Landing net handles

[birchy]

Long story short, i bought a "bargain" landing net: http://www.mullarkeys.co.uk/fishing/nets-a...dinsmores/9517/ and the handle has snapped in half with a 6lb barbel in it. Obviously not too impressed as i was expecting better quality from Dinsmores. I guess they should stick to making shot. ha ha.

 

Soooo, i'm on the lookout for a new handle but want to make sure i get a decent one. Length needs to be at least 2.2M as i fish the River Lugg in Hereford and the banks are pretty steep in places. Barbel upto 9lb are pretty common, with occasional doubles. I also do some pike fishing and (in the close season) a bit of carping in the local puddles. The carp are generally low end double figures. So i basically need a handle capable of holding at least a 20lb lump at full extension. Weight is not a major concern, although i will draw the line at broom handles and lengths of steel conduit. It should also fit inside a 6ft rod holdall.

 

Don't know much about Garbolino stuff, but are these any good? http://www.garbolinouk.co.uk/nets-and-hand...454/hd-net-vrx/. I spotted a 3M one on eBay first of all, listed as "£14.99 to clear". RRP is £10.99, so it always pays to shop around.

 

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

[John S]

One thing - a landing net handle isn't designed to lift a weighty fish, I can't think of any what would enable you to pick up a low 20's carp. All you do is get the fish into the net, drag it to the bankside then lift the net out of the water.

[birchy]

One thing - a landing net handle isn't designed to lift a weighty fish, I can't think of any what would enable you to pick up a low 20's carp. All you do is get the fish into the net, drag it to the bankside then lift the net out of the water.

Yeah, i know what you mean but when fishing off a vertical 6ft+ high bank, the only way is to lift the fish in the net by the handle. This would normally be a near vertical pull on the handle which is less strain than trying to do a horizontal lift. On the occasion where the handle broke, i was closer to the water but had to lift the fish over some large rocks - and that was when the handle gave way. My mate said it was my own fault cos i should of dragged the fish OVER the rocks. Personally, i thought a damaged handle was better than a damaged fish, but hey-ho...

 

Having said all that, 20lb fish are everywhere nowadays, so i find it hard to believe that there aren't any handles capable of handling large fish. Sometimes we have to lift the fish using the handle, it is unavoidable.

[arbocop]

Korum Specimen, Carbon Power or carbon Specimen. I've got the carbon power which is one piece and bombproof.

[birchy]

Korum Specimen, Carbon Power or carbon Specimen. I've got the carbon power which is one piece and bombproof.

They're only 1.8M (6ft). I've already got a 6ft handle but it's not long enough for most spots on the river. I see the korum powerstik is 2.7M but at £30 it's not cheap considering it's only a length of carbon fibre with a thread at one end and a handle at the other.

 

Saying that, is it possible to buy carbon fibre blanks? I am an engineer by trade, so making a handle would be trivial if i could get the blanks. Or i could spigot my broken one with aluminium or nylon, however the walls are surprisingly thin.

Edited July 9, 2010 by birchy

[Worms]

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

Yes, stop buffing up the Lugg so much......every bugger will want to come and fish it......oh, but hang on, it's full of otters, there can't be any fish in it

[birchy]

Yes, stop buffing up the Lugg so much......every bugger will want to come and fish it......oh, but hang on, it's full of otters, there can't be any fish in it

"Mug on the Lugg" is what my Wye fishing buddies call me. 'Tis more "challenging" but i like it that way. If wanted to bag up 100lb or something, i'd go to the puddle at Tillington. ha ha. I've got a Bulmers club ticket, so mostly fish around the hampton bishop area. Where about be you me old bumkin?

 

Still mooching for a reasonable stick to go on me landing net. I've even started looking on eBay and am (sadly) tempted by this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170509239913

[watatoad]

Yes, stop buffing up the Lugg so much......every bugger will want to come and fish it......oh, but hang on, it's full of otters, there can't be any fish in it

 

hehehe...Are we allowed to fish for Otters I guess they are the new species being introduced without paperwork to remove the Carp from their pinnacle...Ooopps! Sorry I mean replace the beloved Carp

 

Yes I am certain they are the ones. You know the ones with the genetically enhanced senses to detect overstocked Carp mud puddles at 500 miles and zero in on them where they work their way down from the largest to the smallest.

 

Perhaps they have a symbiotic and telepathic relationship with Cormorants who could do their long range high altitude scanning.

Edited July 9, 2010 by watatoad

[weirwulf]

The Drennan Super Specialist is my top reccomendation. It is of the slide and lock type which makes the length infinitely adjustable It is made of pure carbon and extends to 3m. The best test of its durability is a 4.5 lb bass caught on a tidal river where the tide had gone out and a mate landed the fish at full extension and pulled it straight on to the bank above with hardly even a bend in it. last week I had to do an awkward lift of a double figure river carp which presented no problem for the handle. They are very costly to begin with but it is now the only handle I ever use whether specimen fishing or trotting for small fish in the winter and has been worth it's weight in gold. Virtually all my angling freinds who fish awkward river banks for barbel have followed after being so impressed with my purchase.

Edited July 10, 2010 by weirwulf

[Worms]

"Mug on the Lugg" is what my Wye fishing buddies call me. 'Tis more "challenging" but i like it that way. If wanted to bag up 100lb or something, i'd go to the puddle at Tillington. ha ha. I've got a Bulmers club ticket, so mostly fish around the hampton bishop area. Where about be you me old bumkin?

Oi be up north, near Lemner old butt!