What to Look for When Buying Carp Landing Nets
As already mentioned, the carp landing net must be able to safely land all target fish. Typically, these landing nets have a spread width of 42 to 52 inches, offering enough space for even the largest carp in the world.
The net arms are either slotted in or held securely with quick-release fasteners. When purchasing, make sure the arms can be quickly detached from the rest of the net.
The netting on all available carp landing nets is made of lightweight, fish-friendly mesh material. The handle, often referred to as the handle section, is made from lightweight yet durable materials, such as carbon—similar to carp fishing rods.
Depending on your available budget, the models on the market vary mainly in the total weight of the system. The lighter the net, the easier and quicker it is to land the fish with less fatigue.
Additionally, there are useful accessories such as buoyancy aids (so-called net floats) available on the market. With the right net float, your landing net will float and can be temporarily left in the water during the fight.
If your landing net’s mesh happens to break after many years of use, many brands offer replaceable spare nets (spare mesh) at a reasonable price. That means you don’t have to buy a whole new net.
Landing Nets in All Lengths – 3ft, 6ft or 9ft
Carp landing nets can be adapted individually to your specific usage. Depending on where you're fishing, it often makes sense to consider the length of the handle.
- The standard length of most carp landing net handles is 6ft (about 1.8m).
- If landing from a boat, 3ft handles or telescopic landing net poles are ideal, since available space is limited and shorter handles are easier to work with.
- If you frequently fish from difficult-to-access banks or use long zig rigs, a 9ft handle (about 2.7m) can be useful.
If you want maximum flexibility, two- or three-piece landing nets are perfect. With these, the handle is split into multiple parts, allowing you to adapt to any situation at the water and always choose the ideal length.