Like most Americans, I love innovation. The process of developing new ideas and concepts to an already working item in order make it better, or overcome a flaw in its design and function- that's innovation. I love to see other people's ideas as well as develop my own. Now, in the South, rednecks are notorious for innovation. Just about every redneck out there has a shop on their property they spend half their day in fixing or making something. However, their intelligence comes to a halt in the testing phase (where most of them get hurt or die) and in the design phase (where most fail or didn't live past the testing phase to get to the design phase). Luckily, today's post is about an item that doesn't really put anyone at danger: the net.
The fishing net has had quite the developmental history. There have been so many types for so many different uses throughout time, it would have to be its own separate blog post. The landing net is the one we have all come to know and love (sometimes hate when it's cuts your line). It is also known as a hand or scoop net. The landing net has been used by fishermen for thousands of years across the globe. It has seen many different shapes, lengths, widths, materials and innovations over it's existence. Yet, no matter what form it has taken, you wouldn't normally see a fisherman without his net.
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| A "fisher logo" of Claes Jansz. Visscher, showing a hand net, 1630. |
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| German fisherman with hand lift net, 1568. |
Perhaps the most comical innovation to a hand net I've ever seen is Welter's Noggin Net:
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| Think how bad the top of your head must smell after a good day of fishing and catching sun rays. |
Tenkara landing nets (tamo) have not gone through much innovation. Rightly so! Tenkara manufacturers (and tinkerers) keep a minimalistic approach when innovations are done. Tenkara isn't like Apple, where every single new product has some newfangled feature you must have. Each innovation usually has the product being: lighter, more compact, or it combines features into one product. The Tenkara landing net traditionally has a curved handle so as to when placing it between your body and the wading belt, it can be positioned to curve back and away from your body. This allows more freedom for movement while wading and casting, as useful freeing design compared to a straight handled net. The net is usually constructed from a single branch and is about 2 feet in total length. Because Japanese mountain trout are smaller, the diameter of the net opening is typically 9 inches, which is enough to hole trout of up to 17 inches long.
Shimano has a developed a landing net that shows off the company's adroit, creative product development. The Shimano Folding net first caught my eye while searching for an alternative to the bulky nets I've been using. That's right...it folds up! It is without a doubt, the most compact net on the market.
From the picture above this is the folding net in it's case. One opposite side is a belt loop stitched on. The stitch work is done very well and will last quite some time. I wear mine on my wading belt on my left hip. The pouch is approximately 7 inches long; this keeps the net very compact at your side ready when you need it without getting in the way. The pouch opens via flap in the front by pulling up and separating the velcro hold.
From this picture, you can see the handle is not curved like the tamo net is designed. You wouldn't need that feature as the net is already stored in a more compact way. The handle is sturdy and is costed with ABS resin and rubber for better grip when it gets wet. The frame is made of stainless steel coated by rubber and has a spring action when you remove the net from its pouch. No need to press a button or flick it open, the spring action opens as soon as you take it out. The netting material is soft, very friendly for trout. It's comprised of polyester fabric, some of your shirts are made from the same material. It's strong and doesn't degrade or breakdown easy. Shimano's folding net comes in 2 sizes: 25 cm (9.84 in) and 30 cm (11.81 in). The depth of each size is 23 cm (9.06 in). That may not sound very big but it will handle most trout you come across. Fish over 18 inches would not fit well in this net.
The down fall I found with this net is that it's "neck" isn't very strong. Meaning, where the loop and handle frame meet. I've netted a few 16 and 17 in trout in the net, and I had to use two hands, one on the handle and the other at the opposite end of the loop.
For overall compactness and design, this net will be at my side every trip I'm in the mountains. Shimano's Folding Net is certainly a Backwoods approved product.
How on earth do you fold this net up? Check out this youtube video done by Tom Davis of Teton Tenkara on a quick how to:
Pick yours up today at Chris Stewart's TenkaraBum shop!
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