7 Best Salmon Nets: For Boat, Bank And River Fishing
As a guide, I’ve probably landed over 3000 salmon for my clients, both from the riverbank and from the boat. I need a suitable net that does the job well.
But a good salmon net is not always easy to figure out, which is why I see a lot of guys using the wrong nets, and why I see guys breaking nets or breaking lines when trying to land big salmon.
You see, salmon are big and hard-fighting fish, so if you are going to fish for them, you will need a good salmon net suitable for the type of fishing you do; otherwise, you’re going to lose fish or break nets.
I’m going to recommend the best nest for fishing salmon on rivers, from piers and shorelines, and from a boat. These are nets that I, other guides, and anglers use.
This article covers the 7 best nets suitable for salmon fishing, and below, I discuss what to look for in a good salmon net and how to choose the right one for you.
Our Top 3 Quick-Pick List
- Kalin’s Landing Net – Best River Wading
- Beckman Coated Net: Most Popular For Boat Or Shore
- FishUSA Flagship Lite Landing Net – Most Affordable Net – NEW
- Best Folding Net
- Best Multi-Species Net
- Best Budget-Friendly River Net
Best Salmon Nets
The nets I’ll list below are recommended and used by anglers, charter boats, and fishing guides. I’m sure there are other nets that will work, but these are the ones that are proven winners.
Even a fish cradle like the one my guide is using in this image can work as a net for salmon.
Choose the net that best suits your needs.
1. Kalin’s Landing Net: Best Salmon Net For Rivers
It’s always been difficult to find a good net for walk-and-wade salmon fishing on the river, especially if you fish alone.
This is the best salmon net for river fishing.
The Kalin’s Landing Net is small enough that you can hang it from your fishing vest or wading jacket, light enough to carry around all day (Weight: 1.86 lbs.), with a hoop size and hoop depth that can handle salmon up to 50 pounds. (Basket is 22″ x 26″ – 18″ deep)
Guys, I’ve landed 30 to 40-pound salmon in much smaller nets, but only if you know how, which I’ll explain below.
- High-strength aluminum hoop
- Rubber-coated, high-density reinforced netting
- Ultra-high-strength carbon fiber handle
- Telescoping handle – 3′ extends to 6′
- 1/2-turn locking for quick deployment of the extension
The downside, it’s tubed aluminum.. So, if you try to lift a 40-pound salmon up and out of the water, the hoop and handle might bend, or the netting might break.
Do what I do.. Once the head and bulk of the salmon’s body is in the net, I drag them to shore while they are still in the water. I never lift the entire fish out of the water becuase that can bend or break the hoop or handle. That’s just silly and amateur.
So, if you learn how to land a salmon properly, this net is really good for salmon fishing on the river. If you want full details and price, click the big orange button…
For many river anglers, this net is a bit expensive. Don’t worry, I’ve got a much cheaper alternative for you below.
2. FishUSA Flagship Lite Landing Net – MOST AFFORDABLE
This is one of the newer nets that are perfect for boat and shore fishing for salmon.
I put it in the number 2 spot becuase although it has many of the high-end features of other nets on this page, it’s cheaper.
And, I’m a fan of good quality fishing products at cheaper prices.
It also comes with a lightweight bag and an extendable handle.
It comes in 4 sizes, with the 3 biggest sizes suitable for salmon fishing.
Check out the full details and prices by clicking the big Orange Button..
3. Beckman Coated Net: Most Popular For Boat Or Shore
The Beckman Coated Fishing Net is the most popular salmon net for use in a boat or from shore. It has a wide oval frame that holds a flat-bottomed net with a coating that protects the gills, fins, and tails of the salmon.
The best size is the 26 x 34 x 32-inch or the 31 x 36 x 40-inch hoop and net.
The hoop has a Y-bar design that makes the fishing net very strong, rigid, and more stable.
The handle disconnects from the yoke while the net is not in use, but it goes together quickly when I need it in a hurry.
It works equally well for freshwater and saltwater fishing and is the perfect landing net for large fish in open water, piers, or river mouths.
It is not good for river and stream fishing, especially if you fish alone becuase it’s too big.. For full details and pricing on this net, click that big orange button below.
Those are the 3 best nets for salmon fishing. They are what I would buy or use now. The remaining nets below are alternatives that might fit your budget or situation, so check them out.
4. Beckman BN3543S Landing Net: Best Non-Coated Boat Net
The Beckman Standard Landing Net is the best non-coated boat net for catching big fish. Its nylon netting measures 35x43x48 inches.
The fishing net hoop tapers instead of having a flat bottom, and is the perfect net size for landing the largest fish that comes along.
