Best Nets for Bass Fishing (For All Budgets)

The bass is America’s number one game fish, and millions of anglers target both smallmouth and largemouth bass all over the US.

Bigger bass are really strong and can be insane fighters, which is why bringing a landing net with you on the water can be a good idea. 

A good bass net should measure at least 17 to 20 inches and be able to hold fish of at least 5 pounds. Landing your bass with a net is both safe and great for fish care, which is especially important when catch-and-release fishing for bass. 

But how do you know what type of net to choose? And what are the best bass nets on the market right now?

Keep reading this helpful article on the best bass fishing nets to get all the answers!

QUICK SUMMARY: In this article, I’m reviewing three high-quality, reliable, and affordable bass fishing nets that you can find on Amazon. These are the Frabill Conservation Net, the Ego S2 Slider Net, and the Plusinno Floating Net.

What Is the Best Fishing Net for Bass?

When I researched this topic online, I didn’t find one helpful article about it, which surprised me quite a bit.

Not all bass anglers catch big fish and hence do not need a landing net.

But many out there do, and if you want to land your trophy bass safely and smoothly and consider fish care an essential aspect of fishing, you do need a net!

Big smallmouth and largemouth bass are strong fish! You can’t flip them into your boat, and they can easily break you off before you get them close enough to lip or scoop them.

Using a landing net makes things a lot easier, especially when fishing from a boat.

Let’s get right to it and check out some of the best bass fishing nets out there!

Top Pick: Frabill Conservation Series Landing Net

Frabill probably makes the best big fish landing nets on the market! Their stuff is of the highest quality and sells at a great price!

The Frabill Conservation Net is a popular choice among North American predator anglers and the perfect fit for big bass.

This is a solid net that will land you any largemouth and smallie, no matter its size.

When you’re fighting that huge trophy bass, you want nothing to go wrong and a net that you can rely on 100%, and the Fabrill Conservation is it!

It’s the perfect pick for your big bass adventures and takes excellent care of the fish it lands!

Here are some of the Frabill Conservation’s most essential features:

• Hoop size: 20×23” (perfect size, even for huge bass)
• Handle length: 24-48”
• Net depth: 16”
• Rubberized mesh (no snags and protects the fish)
• Flat bottom (lets the fish rest comfortably)
• Made of corrosion-proof stainless steel (excellent durability)
• Matte black finish (doesn’t spook the fish)

Pros:

• The Frabill’s biggest pro is undoubtedly its rubberized net. No hooks will get snagged in it, making handling and unhooking the fish extremely smooth. This is especially important if you want to release your catch. 
• Another great pro is its price. You get a lot of net for your money!
• The telescopic handle slides very easily, allowing for quick and precise adjustments while fighting the fish.
• A truly versatile predator net that fits both bass, trout, walleye, and medium-sized northern pike and salmon. 

Cons: 

• This is a landing net meant for boat fishing. It’s pretty bulky and wide, making it a poor choice for shore and kayak anglers. 

Conclusion: 

If you target big bass, want to land them safely, and care about the fish you catch, the Frabill Conservation Landing Net is the perfect fit for you!

You can check out the Frabill Conservation Net on Amazon right here

Runner-Up: Ego S2 Slider Fishing Net

The runner-up pick is the modern and popular Ego S2 Slider. This is a great choice for largemouths and smallmouths from both boat, kayak, and shore. 

This net is slightly smaller than the Fabrill Conservation, making it a good choice for smallies and largemouth bass up to around 10lb. However, bigger fish will fit in it if you land them right.

The Ego S2 has a very smart design and incorporates modern technology, allowing you to land your catch quickly and smoothly and safely release them back into the water.

These are the Ego S2 Slider’s most important features:

• Hoop size: 17×19”
•  Handle length: 29-60”
•  Net depth: 15” (flat bottom)
•  Knotless rubber mesh (no snags)
•  Smart pull and push handle grip system (real-time control for quick adjustments)
•  Compact storage
• Weight: 2.75lb

Pros: 

• This is a truly versatile landing net that works great for boat and shore anglers.
• Its soft rubber mesh allows for super smooth handling and releasing of your fish and ensures no hooks will get snagged. This saves you both time and nerves!
• The extended handle makes it easy to reach fish you’d otherwise risk losing, especially when fishing from a boat.
• It’s got a great design and is made of high-quality material. This net will last you for many years!
• Can also be used for medium-sized walleye, pike, and trout. 

