I lost My Expensive Net - That Got Me Thinking...

[@johnshand6176]

You Guys are so lucky to buy such great products at realistic prices!. If you wanted the same product down under In NZ it would cost you at least $300 US dollars. I still buy US high-end Trout gear and have never regretted it, Regards.

[@streetpunk99]

You overlooked one thing that's kind of important and isn't at the same time. Just the flat out cool factor and appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into a quality item. I'm a union millwright and I have some guages that are hundreds and hundreds of dollars each that I use once a year but I absolutely love using them when I have to. They feel quality and the machining and engineering that goes into their operation makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Fishing gear is no exception imo

[@peterpauwels4610]

Apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. My immigrant parents taught me how to make an apple pie. They used cinnemon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and clove. Loved your pie supplement. A man after my own heart.

[@vickvinegar5071]

The problem with cheap nets is that they’re heavy. Most of the time I carry a sling, so a super light fishpond helps keep the pack light.

[@ReelyFlyGuy]

Put very well. If you got the funds, get it. Been trying to justify my purchases lately since fly fishing stuff is expensive.

[@bobbysnyder3169]

Thanks for the honest video. I only get to fish 5-6x / yr. Just bought my first fly rod. Like you said, I think I would rather upgrade my other gear before buying a $180 net.

[@Sweedurbex]

This makes me feel incredibly grateful as I can go almost every weekend

[@daveschlom4033]

Same with cherry pie. You need the tart cherries! I have been thinking of upgrading my net. Thanks!

[@Gbow17]

Great advice Nick! Funny I have that Cortland net I don't measure fish and I have it all connected up so I don't lose it both in my pontoon and on stream. I just bought a Euro Rod and not a fishpond net but now I might be ready that is why I am watching this vid. You make great points. I did find a longer wood net for $40 with measuring hashes.

[@NickMango]

The longer handle definitely helps. The measuring part is cool too. I never measure with a tape measure. But when it’s on the net it’s super easy to see if you crossed that specific length for your area. Here it’s 20”. So I always just hold it up to the net when releasing. Incredibly fast. But I too never try and figure out what the fish measures to the 1/8” haha. That’s just ridiculous 👍.

[@GeraldMacDad]

"There's more bullshit in fly fishing than there is in a Kansas feedlot." That quote always comes to mind when looking at Fishpond, Patagonia, Orvis etc gear. Your video highlights this. Of course most of us cant take off to Jackson Hole in our Mulliner kitted out Bentleys, and thats why Ive rocked a squash racquet with a strung on rubber net that cost me about $9. I use that in my float tube and a racquetball racquet rubber net for streams. Ive learned to only splurge on rods and lines, almost everything else is DIY or discounted gear for me. Its obvious that we get tooled by the major manufacturers when they slap a fly fishing label on it. Everything from glass beads to peacock herl is drastically marked up. I grabbed an untagged shirt off the rack at a fly shop in Breckenridge CO and it rang up to $75. $75 USD. Unreal. Sure it was Breck, but ffs... had this shirt been in any other shop it would have been at the least 30 bucks cheaper. Ahhh, Im rambling now huh... Anyway, well done pointing out that muuuuuuch cheaper, fully functional gear can still be had.

[@brian_onthewater]

Cortland $20 net, dollar general stainless fingernail clippers for "nippers"....cheep backpack instead of a fishpond,yeti, etc...I know people who look like an orvis model on the river...i tell people all the time you don't have own the most expensive gear to enjoy time on the water.

[@brianneeley8806]

I tried like hell to shut this video off 1/2 way through...epic fail on my part! Great vid!!!

[@NickMango]

Haha thanks 👍

[@Abandoned_Brane]

I bought a net this year. I wanted to take a few pics of fish to prove I can catch a fish. I bought a $20 special wooden net with rubber netting. Like yours. It works well for larger trout, but the first time I tried netting an 8" Brooke it slipped through the larger holes in the bottom. I need a new net. Or a new net bag with smaller bottom holes. Or I need to catch larger Brook trout. My $26k Kia is more reliable than an $70k BMW.

