How about this for a landing net concept? A broomstick. That’s right, a broomstick. Ok, so what about, you know, the net? It’s inside the handle. Yes, inside the handle. When you need it, the net pops right out with the ease of an umbrella. No more worrying about where to store the net in the boat. That’s because the hoop and netting disappeared. Poof, they went back inside the handle.

Frabill’s patented new Hiber-Net™ has made this unlikely concept a reality: the first completely portable, retractable landing net. Stored, it’s no bulkier than your nighttime running lights. It’s the first net that fits cleanly inside any standard rod locker. You’ll forget it’s even there…until you need it. Grab the handle, slide the grip forward, and out shoots a hoop and net, locking into place for the big moment.

“Hiber-Net is unquestionably the best portable landing net solution we’ve seen,” states Frabill Engineer, Ryan Kleckner. “And in over seventy years in the net business, we’ve seen more than a few.

The beauty of the Hiber-Net really lies in its simple, foolproof design, Kleckner believes. “There are no buttons or confusing push connections. All you do is slide the handle upward. You feel, see and hear the net lock into place, so there’s no way to overdo it. Hiber-Net retracts instantly, too. Just pull the Slide Grip back toward the handle. This unlocks the hoop and draws it back inside the tube.”

“I can’t imagine that there’s an angler out there who couldn’t use one of these,” says Dale Stroschein, professional guide and Frabill product tester. “Hiber-Net is the perfect all-purpose landing net. During my time on the pro walleye circuit, this net would have prevented a lot of hassles – fish lost when loose hooks tangled in the mesh, not to mention the damage that’s done to most nets when they’re stepped on or plain snagged. Hiber-Net eliminates all those worries. And it fits inside my rod box.”

And it’s as solid in construction as it is in performance. “Hiber-Net’s handle and hoop frames are built with heavy-walled, extruded aluminum,” reports Kleckner.” The Slide-Grip uses pultruded fiberglass springs, which power the automatic hoop lock. There’s no tension when the net’s retracted, so it never wears out. We use stainless steel hardware and anodized aluminum, too. The whole product is extremely corrosion resistant, so it works equally well in saltwater.”
More features: a premium rubberized handle yields sure-handed use. The netting itself is a soft, black poly mesh. Retracted, Hiber-Net is 52-inches in length, with a triangular-shaped hoop that’s 22- by 22-inches by 24-inches deep.

Says Stroschein: “Hiber-Net does what a good net’s supposed to do-land fish. But it also does what most fail to do-stow cleanly out of the way until you need it.”

Frabill Advances the Cause for Fish Care Management
The new Conservation Series landing nets are designed for releasing fish unharmed

JACKSON, WIS. – The emphasis has changed. For decades, a landing net was an insurance policy against fish not making it to the frying pan. Nowadays, anglers use landing nets to expedite the release process, which reduces stress on the fish. Frabill, the world leader in landing net technology, has designed the new Conservation Series ‘Fish Friendly Landing Nets’ to perform ideally during both the catch and the release.

At Frabill, it’s called ‘Fish Care Management,’ the gentle and thoughtful handling of fish from “hookset to the time they’re fully released and swimming away,” says Frabill Vice President of Marketing Jeff Kolodzinksi.

“It all starts by controlling the fish,” he says. “A fish that is quickly subdued has less chance of inflicting injury onto itself, not to mention throwing a treble hook into your forehead,” adds Kolodzinksi with the grim reminder of what can happen.

Kolodzinksi says that most permanent, even fatal injuries to a fish occur during capture. “Eyes are damaged; fins get broken; slime and scales removed. All of which can lead to harmful fungus and infections.”

Frabill’s Conservation Series was developed to pamper the catch, lessen stress on the fish, even speed up the catch and release process.

“It starts with our knotless meshing,” says Kolodzinksi. The Conservation Series’ knotless meshing and special coating minimize the damage to scales and fins caused by traditional nets.

The physical shape of the hoop and meshing play equally as important roles. “Old style conical nets deliver a fish tail first. Fish come in upside down, tailfin smashed.” The Conservation Series’ distinctive flat-bottom cradles fish, keeping them on their sides, and with body weight evenly distributed.

Not lost in the concern for a fish’s welfare is overall performance. “This is one serious net,” says Frabill Pro Scott Glorvigen touting the Pow’R Lok Yoke System and corrosion-proof construction. “We’re talking tournament quality.”

The Conservation Series is available in 9 models, the various hoop sizes and handle lengths geared for specific species and applications. Some models are intended for multiuse.