Fishing Nets, Landing Nets, Keepnets, Drop Nets

We, here at Angling Direct, believe in the importance of having the right tools for the job – that’s why we’re proud to offer the UK’s largest selection of carp, coarse/match, specialist, predator, sea, and fly fishing nets. A net is essential to every angler, as it is the only tool you can confidently use to land your catch safely each time. If you are in the market to get yourself a new fishing net, whether its a landing net, keepnet or drop net, you are at the right place!

A high-quality fishing net ensures that you can practise proper fish care on the bank so that you never cause any damage to your catch in the delicate process of removing them from their watery home. Therefore, it is important to make a net choice which is right for your style of angling and each of the nets we stock have been designed for a specific purpose.

What is the best fishing net?

We only stock nets from the markets leading brands, so you can land your catch in style and with confidence by putting your trust in a superior-quality net. We’ve gone to extensive lengths to assemble a world-class range of fishing nets to suit all angling styles and budgets alike. Square, triangle, or round – we really do stock every shape and size you could wish for, and they each have been made with a particular fish in mind. However, when you are choosing the right fishing net for you, there are a few things to consider. 

Use - What discipline are you using the net for? We stock different nets suited to carp, specimen, predator, match, fly and sea fishing. We will later distinguish the differences between these nets.

Fishing Location - It is not just about what you are fishing for but where. For example, fishing from a high platform such as a dock will require a longer net handle or even a net attracted to a rope such as a cast net. 

Net Construction - Most nets consist of net arms, a spreader block, net mesh and a net handle.

Net Materials- the net head is usually manufactured from durable plastic, but sometimes manufactured from aluminium, this is the area of the net that holds the arms in place and attaches the head of the net onto the handle. Understandably, then, this is an area of the net that suppliers pay a lot of attention to during the design. If the spreader block fails, you’ll have a useless net on your hands, no matter how high quality the mesh or how sturdy the handle. aluminium, carbon arms and handle

Net Mesh -  The mesh of the net will vary, depending on the manufacturer, but all will use ‘fish-friendly’ styles. Fish friendly mesh is not abrasive, so the fish won’t damage your catch’s delicate scales, should they be thrashing around in the net. A deep mesh allows you to retain fish in the water before release, giving them time to recover before being either put under further stress (being lifted from the water for weighing and photographs) or released back into the water. 

Net Accessories - After selecting your net, consider what else may help you with the use and fishing location. For example, net floats help lift heavy fish from the water.

Brands - We here at Angling Direct stock a variety of nets from some impressive names in the business. If you are a fan of Daiwa, Fox, Maver, Preston or Korum then you are in the right place! These are just a few fishing nets manufactures that we stock!

How many different types of fishing nets are there?

In this net buying guide, we shall break down the types of fishing nets into disciplines of carp nets, coarse and match nets, and predator nets. 

Carp Fishing Nets - Defined by their long arms, wide gape, deep mesh, and long handle, a carp fishing net is usually triangular in shape to help land the fish. You will also find carp net arms as small as 36 inches for UK carp or a long as 50 inches that are ideal for European waters. Most manufacturers tend to use a hex-mesh pattern in carp nets which is often considered to be the softest mesh pattern available. Others use a wide mesh in the top of the net, allowing good water flow through, and denser mesh on the base, to better protect your carp. Carp nets tend to be fairly deep, as they are sometimes used for retaining carp in the water immediately after capture or prior to release.  Most carp nets come with 6ft (or approximately 185cm) handles as it allows you to keep your rod tip high whilst you’re landing your capture. 

Coarse Fishing Nets and Match Fishing Landing  Nets -  As coarse fish tend to be on the smaller side of the spectrum, you require smaller nets. Rather than using two arms in a triangle formation, most coarse nets tend to be spoon-shaped, using one arm bent around that attaches to the spreader block at both ends. Since you’re more likely to be fishing for coarse fish in a river, rather than from still water, the two flow mesh is used regularly in these nets. You might see the two different mesh types expressed in different colours or it might be obvious from the stitching pattern. Once again, the first mesh type will have wider holes, allowing for better water flow through the net. The second mesh type will be much finer, and therefore softer for the fish. You buy these net heads separate from their handles so you can create a coarse net that meets your preferences, i.e. your pole length.

Coarse Fishing Nets and Match Fishing Keepnets - Keepnets give you somewhere to keep your fish for the duration of your match. Usually square in shape and incredibly deep, keepnets can hold a large number of fish, ready for weighing at the end of your session to find out your total for the match. You can use keepnets outside of a match fishing scenario but you do need to be somewhat careful of the rules of the venue you’re fishing, as some waters ban the use of keepnets.

Predator Nets - often circular in shape, predator fishing nets tend to be larger than match nets. The biggest difference in predator nets is the mesh used. Usually, rubberised, predator net mesh reduces the risk that a fish will bite through the net! You can use a carp net with a shorter handle for predator fishing to help balance from a boat.

Check out Our Fishing Net Accessories

If you’re at a venue when you’re going to have to get into the water in order to land your fish, the last thing you want to be worrying about is that your net will sink to the depths of the lake. A popular accessory amongst carp anglers, a net float sits low on the handle of your landing net, flush to the spreader block and are used to help the net to float in the water. This is ideal for targeting an especially snaggy swim as it keeps your net out of the way, releasing when the weight of the fish finds its home.

In the accessories section of our net category, you can also buy spare net mesh and spreader blocks. These allow you to repair your net rather than having to invest in a brand new landing net and handle. We also stock net sleeves, which have been designed to ensure that your car boot is kept damp and stink-free!

The right net can make an incredible difference to any angling outing, and can often make the difference between the catch landed and a fish getting away. This is why we’ve hand-picked each product across our range for quality, performance, ease of handling and value for money. Our independence allows us to select the very best lines from the world’s most reputable brands. We have a full range of Daiwa nets, and as we are the leading Daiwa stockist in the country we can offer exclusive deals across their complete product range.

We’re all ardent anglers ourselves and we’ve created our own brand range of nets. All the nets in our Advanta range have been expertly constructed to meet our high standards. What’s more, we have a range of net floats and spares that fit perfectly with our nets. We’re always adding to our range with the latest in angling net innovations from all over the world, so check back regularly to see what’s new. As you can see, Angling Direct has exactly what’s needed to take your success and enjoyment to new heights.

Need more guidance on choosing your fishing net?

We’re always proud to offer our advice and suggestions to angling newcomers and, with a range of budget-friendly buys that never fail to make fishing simple and successful for first-timers, we hope to ease the journey into an angling lifestyle. Our customer services team and shop staff are always happy to help, and all our contact information is available on our website.

A high-quality net also ensures that you can practise proper fish care on the bank and it ensures that you never cause any damage to your catch in the delicate process of removing them from their watery home. Therefore, it is important to make a net choice which is right for your style of angling and each of the nets we stock have been designed for a specific purpose. Check out some of out Fishing Net Reviews on the AD Blog.