Cons:

• All the high-tech this net has makes it a little more expensive than other net models. For some anglers, it’s probably a little over the top.
• At 2.75lb, it’s a little on the heavy side.
• The online description says that the Ego S2 Slider floats, which it does not.

Conclusion: 

• A solid and practical all-round net with plenty of great features. It will land you any trophy bass caught from shore or boat with ease.  

You can take a closer look at the Ego S2 Slider Net and all its features on Amazon here

Budget Pick: Plusinno Floating Fishing Net

The Plusinno Fishing Net is a great choice for beginners and anglers with a limited budget.

It’s best suited for fishing from the shore but can also be used for kayak and boat fishing. 

While basic, this net has a very decent quality and sells at a very reasonable and affordable price.

Not everyone can afford high-end gear, and to be honest, not everyone needs it, either! 

If you’re fishing for bass occasionally and mainly from the shore, this net is a good pick and will cover all your needs.

Here are some of the Plusinno Net’s essential features:

• Hoop size: 19.7×15.2”
• Retractable handle length: 44”
• Extended handle length: 53.2” 
• Collapsible length: 23”
• Net depth: 19.7”
• Rubber-coated nylon mesh
• Extremely lightweight and compact design (weighs only 1.3lb)
• Floating
• Easy to transport and store

Pros:

• Probably one of the cheapest fishing nets out there! You’ll get a good-quality net for very little money.
• Very lightweight and easily transported, making it a good fit for shore anglers.
• For its small and compact size, the net is actually quite big, so you can even land the occasional hog with this one!

Cons:

• The lightweight aluminum-based design isn’t made for big and heavy fish of more than 8 or 10lb.
• Due to the relatively short total length, this net’s reach isn’t great. There are better choices for boat fishing or when fishing over vegetation. 

Conclusion: 

A solid piece of starter gear that’s a good fit for most beginners and occasional anglers. It’s a basic net, but it’ll get the job done and won’t break the bank!

Check out the Plusinno Fishing Net on Amazon right here

How Big Should a Bass Fishing Net Be?

This depends on the size of the bass you target.

A net of around 15 to 17 inches is generally enough for smallmouths and smaller to medium largemouth bass. For big bass of 8 to 10lb or more, your fishing net should measure at least 18 to 20 inches.

The bag or net depth is another crucial element to consider!

I would avoid shallow nets, as bigger fish can easily jump out of them and get away.

Deeper nets with a depth of at least 15 inches are a much safer choice, especially if they’ve got a flat bottom, as the fish generally won’t be able to reach up to the hoop.

I also find that deeper and darker nets keep the fish calmer, which often makes it easier to handle, unhook, and release them.

Do You Really Need a Net for Bass Fishing?

This is a much-debated topic among bass anglers and a very interesting at that. Some anglers strictly don’t use nets and flip or lip their fish into the boat or onto the shore. Others would never head out without a landing net.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, of course! Just know that you could hoop up to a potential monster bass at any time, and trying to land such a fish without a net can be a real challenge!

Here is the thing; small fish of a couple of pounds don’t require a landing net, and you can usually flip those without much of a problem.

Bigger fish of 5 pounds and upwards are a different story, though!

Getting those close enough to your boat or the shore to hand-land them can be challenging, and as big bass are strong and aggressive fish, they often manage to shake loose.

Losing a personal best bass right in front of your feet because you couldn’t manage to land it is devastating, and you really feel stupid afterward.

I mean, you saw that fish and how big it was, and then, just like that, it slipped away!

So, bringing a landing net with you might mean carrying and storing yet another piece of gear, but trust me, when you land that trophy bass, and it lays safely in that net, you’ll thank yourself!

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Featured image courtesy of Ethan Zomermaand