Critical look at Landing net / Skep net

[HeartCoppi]

I don't like my carp getting its first dorsal fin rasped through my net.
It breaks the fin web and sometime quite badly leaving a bloody discoloration. Its also not unusual that the anal fin makes the same problems.
Moreover the hooks get snagged as well.
So I have this heavy feeling that I am causing some damage and I'd like to know from fellow forumengers, what net I should get to minimize this.
This is not a discussion about the dont's of knotted nets, but rather an evaluation of which nets carp tend not to hook themselves in.
I think its fairly inevitable that a carp will tear the webs. A "spiky" structure in the mesh of a net lends itself to inevitably going to protrude somewhere.
So which net frees the carp the best from "spike hooking".

Please help me with an overview.
Lets set a sample batch of 10 carp between 2-4 kg and report the number of times out of 10 that you would experience "spike hooking" with the net that you currently use. and also the "hook hooking rate/10"

So please give the following info:
(1) type of landing net
(2) "spike hooking" experienced out of every ten fish caught ?/10
(3) "hook hooking" experienced out of every ten fish caught

Thanks

 

[Enigma]

Recent testing on total of 57 good sized fish

Old knotted large eye mesh net with stiff nylon - snagged fins spines - Zero, split fin webbing 3, lost scales, very few.

of the 30 odd in the rubberise 55cm pan net, 9 spines stuck (dorsal) and 4 dorsal and anal.

Spikes stick mostly when the fish flips and rolls in the net.

My opinion, for smaller carp the old knotted net does the least damage to the fish.

 

[Jake the Snake]

Agreed ive got the Sensation landing net/"skep net" that you buy and western and 9 out of 10 time the spike sticks, 8 out of 10 time the hook, hooks and of the 8 time 5 time you have to struggel you ass off to get the hook out.....

I am lokking at the old nets but cant find decent ones. ....off topic i know but where can i buy them? and are they still available?

 

[HeartCoppi]

Thanks for the feedback. Also experiencing what is being expressed here.

 

[Enigma]

The rubberised nets are fine gor the smaller fish but don't tow the line when fish are the typical Bloemhoef 1.5-5kg

The best nets I have fished with are the ones we use at the Match World Championships. Carp Match landing nets, the mesh is rubberised and very fine and perfect for landing fish and not snagging rigs but haven't seen them in RSA.

This is the ideal for our fishing requirements. 6mm mesh (vs current 12mm) on the sides to allow easy flow and micromesh in the base to stop the fin snagging and rigs falling through

 

[Enigma]

The current ranges in RSA have this sort of mesh. In the Vaal they are great but were a bit of a frustration in Bloemhof with a lot of time wasted in Bloemhof resulting in cut nets and sometimes fin spines.

 

[Enigma]

Here is an Angler's Mail test report (they tested a number of nets and this one came out tops in Math "Carp" Landing nets

"This lightweight design should handle carp well into double-figures easily and be easy to manoeuvre quickly. Features 6 mm rubberised blue mesh throughout and a spoon-shaped frame, with a slightly flattened leading edge for easy scooping when speed fishing. The base is fish shaped, which helps cradle carp better when unhooking them, and the depth is just right to do this within the confines of the net. Finished with a neat spreader block, and the ‘D’ section aluminium frame is very sturdy.
SCORE: 29/30"

 

[HeartCoppi]

Do we get this highly praised net here in SA?

 

[HeartCoppi]

..and thank you very much for your great analysis of nets.

 

[HeartCoppi]

I have fished this week with a large mesh net again.
What a pleasure.
The fin only snags when the the mesh is twisted around the spike because of a lively fish kicking like crazy.
Can count this instances on one hand.
Less hook snags but definitely spending more time pushing the mushroom in and out and back in and back out.
Still not seeing why the stores are so strongly promoting the small mesh nets... BIG small mesh nets.
On the basis of your shared info and this weeks action. My mind is made up for the next while.
(just want a slightly larger front "D" than the one I have at the moment)