[@NickMango]

I had the same problem with netting brook trout. You definitely need a separate net. It’s extremely frustrating when the fish slips through haha. Thanks 👍

[@intothewild2345]

enjoyed your vid. just purchased one for $192 delivered, jealous you could get it for less. I walk 3-5 miles trout fishing, if it's lighter than my current net worth every penny. Lost many trout on the short handle cortland #upgrade

[@silvercreekflyfishing]

This video alone made me get this net. I'm a stingy motherf*cker, but man this net was so worth it to me. Rather feel buys remorse once and then enjoy it whole lot after. Great video!

[@NickMango]

Great job Roberto! I haven’t regretted the net purchase for even one day. And I bought it twice! 🎉🎉

[@CV-W.A.R.whatisitgoodfor]

The dog licking the counter had me laughing my ass off haha

[@stevenm6301]

Hey Nick, I just bought this bad boy. Do you happen to recall/know if there are spots around the fishpond logo where it looks like a clear tape was applied under the final finish? Mine's got some interesting looking spots. Hard to explain. Just curious. Thanks.

[@daniellemalan8832]

Thrift store aluminum, paint it up if you want, measure the diameter and purchase a rubber replacement net bag online. Fish pics look better with the black vs clear/white. Tether your net!

[@jamesbookable]

cheers to a smart smart fellow -thanks for this!

[@raywalteroutdoors]

I bought a Walmart net with a regular basket, sanded it and stained it then replaced the basket with a fishpond net basket with blue backing to your the basket on. It looks pretty damn good. I am getting a Fishpond with a longer handle but it's not necessary.

[@JJB_320]

Only piece of gear I lose are nets! $20 net for this guy

[@teledunc]

When you started picking those apples I thought, why isn't he using his Fishpond net instead of that plastic bag? :)

[@NickMango]

Haha I should have done that 👍

[@teledunc]

I have been trying to decide between the Emerger and the Mid-Length but I think you have convinced me to go with the mid-length. Just because of the pie though, that's the only reason.

[@ef2967]

Have that net, and it is great, then today I just happen to look at the bottom of the handle. Made in China. Net probably cost Fishpond 5-10 dollars.

[@smatthew2454]

I bought a cheap $30 net off of amazon, long before i watched this video, and it does work…BUT. unlike the one in this video, the mesh gets wider at the bottom and smaller brookie’s can swim through. So I spent $30 plus $150 for the fishpond. There is something to be said for buying right the first time.

[@chasecook3854]

I had the same issue. Ended up using a bunch of rubber zip ties to close up the bottom haha.

[@Dr_ITguy337]

You should do a video on how you rig this net to your pack. Noticed you have a carabiner attached on some of your videos. Great video. Just bought one

[@italiantroutaholic8926]

hey Pizan Whats with the londer handle ?? the smaller one with a Attached Magnet to you Pack or vest will keep it from getting lot or dropped. I fish steel head and Trout and have one with 17 Inch opening for 30.00 . Lite and fun to use !

[@NickMango]

So dry fly fishing for trout on the Delaware, you need 15’-20’ of leader and tippet. This means that you need to bring the leader into your guides, when netting a fish. The longer the handle the better. The farther you bring the leader in, the thinner and more easily it will break. Or a knot can catch your guide, and break it. So it’s so much easier and safer with a longer handle.

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, I hunt steelhead trout in fast deep water. The fish can be anything from 3 to 10 pounds plus, so I use an 9ft rod with a 12 ft leader and a KIWI wool indicator (as small as possible). Over the past 60 years I have settled on a collapsable net with a telescopic handle carried in a sheath attached to my wading belt. Having lost a few nets in my time I now also have a lanyard attached to the handle. I don’t keep any fish these days so I don’t need a measuring tape or weigh the fish. Hunting browns is a different story as they can go huge and the best nets need to be sea fishing size. Tight lines!

[@CplMAC1144]

Just dummy cord the thing and it doesn’t matter if it floats or sinks. Having said that, I’m watching this to figure out if I want the mid length or emerger length.

[@jaygoldstein6809]

I have been fly fishing for 40 years. I have caught thousands of fish, and I use barbless hooks. I have some pretty nice rods, from 2 wt. up to 8 weight, and I am always amazed when I see reels for a 2-5 wt. fly rods that costs hundreds of dollars. You fight the fish usually with the rod and your hand holding the line, rarely on the reel. For years I didn't even carry a net, because I release all of my fish. I can't think of any reason to spend big bucks on a net, or on a reel, unless you just want to impress someone. I think a rubber net is fine, and there are some nice ones for around $25. Spend your money on a decent rod, decent fly line, not on a damn net...just stupid!

