Catch and release nets are essential for protecting Alaska’s trout. Choose wisely and ensure every fish you release stays healthy. Discover the best nets and tips for responsible angling in this quick guide.
Blog by Nick Ohlrich. Photos by Nick Ohlrich and B&J Sporting Goods
Catch and Release Nets That Makes the Difference
Taking care of fish you intend to release is a responsibility we share and it directly impacts the present and future fishery for all. The right net is an incredibly important piece of your equipment, and for the fish you intend to release, can be a matter of life and death.
As popularity of rainbow trout fishing on the Kenai River increases, human and fish interaction will increase as well. Capturing quality photos and measurements is a part of the experience as is choosing the right pattern and fighting a sturdy rainbow. Your choice of net will dictate the ease of getting photos, measurements, and whether or not the fish will swim away healthy.
While there are several quality net manufacturers out there, I can honestly say that regarding rubber-basket nets, I’ve only used Cumings and Ranger. In 2020 I cautiously switched from nets with an all-rubber basket to the Ranger rubber-coated basket as my primary net. I say “cautiously” due to my concern the rubber-coated nylon could potentially remove slime off the fish. Fish slime protects the skin from infection, parasites, and reduces drag for efficient swimming. Protecting this slime coat is the reason why wetting your hands before grabbing a fish is mandatory; dry hands will remove slime. Thus far, this rubber-coated basket has not done any damage to trout. Regardless of which species is targeted, my boats always have two nets in them. Hooking multiple slabs at one time is less stressful when you have a pen for each pig.
I love how the Tournament Series Rubber Coated Net allows for a measuring board to fit inside the basket. Working with big fish from the boat can be tricky and this net allows for anglers to keep impact low while getting photos and length.
Ranger Big Game Rubber Landing Net – Hoop size 30”x 28”.
Ranger Big Game Rubber Landing Net – Hoop size 30”x 28”
Pros: Hooks from 3/0 to size 6, none get caught in this basket. Once fish are netted and throw their temper tantrum in the net bag, anglers don’t have to worry as much about fish getting tangled in the rubber mesh and damaging themselves. The rubber mesh stretches, but the basket creates a great and safe workspace for the angler to unhook and get a solid grip for photos.
Cons: The all-rubber net bag is heavy and slow to move through the water for quick net shots. The hoop size is great for ‘bows 25” and under. Once anglers start dealing with fish in the upper 20s and larger, the space gets cramped. The hoop and basket are a touch small for a measuring board to fit inside and get an easy length measurement. Note that using a soft measuring tape isn’t the best idea as it typically leads to a long wrestling match with the fish, yielding not very accurate lengths. A measuring board is a far better way to measure big rainbows.
Ranger Tournament Series Knotless Flat Bottom Rubber Coated Nets – Hoop Size 34”x 30”
Pros: The hoop and basket are larger and deeper, yet the net bag is lighter and very easy to move through the water when going for a net shot. The basket is rigid; it does not stretch. The mesh size is relatively small (3/4”), so it’s less likely to damage fins than nets having larger mesh. The bottom of the net bag is flat, which lessens the chance of a fish getting tangled up in the mesh, compared to net bags that are not flat-bottomed. Still, anglers need to be very mindful of grabbing the leader and keeping it tight once the fish is netted.
Trout can tangle in the mesh if anglers do not secure the leader with tight upward pressure. Regardless of your choice of net, securing the leader in this manner also prevents trout from becoming wrapped up in the leader, damaging the slime layer, and worse, the line could get inside the gill plate and slice a gill causing the fish to bleed out. The bigger hoop and deeper basket allow for a safe workspace to unhook, measure, and handle fish. For fish over 25”, or any fish for which a client wants a measurement, this is the net I grab as my measuring board easily fits in the basket.
Choosing the Right Net Based on Trout Size
I don’t have a favorite as I carry both nets in my boats every day for all species. The deciding factor on which I use for netting trout comes down to the size of fish. 25” and over, I go for the rubber-coated net. Small ‘bows under 23” are kind of difficult to handle in the large, deep basket of the Tournament Series rubber-coated net since they can swim freely as if they are not in a net. In this situation, I’ll have a client assist me by lifting the hoop up to reduce the amount of net in the water. The better choice, though, it to use the smaller Big Game Rubber Landing Net for these smaller fish.
The basket dimensions for my nets may seem quite large and they can easily hold a 20-pound Kasilof king, but erroring on more space than necessary will have less negative impact on big fish and increase the angler’s ease of handling and measuring big trout. If you are looking to upgrade nets, B&J Sporting Goods in Anchorage has both nets in stock and the staff is extremely helpful.
The Ranger Big Game Rubber Landing Net requires measuring fish outside the safety of the basket because the basket isn’t big enough to do it inside.
Ranger Tournament Series Rubber Coated Net – Hoop size 34”x 30”.
When possible, going to shore with pigs is ideal. Finding the right spot with little-to-no current is important, requires planning and extra attention to the fish, making sure you don't add stress by pinning the fish against the net as you ferry toward shore. Again, using a measuring board, and one that fits inside a basket, is so important.
Low-Impact Tackle Choices
While this blog focuses on ideas for proper catch-and-release trout nets, anglers should make sure the rest of their gear is set up to keep impact small. Ultra-light spin rods or fly rods under 7-weight will require longer fight times as big ‘bows need some backbone in a rod to tame them. I use size 6 hooks or smaller and tippet strength of 10 pounds or greater for Kenai rainbows. In my opinion, anglers looking to land fish with light line to get their name in a book are not resource-first minded. Loving the Kenai for its beauty and the pigs it produces is starting to shift into “loving it to death” territory. Resource-first, low-impact angling will keep the Kenai productive for the next generation of pig hunters. Choosing the right net is one of the things you can do to ensure this happens.
Next Gen pig hunter.
Nick Ohlrich is co-owner/guide of Alaska Drift Away Fishing. For more info check out our website at guidekenairiver.com or give us a call at 907-529-8776.
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