If you have been following my blog for some time, you already know where to fish for barbel and how big barbel grows. Now it’s time to find out what landing net size for barbel works the best. Several details must be considered when making a choice. But ultimately, durable mesh made from fish friendly materials and a landing net handle that offers good grip and balance is something you should aim for.
Why Is Important to Have the Right Size?
This is a very important piece of equipment. Adult barbel are larger fish and having the right size of the landing net is crucial to transfer fish safely from the water to the unhooking cradle or unhooking mat. With the right dimension of the net and high-quality mesh, you can be sure that fish won’t be harmed. Additionally, your net won’t be damaged either. Below is a list of five key factors you must consider when you are choosing the size of the landing net for barbel fishing.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Size of the Barbel Landing Net
Net Shape
The most common shapes of the nets are oval, round, and rectangle which can be folded into crescent shapes. The shapes are important because you don’t have the same space in the net with the oval one as you would have with the triangular carp nets.
Net Material and Mesh Size
Material is important because of the fish safety and ease of cleaning. These days, landing nets are mostly made out of nylon or rubber. I prefer the latter one. It has soft mesh that won’t harm the fish and it’s extremely easy to clean. You just have to wash it off. When it comes to mesh holes, if you ask me, the smaller the better. A small diameter mesh between 5 and 12mm is better for the fish because fins won’t get damaged, but your hook could get wedged in. So be careful with that, you don’t want to damage your net.
This article can help you understand mesh size a bit better. It’s written with commercial fishing in mind, but it will give you the right idea for landing nets as well.
Length of the Landing Net Handle
This depends on how big the frame of the net is (including the metal spreader block) and where you fish. Logically, if you fish on rivers, you’ll need a longer and robust handle. Unless you are fishing from the boat, in that case, you should go for a net with a short handle designed specifically for this type of fishing. Also, if you have a big heavy net, your handle must be able to carry the weight without bending so you avoid difficulties in landing.
Landing Net Depth
Make sure your net has a decent depth because the barbel has a long body. You don’t want your catch to stick out of the net enough to jump out or to be bent too much and hurt itself. The optimum depth you should look for is from 50cm to 70cm.
Net Colour
This is something that has no practical purpose, but everyone has their preference. The majority of anglers go with the darker colour. They believe it won’t spook fish when it’s close to the net. I am using black and dark green colours. Never had any issues, but I also never spotted a difference either.
Additional Barbel Landing Net Features Which Are Nice to Have
- Folding Landing Net Frame and Telescopic Handle – Having a net and a handle that can be folded does wonders for transportation and carrying. If you purchase a model like this one, just make sure that it has a quality spreader block. It’s a joint where the net frame is attached to the handle. With that being said, it’s clear why this piece has to be of incredible quality
- Landing Net Float – Float for the net is very useful because it can keep it on top of the water without submerging the handle and making it harder to maneuver. These floats are usually used in carp fishing but feel free to use them for barbel.
- Transportation Bag – Highly rated, well priced products will come with a bag. It’s used to protect your net, hold odors, and make drying easier. But, some mid-price range nets come with the bag. Be sure to read the product description before you purchase. That way, you’ll be aware of what are you getting for your money.
Conclusion on What Size Landing Net for Barbel Should Be
To summarize, every enthusiastic angler looking to catch some barbel should have at least a 70cm wide and 50cm deep landing net made out of material that is good for fish welfare and quality mesh that’s not too wide, preferably 5 and 12mm in diameter. The handle should be 1,8 meters.
Although this may seem too big at first, having a landing net like this one will have you prepared for all situations, even the ones where access to river level is not that great.