[@NickMango]

Hey Jay, where I fish you’re basically always fighting a fish on the reel. The fish here are big and they fight hard. You need a big net to scoop a big fish. A solid reel and net are really table stakes out here. But I totally get what you mean. If you’re never on the reel you prob don’t need a big net. Thanks

[@jaygoldstein6809]

@@NickMango I have caught plenty of big fish, and no question a net helps. I just don't think you need to spend a fortune on it. I use my reel for larger fish, and I've never spent more that $100 on them, most have been around $50. I tie my own flies, I seem to do just fine with them, I can afford anything I want, but there is no way I'd spend that much on a net unless it was for fishing out of a boat maybe. I am a minimalist fisherman. I wear a lanyard, and a small pack around my neck with 3 fly boxes in them. My net is attached to my wader straps...and I have found I don't need any more stuff, and I catch lots of fish. Ask my fishing buddies :)

[@tlalexander3]

@@jaygoldstein6809 as a fisherman and a fisheries biologist, a net definitely helps reduce mortality, the likelihood of infection due to losing slime coat and reduces strain put on fish. The rubber nets are the best at protecting the slime coat vs the cheap nylon nets that are tied together. Plus using the net is better than even wetting your hands if you have the proper mesh size for the fish you are targeting. And lastly, you are less likely to tire the fish as bad vs trying to catch them with your hand. Then once you catch the fish you can unhook the fish in the net and use the net to help you revive it. I do agree that the amount you spend is just a personal preference, but I have lost quite a few trophy fish when I was trying to net them with my short handle net, and I was fishing solo, which is usually 95 percent of the time. I just picked up this net today after losing a trophy rainbow and barely being able to net another one the same day.

[@donodom3]

I have this Cortland net, and just about everything else I own is super high end. I feel a net is a net and I don’t care. I also like the length of this net. I have been thinking about upgrading to the Fishpond Native net to make my whole setup a bit lighter.

[@nathanleeper4519]

The native net is crap

[@LukeAndrewFlint]

Is the longer handle uncomfortable in a wading belt?

[@NickMango]

I don’t personally don’t get annoyed by it. And I haven’t heard of anyone complaining.

[@minaviladas2855]

Love the apple pie! I have the Fish Pond hand net, I really like it, but it’s too short for my 11’ rod. Think I’ll get the Emerger model with the longer handle. Love the black net bag, that’s the one with the Kevlar in the frame, more $$. Keep up the great vids!

[@NickMango]

Mina Viladas hey! Yeah that emerger one is damn nice. Correct the net I’m showing is the river armor one. I think it’s $180. But in general the mid length is $160. Black bag is killer 👍. Appreciate the compliment!

[@richardduvall6512]

In my eyes there is no way that net is worth $140.00 more sorry I'll wear out the 7 or 8 Cortland nets first I measure fish and you can put your own marks on the handle and as far as reach goes it's nice but if I want it I can add to the Cortland handle it's wood easy to work with

[@danielrichardson3920]

Haha Watson with a guest appearance Also one time I had a fish so big it couldn't actually fit in my friends net. It looked like it went in but then it just couldn't physically fit.

[@NickMango]

NewJersey Fly your friend must have been using a goldfish net.

[@RHNASON]

Great story , I own a shit ton of gear including a few Brodin landing nets both small and boat size , I was looking at this net at a friends Fly shop In Arlington #DistrictAngling and was inches away from buying one , your thoughts are Spot on .. Cheers and Make sure your dog gets a slice of that pie, and Sharp Cheddar goes really well with it .. and thanks for spending my money on another net ....

[@NickMango]

Hahaha I will save him a piece! Those Brodin nets started it all I think. It’s the first net I looked at and was like😳. Thanks 👍

[@GeorgeSemel]

Well an 8'6" Sage RP II 5wt has been my trout rod of choice for over 35 years now and I have caught a lot of trout with it, dry flies, nymphs, and streamers. I got a bunch of fly rods. I never found this one to really be lacking for the trout fishing I do and like. My reel of choice Hardy LRH!

