In the early days of fly fishing the angler had only one option and that was the wooden frame net often fitted with knotted cotton mesh.
We have come a long way since then. With the advent of composite material and metal and plastics the angler has a lot of options. Many of the new materials are lighter and possibly more durable. I guess I don’t care.
As my sporting life has matured, I find myself attracted to equipment not only for its functionality but also for its form.
For example, I am an avid upland bird hunter, like many other fly fishermen. A day in the field is marked by the quality of the company, country, dogs and yes, the opportunity to harvest a few birds. It is also HOW you do it.
I have long preferred the look and feel of a nice double and for three decades have shot exclusively with side by sides of all kinds. Before you write me off as a rich snob, let me assure you my bank account is more that of an aging trout bum then a retired corporate exec and several of my doubles are old Ithaca’s that I restored myself back into functional condition. They look and feel marvelous and they MEAN something to me. So much so that I consider them family heirlooms.
Call me nostalgic, I am not going to deny it, hell I prefer shooting side by sides over jam-o-matics or pump shotguns.
Why? Because it adds to the experience of the hunt. If I were just about killing birds, I would not limit myself to a couple barrels but would march out with one of those high-tech (high priced) composite stock repeaters that eat shells of any length without so much as a burp and fitted with one of those glow-in-the-dark fiber optic jobs on the business end of the barrel.
But for me, and many others, that’s not the point.
Same thing in your choice of landing net. Wooden landing nets, when finished with a deep rubbed penetrating oil can take on the luster of the finest shotgun stocks on the market. I like their look and feel and I like what it brings to the experience.
Obviously, I am not talking about the mass-produced products that look to be made from dimensional framing lumber scavenged from a job site. I am talking about the blend of woods that are pleasing to the eye in their pairing and bring a unique look and feel to the experience while meeting all the functional requirements of a landing net.
In terms of functionality, it has long been accepted that using a properly sized landing net can help in the landing and release of fish. The net today is considered an essential part of the fishermen’s gear when headed to the water and all the nets on the market meet this standard to varying degrees.
Hell, the functional requirement could be met with some bent coat hangers, laced through some netting and fence stapled to a block of wood or electrical taped to a piece of EMT conduit.
But function is not the only consideration, is it? Sometimes style counts and I will take a beautifully crafted wooden net over a composite any day.
The nets we make at Montana Net Co are strong, durable and easy to maintain.
Made from sustainably harvested timber and when crafted into one of our nets you have not just a tool for a purpose but an extension of your experience.
What’s more, they can put a smile on your face as you bring your quarry to net.
Fishing a wooden frame landing net transcends the functional and moves it to art, steeped in the time-honored traditions of the past.
Make no mistake, they are every bit as good as the composites in getting a fish to hand, but in addition they add greatly to how the job is getting done.