing net? For catch and release fishing — yes. Rubber mesh doesn’t remove the protective slime coat from fish the way knotted nylon mesh does. Fish released from rubber mesh nets have significantly higher survival rates. If you keep everything you catch, nylon mesh is fine.
What size fishing net do I need for bass? A hoop size of 18-22 inches handles most bass fishing situations comfortably. Larger 24+ inch hoops are useful for tournament anglers targeting big fish where every ounce of weight matters and you want the fish in the net on the first attempt.
Can I use a fishing net for catch and release? Yes — with rubber mesh. Standard knotted nylon mesh removes the slime coat that protects fish from bacteria and disease — significantly reducing survival rates after release. Always use rubber mesh for catch and release fishing.
How do I untangle hooks from a fishing net? Rubber mesh virtually eliminates hook tangles — treble hooks that would completely tangle in nylon mesh slide out of rubber mesh easily. For nylon mesh nets, work hooks out carefully rather than pulling — pulling drives hook points deeper into the mesh. Keep a pair of pliers handy to back hooks out.
Do I need a net for shore fishing? For most shore fishing situations a net is helpful but not essential — you can beach fish by walking them up on shore. For pier and dock fishing where you’re elevated above the water, a long-handled net is essential — you can’t beach fish from 6 feet above the water surface.
Last updated: 2026 | Wild Rods and Rifles