[@NickMango]

George Semel I hear ya! If it’s working for you keep using it 👍

[@davesmith7906]

Nick love your fly & thoughts on the nets & pie your 100% correct except, please for the love of god and all things good NEVER EVER cut apples or anything else on your granite counter top. Always use a cutting board! Your making micro scratches in the counter and completely ruining the edge on your knife. I have no idea how you could be sooo spot on with everything else (especially the crab apple pie) and not have this basic issue down pat. Thanks for everything else, see you on the river.

[@NickMango]

😂😂 ok Dave 👍

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

I want one of these badly but it just doesn’t work with the type of fishing I do. I was trying to justify it and a few videos later I am realizing that although they are beautiful and high quality nets it just not worth the expense for the way I fish and the inexpensive wood white river net works just fine for me.

[@NickMango]

Luke you sound like a really smart dude that’s going to go far in life. Good luck to you 👍

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

@@NickMango I really appreciate that. But you can’t be farther from the truth. HAHAHAHAHA

[@anynamey]

Bro, love your video but WTF with a knife on granite 😳 Definitely thumbs uped the video, appreciate the advice and insight on the net and thats a nice looking pie!

[@NickMango]

Haha we do it all the time. Myth busting. Doesn’t bother it at all. 🤷‍♂️

[@jamesbookable]

I just bought a stainless, folding, Mclean (NZ) weighing net, wish me luck!

[@kgloss4054]

I love my fish pond nets. But, man do they suck in fast water trying to net a fish.lol Especially the eljefe.

[@NickMango]

Thanks for the comment. Can you explain what happens in fast water that makes it hard to net? Thanks

[@kgloss4054]

@@NickMango with the design of the netting, you will find fairly large hexagonal patches at the bottom that create some serious net drag. The rubber is self is thick and also contributes to the drag.Then you have to add in the fact these nets are very buoyant, so as you your holding the net in the water its attempting to push it back up. But, i find if im fishing normal waters it is by far my favorite net. I prefer the el jefe, and the emerger would be my second choice. As far as functionality.... I use my $20 frabill in competition, almost zero net drag in all conditions. Great content brother, keep it up!

[@miketorre16]

i heat ya, i got an 800 dollar Stella reel and a 300 dollar rod... but i cant see 180 bucks for a net...... stll deciding, i do like the black nets thought...

[@wildandliving]

Both to small not enough reach out of a power boat. So you want length and a 36 inch hoop min for salmon. Trout and bass both would work.. long cod min take size 65cm.so.bigger can be better

[@leopan723]

Can I use a Tennis or Badminton racket to make a net like fishpond?They look so similar.

[@NickMango]

Definitely! Just find a racket made for Yao Ming and you’ll be set 👍.

[@bennosal6268]

Hey Nick i was looking at your great vid after going to a fly shop looking for nets- instead i used a tennis racket and bought a 12 inch deep net- free racket + $30 netting just made a $160 net for 30 bucks i want all of your subs to do the same. lets end this charade of nets costing $100s there is no reason they need to be that much. its price gauging on a niche community

[@jeremypriest4062]

"It just fell out". $160 net and no tether?? Guess I am just poor WT.

[@NickMango]

I agree and I use a tether now. Lot of people don’t use tethers though. They can be annoying if you’re traveling by foot to a spot. Get it caught on a tree or something. But in the case of an expensive net like this, it’s the right move. 👍

[@JohnSmith-dq9tm]

a nets a net

[@NickMango]

Incorrect

[@antonio7460]

You make great sense make more vids

[@billpeirce7127]

Needs a longer handle

[@NickMango]

Yeah I was thinking about adding a 6 foot extension too it.

[@lesterismyname]

Rushton nets.

[@kaleclark5168]

Why would you be stupid and send that much in a net and that’s what I would use on a boat

[@combofriend4461]

What are you trying to say lol

[@AmrothSkywalker]

Why is black mesh better than clear? So that fish wont see you?

[@NickMango]

Hey Luke, sorry I think I only briefly mentioned why I liked it better. The white basket is like a giant satellite dish on your back lol. It’s sooooo bright. And huge. It’s just too flashy for me. That’s another reason why I don’t like a big wooden net. Small nets aren’t an issue in white or wood. But a big one is too conspicuous. It’s just a style preference for me. Thanks 👍