NetStaff Product Video – 3 Reasons I Love This Fly Fishing Net

11 comments / Posted on / by

_DSC7802

NetStaff landing net, wading staff and fly retriever. Photo By Louis Cahill

Having a quality net with me on the water is something I take seriously because it assists me in several ways on the water. Most obviously, of course, I use it to land fish, but I also use my net as a third leg for safe wading, for pulling my clients fly line to me for re-rigging so neither of us have to move positions, for bug sampling with my DIY Bug Sampler, and last but not least, to help me pull limbs down when they’re out of arms reach to retrieve flies (doesn’t always work). One could argue that a quality net to fly fisherman serves very much like a multi-tool. When we find a good net it usually stays in action for the products life span. Unfortunately, not all nets are created equal and it’s usually hard to find a net that will do it all. Some of us prefer handcrafted wood nets for their beauty and lightweight construction, others just go with what they can find on the shelves at their local sporting goods store, and lastly, there’s a good portion of anglers out there that only settle for using nets that provide the highest levels of durability, strength and functionality.

Today, I’m very excited to shed light on the company NetStaff, who had a warm welcoming at this years IFTD show in Las Vegas with their one of a kind NetStaff. It not only turned heads, it got a bunch of chatter started. As you’d expect from the name, it’s a cross between a fishing net and wading staff, but it also has a couple other cool features in the bag.

4 Features I Love About the NetStaff

netstaff

1. It’s doubles as a Wading Staff

As far as I know the NetStaff is the first fishing net that provides a true wading staff handle atop the net basket. I find myself all the time handing off my guide/boat net to my clients so they can wade safely across sketchy sections of water. Currently, I have a beautiful Brodin net that I love, and it nets fish with the best of them, but it’s not the sturdiest net out there. I’m always finding myself telling my clients, “be care with it, you can’t put all your weight on it”, and that never makes a client feel good hearing. The NetStaff is well built and is very sturdy and the nice handle atop the basket provides a firm place to grip for those tough wading situations. I’m sold solely on this feature but there’s more goodness. Now I could see this being a problem when netting fish in really shallow water, but I think overtime, the angler will be able to adjust their scooping angler to compensate for this.

2. It’s Size is Adjustable and it Collapses

I wear my net on my back or tuck it under my wading belt on the water when I’m fly fishing. It works pretty well, but the long nets I often use, which help cut down on fish battles and help me net big fish easier, tend to get in the way of my legs and also occasionally snag up on rocks, branches or logs when I’m trekking along the stream bank. The NetStaff has a few different locking length positions options you can choose to keep your net out of the way and secure on the water. If you’re catching small wild fish you can go with the short adjustment and if you’re tackling larger fish you can put it in the long position, where you’ll have fifty-four inches of reach. Another bonus about the NetStaff is that it collapses down very small. Small enough to fit into most large size pieces of travel luggage. If you travel frequently like Louis and I do, this feature will save you quite a bit of money overtime, because you won’t have to buy a landing net when you get to your fishing destination. I like providing my friends with back up fishing nets at the end of our trips, but it starts to drain the wallet after a while. The collapsibility of the NetStaff allows you to pack it with your other gear without any problems.

3. Built in grappling hook for fly retrieval.

As a guide, I deal with a lot of flies ending up in the trees and bushes. Call me cheap for taking the time to retrieve them, but I can’t stand leaving fly ornaments up and down the river. They’re flies, but they’re also trash. I’ve had success using my net to pull down branches to retrieve flies over the years, but it honestly doesn’t work all that great. The NetStaff, however, has a grappling hook at the end of the handle that you can pull out like a blade on a pocket knife to keep a firm grip on foliage when retrieving flies. I don’t know about you all, but I could see this feature coming in quite handy on the water.

The NetStaff also has a user friendly carry and store system which includes no zingers or heavy magnets. Check out the product video below that we shot at the IFTD show, which goes over all the features in detail.

For more information about the NetStaff please visit netstaffoutdoors.com

They have a trout model and a steelhead model with different basket sizes. Both retail for $199.00

Keep it Reel,

Come fish with us in the Bahamas!

Kent Klewein
Gink & Gasoline
www.ginkandgasoline.com
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
 
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
 

Follow Gink & Gasoline on Facebook:

11 thoughts on “NetStaff Product Video – 3 Reasons I Love This Fly Fishing Net

  1. Definitely really cool and looks well made. I really like the holster that he had on his back. I hate having net zingers and magnetic releases because they often limit your net’s effective reach, and get caught on streamside foliage. And of coarse that hook would come in handy every day on the water, especially as a guide. One thing that I don’t think was covered was the basket material. Nylon or rubber?

  2. Wow, that is the best “new” thing I have seen in a long time. Pricey, but darn cool. Going to have to consider getting one. Are they available to look at in any stores in OR?

  3. What’s that knob at the end of the hoop, near the small handle? Will it get in the way? Is the end handle removable in any way (Might be useful if you fish equally from a boat or while wading)?

    • Dan, the Knob Thing is the Male end of the Net Hangar system. There is a female end that can be attached with an epoxy/glue so the net can be hung. I”m slightly confused on the 2nd question: the end is removable, net comes completely apart at 3 points i do believe. If you only need it slightly extended like say fishing from a yak then there is no need to extend the entire net. The theory behind the removable sections is incase a section is broke that one section can be replaced. Hope this helps.

  4. Interesting concept and I can see how it works for a guide netting someone else’s fish. But, explain how you hold on to your rod, with a fish on, and at the same time use both hands to extend the handle on the net?

    • I wondered that as well, but YouTube video shows how. With one hand, you push a release button and thrust net forward and the net telescopes out.

  5. I purchased the 12 NetStaff about a year ago. Great idea if it worked. The locking pens keep becoming dislocated and then it will not lock. I have been calling and email NetStaff for days with no answer. Any ideas.

  6. Nice handy dandy invention from Erie Steelhead Guide Jeff Blood. I’ve been using both trout and Steelhead models since he invented it and started manufacturing them. Both the concept & performance is great for both angler or guide, consolidating net & wade staff into 1 item….handy hook is great for reaching those costly flies caught in the trees- pull limbs down. I recommend light coat of oil on telescopic shaft after every other use or so. Hint- add an Orvis tailing glove to your steelhead net version, makes life easy to unhook fish if you net a ++10lb plus Steelhead. Great Product 4.8 out of 5 stars.

  7. 1 out of 5 stars. This product looks great, but failed miserably for me. First, the holder does not stay on you fly vest if you use the clip on. That was minor and I just used my wait belt to hold the net against my back and that worked very well. The real problem was the staff would collapse while under weight in the river. The nubs that allow it to expand and contract are too weak and fail during use. This could be very dangerous. These nubs even disappeared into the staff making it ver difficult to fix. Suggest a more sturdy screw system that won’t fail. Like trekking poles. The net also doesn’t work well do to the hand grip, but that would be worth it if the staff worked. Bottom line. Save your money. Buy a really good lightweight net and use a good stick as a staff when needed. Also, the company never responded to my emails. Still waiting.

  8. Looks like they are going out of business. Every on liquidation sale at 60% off. Get one while you can. I bought both sizes of the netstaffs. Terrific quality. Great functionality. Landed bass on the fly rod with the bigger net out of my kayak yesterday. Also used it to push off the bank and numerous trees and stumps. Too bad this innovative product didn’t catch on. Highly recommend.

Leave a Reply to Chris Roche Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Captcha loading...