It’s great for landing salmon, steelhead, musky, pike, catfish, and other large popular species from a boat or shoreline, it is ot good for rivers..
The fishing net uses uncoated nylon netting fitted to a sturdy frame and anchored with a one-piece aluminum yoke made with Y-bar construction. A quick-connect channel firmly affixes the handle to the hoop. You also get a choice of handles, including a telescoping model.
NOTE: Many guys do not like the uncoated nets, this is a personal choice. Click below for full net details and price.
5. StowMaster Net: Best Foldable Net
The StowMasterTS94X – Salmon & Pike Net, 94″, and the bigger TS120X – Salmon & Pike Net, 120″, are plenty big for landing salmon and just about any other potentially large fish.
I used the larger musky version of this net for over ten years when I used to guide musky out of a 21-foot Lund boat. Most guys did not even notice the net folded up beside my chair until I pulled it out. This is when they realized it was massive. I loved this net!
Its telescopic handle is made from aluminum and has two stages, making it easy to collapse the long and sturdy handle when not in use.
This is the best foldable salmon fishing net, featuring coated nylon netting that protects fish with one of the largest nets on the market.
When folded and with the handle retracted, it folds up nicely for easy storage.
6. Ranger Steelhead & Salmon Wading Net: Salmon Net For Rivers
If you are looking for an inexpensive salmon net for river fishing, this Ranger Steelhead and Salmon net is a very good choice.
It’s lightweight, has a hoop width and bag depth suitable to handle big salmon, and a short enough handle, which makes it good for hanging it from your fishing vest or fishing Jacket.
7. Promar Grande Hook Resistant Net: 37″ x 40″ — Best Multi-Species Net
Not everyone wants a net that is exclusive for salmon. Some anglers want a net that can be used for salmon and other species.
If this is you, the Promar Grande fishing net is the best multi-species net due to its many size variations and the telescoping handle made of aluminum that adjusts to the perfect size for any fishing outing.
I have used it as a salmon landing net while fly fishing, shore fishing, and when out on a boat.
They have a special anti-snag netting that resists hooks and has a flat bottom to make it safer on fish. Five sizes are available to ensure you have exactly the right fishing net whenever you go fishing.
How to Choose the Best Fishing Net
It is important to consider the type of fishing you do and which nets best suit your purposes.
You might need more than one net if you spend time wading, fishing from a boat, or using a fishing kayak.
Some things anglers will consider when buying a net are:
- Carbon Fiber handle.
- Extendable pole handle versus fixed handle.
- Small boat net vs. a big boat net.
- Mesh material and mesh size. Rubberized net or Rubber Coated?
- Cheap materials Vs quality.
- Fish-friendly tangle-free mesh protects fish’s scales, fins, and tail.
- Net weight: A rubber net is often heavier with larger nets.
Here’s a closer look at some of the factors I consider when choosing the best landing net for different salmon fishing conditions.
Handle Length
The handle length should be enough to provide leverage while using a landing net. When fishing from a boat, a longer handle will make it easier to get the fish in the water without leaning over the side or potentially tipping the boat too far.
A shorter handle is fine for fly fishing because I can bring the fish closer to my body when wading. However, a typical fly fishing net won’t do the job when dealing with large salmon.
An extendable handle is often a good choice for storage and use.
Ease of Use
The size of the hoop on fishing nets and the handle length make a big difference in catch-and-release fishing. The best fishing nets will support your particular fishing method, so one that is easy on a boat won’t necessarily be easy to use if you are wading or fishing from shore.
The same goes for the best fish landing nets for fly fishing, which usually have a shorter handle and a smaller hoop. An oval net shape and flat bottom make it easier to catch and release fish of many sizes.
Hoop Size
The hoop size generally determines which salmon fishing nets are better for which species of salmon you are going after. In general, larger fish require a larger hoop to make it easier to land bigger fish.
The smaller pink salmon, the smaller the hoop size can be. The hoops should be oval or similarly oblong to enable the best landing nets to land a variety of fish.
Fish Care
The best fishing nets make it much easier to safely practice catch-and-release fishing. You already know about the hoop size and handle length, and how they affect the ability to land larger fish quickly.
Another important consideration is how to safely catch larger fish without harming them. The best nets for larger fish have rubber-coated netting that helps to protect the heavier fish against injury while in the net. It will also have a flat net with a deep bag so that it won’t harm fish.
Why is it recommended for the salmon landing net to be floatable?
It is very easy to drop a landing net and watch it sink to the bottom of a lake or river. A floating net makes retrieving a dropped net much easier.
That is why a good salmon landing net floats so that you have a better chance of retrieving it.
Tight Lines
Graham
