Review: Rockspring Nets
Craftmanship and functionality. Those are two words that describe Rockspring Nets well, and it all starts with the handle design.
The handles on Rockspring Nets have an ergonomical design. When you pick one up, it feels natural in your hand, secure, and easy to control. There’s no flipping the net around trying to get a good grip so you can net your fish. Your fingers wrap perfectly around the handle with the basket open and ready to do its job.
And once the fish is resting in the bottom of the net, if you’re like me, you probably have a habit of jamming that handle between your legs as you wrestle your phone out of your pocket to snap a quick photo, reach in to unhook the fish, or just want to get a better look at your catch. The oval-shaped, vertically-designed handle is great for this. Even if you squeeze it between your knees, the net won’t flip sideways and allow the fish to escape.
Jocko and Raffy Designs
Rockspring Nets offers selections in two primary designs: the Jocko Landing Net and the Raffy Landing Net. Each of these is available in Short Run (25.5 inches), Mid Run (29 inches), and Long Run (32 inches), and the Jocko is also available in a Guide version that has an overall length of 42 inches.
The Jocko Net is great when you need a gaping mouth for landing big, heavy fish. The Raffy Net has a more elongated shape and has a classic trout appearance. The rubber, coated baskets on each model is deep enough to handle a wide range of fish sizes. These baskets are high quality, too, and will not rip easily or breakdown like cheaper nets.
All nets come with a pre-drilled hole in the bottom of the handle and a slip knot lanyard that consists of a paracord loop with two slip knots. The loop is attached to the handle and can be adjusted for size.
Quality Craftsmanship
What will impress you most about Rockspring Nets, though, is the craftmanship of each product. These are high quality wooden nets that are almost too pretty to use. And they’re so lightweight that you can hang them on your back and you’ll forget they’re even there until you need them.
From their website: “Our handcrafted wood landing nets incorporate remarkable lightweight characteristic. Even in comparison to carbon fiber nets of identical size, our nets are lighter than most, making them a game-changer for every fishing enthusiast. We proudly utilize North American hardwoods such as cherry, walnut, and maple, allowing us to blend functionality with the elegant beauty of natural materials.”
And they’re durable. I started using my Raffy Landing Net (Mid Run) earlier this spring and have put it through the paces. I’ve stepped on it, used it as a staff to help me climb up out of the water onto steep banks, banged it against rocks, left it in my truck during extremely hot days, and abused it myriad other ways. This net has held up, and not only that, it looks the same as it did when I pulled it new out of the box. Rockspring Nets are high quality products that are built to last.
For more information about Rockspring Nets, check out their website. I highly recommend these for anyone looking for a durable, functional, and affordable landing net that is also easy on the eyes!
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