How often do you take a net with you?

[lostnwilderness]

Wondering how many folks carry a net and how often.  Had a spirited debate this weekend regarding the usefulness vs the hassle and how often folks take one with them especially bluelineing...  Feel free (please) comment on specific times you do or don't or anything else you feel relevant (fish health, missed fish ect...)

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[Woolly Bugger]

100% on the tailwaters 'cause you need one there, and 100% on smaller creeks 'cause they are helpful when trying to take pictures.

I have two Ghost nets, the Tailwater model and the Trout model, you can look pretty stupid carrying the Tailwater on a blueline...

[Mudwall Gatewood 3.0]

Keith is spot on.  On the tailwaters you need one.  But I never carry one.  I could have used a net on multiple occasions on the SOHO – never really needed one on the Smith (always fishing for and catching nothing but the pan size).  I've been through every imaginable combination of nets and how to tote them, and all seem do nothing but get in the way most of the time.  Since I rarely take pics, I don't need a net for that either.  Good luck. 

[Transylwader]

I used to carry a net religiously when I came to the US several years ago, but alas, I have gone back to my basic ways. Nets are a solid pain in the ass. They get tangled up in all kinds of shit, and have the ability to even bring you down if it's snagged in something hefty like a big ass rhododendron. Unless Im fishing for beast Leroy 20"+ Kentucky brown, the net stays put. On a blueline, less is more.

[robspe7370]

I carry a collapsible net when required by regulations(Ie: Bullhead), and when I am on the boat. Otherwise, a net is overkill and much more likely to hang up in a tree branch than to help me haul in a lunker.

[robs_seven]

I never carry one.  I built a few and tried them out but they are a pain in the ass to carry.  I also bought a light weight one to give a go and then it did nothing but get in the way, snag stuff and bounce around.  I almost left it hanging by a big pool one time but grabbed it on the wat out.   NO NETS HERE

[WRector]

Put me in the 100% category.  Use an old orvis net my grandfather got me when I first started out for the smaller cricks and a brodin tailwater for the larger streams and well tailwaters. 

Sometimes you just need a net.  Never know when you'll hook into the fish of a lifetime.  Other times its just a little less stressful on the fish and myself when trying to get the hook out.

I'd rather have one than not but that's just me.

[Holmes]

If I am fishing for browns and bows- allways. Brookies? Never. Would it have saved my ass a few times. Probably. But not worth the hasslehoff

[Dougfish]

Bluelines, never. Guaranteed to snag up on laurels and rhoddies. On bigger water where I'll be really wading, I always carry a net. It's less stress on the fish and it's easier to land them. Heaven forbid I be called a fish squeezer.

[flatlander]

Where is the "Never...as long as your friend has one" choice?  I hate carrying a net and gave it up along time ago.

[benben reincarnated]

Use mine all the time, never before until I made one, but I would never go back to not having one.  I have crawled through some nasty stuff and haven't lost it yet or has it come unattached.  Foulhook has the same set-up as me, I made his net, and we have the same catch mechanism, and we've both fair pretty well blue-lining.  It is still early in the season though...


 

[Grannyknot]

Use mine all the time, never before until I made one, but I would never go back to not having one.  I have crawled through some nasty stuff and haven't lost it yet or has it come unattached.  Foulhook has the same set-up as me, I made his net, and we have the same catch mechanism, and we've both fair pretty well blue-lining.  It is still early in the season though...

Ben, if I had made a net as nice as yours, I believe I'd carry it everytime too.

[snagaluffaguss]

At work 100% of the time.

At play never (except when fishing streamers in the rain then I carry that Brodin Tail Water that Woolly mentioned.)

[flytire]

never carried a net

[Jfey]

Usually no on blue lines and always on tailwaters.  General rule is that everytime I don't bring one I wish I did and vice versa.