***Editor’s Note – we have updated this list for 2021 – It is now our list of the Best Walleye Fishing Nets for 2021!***
One of the questions we get asked a lot is what are the best walleye fishing nets? This is an important question to answer since we do not want you losing any trophy walleyes because you have the wrong gear!
What are the best walleye fishing nets? The best overall walleye fishing net is the Frabill Trophy Haul Fishing Net, and the best value buy is the EGO Genesis S1 Walleye Fishing Net.
There are also some other really good walleye landing nets that are great for different fishing situations; so, we have reviewed those for you as well!
Once you read this article you should have all the information you need to buy the right walleye fishing net – and we even incorporated affiliate links to the pictures to make it really easy for you to buy the fishing net that sticks out to you!
Table of Contents
Quick List and Review of the Best Walleye Fishing Nets
Here is a quick list and review of the best walleye landing nets. After this list is a quick list of the best walleye fishing nets for different situations. After that list, is a very detailed review of each individual net that will have all the specs and information you could possibly need to make sure you are picking the right walleye fishing net.
Enjoy! And hopefully these walleye fishing net reviews makes it really easy for you to see what fishing net you need for your fishing situations!
| Walleye Net Rank | Walleye Fishing Net Description | Walleye Landing Net Picture |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Frabill Trophy Haul Fishing Nets |  |
| #2 | EGO Genesis S1 Fishing Nets |  |
| #3 | StowMaster Mr. Walleye Fishing Net |  |
| #4 | Frabill Conservation Series Fishing Nets |  |
| #5 | KastKing Madbite Folding Fishing Net |  |
Best Walleye Fishing Nets for Different Situations
All these fishing nets you see in this article are going to be fantastic. However, there are certain walleye fishing nets that are better in different situations than others. So, we wanted to provide you with a quick list of the best walleye landing nets for different situations to ensure you pick the right fishing net for your fishing adventures!
- Best Overall Walleye Fishing Net: Frabill Trophy Haul
- Best Walleye Net Value Buy: EGO Genesis S1 Fishing Nets
- Easiest Walleye Net to Stow: StowMaster Mr. Walleye Fishing Net
- Best Catch and Release Walleye Net: Frabill Conservation Series
Beneath this great list of the best walleye fishing nets for different situations is a very detailed review about each net.
Best Overall Walleye Fishing Net: Frabill Trophy Haul
Released in 2020, the Frabill Trophy Haul series of fishing nets has all the bells and whistles you could ask for – plus the amazing durability you would expect from a Frabill fishing net. It was an easy choice for us to rank the Frabill Trophy Haul Fishing Net as the Best Overall Walleye Fishing Net.
The handle and yoke system of this net creates an amazing grip, is lightweight, is very durable, is very easy to control, and creates the balance you need to land trophy walleye.
The sliding handle is 48″ in length when fully extended, but it is also relatively easy to store on any boat when not in use.
We also love the coated netting material that is easy on fish; and the reflective material that runs around the net’s hoop even helps land fish at night.
Here are the three size options you can purchase *We would recommend the 21″ x 24″ or 24″ x 27″ for Walleye*:
| Model # with Link | Hoop Size | Mesh Size | Net Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRBNX18S | 18″ x 21″ | .5″ | 14″ |
| FRBNX21S | 21″ x 24″ | .5″ | 17″ |
| FRBNX24S | 24″ x 27″ | .5″ | 20″ |
Oh, and did we mention the most expensive option in the fishing net line is going to cost you around $100? That is a steal!
All these factors are why we had to call the Frabill Trophy Haul Fishing Net the best overall landing net for walleye fishing!
Best Walleye Fishing Net Value Buy: EGO Genesis S1 Fishing Nets
If you are looking for a great walleye fishing net at an amazing value – you need not look any further than the EGO Genesis S1 Fishing Net line. They tremendous fishing nets will help you land a lot of walleye and won’t break the bank.
One of the unique features of these fishing nets is that they also float. So, if you accidently drop your net into the water, you are going to be able to get it back, and that is a win in my book!
Besides being able to float, these unique fishing nets has a hexagonal shaped handle that is made out of aluminum – and can be detached from the net. These handles have a few major benefits:
- The removable handle makes these fishing nets very easy to store on a boat or in a shed when not in use.
- The detachable handle can be attached to over 30 different accessories that can be purchased including a deck brush, gaff hook, a lure retriever and more! That is some flexibility out of a fishing net!
Other great features of these nets included a limited 2-year warranty and over 19 hoop size/mesh type options to pick from…although some won’t be effective for walleye fishing.
Here are the medium-sized EGO Genesis S1 Walleye Fishing Nets we would recommend (These ALL HAVE a 25″ in length Removable Handle & a 30 LB Weight Capacity):
| EGO Net Name With Link | Hoop Size | Net Material | Net Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 Genesis Medium Nylon Net | 17" x 19" | Nylon Mesh | 28" |
| S1 Genesis Medium Rubber Coated Nylon Net | 17" x 19" | Rubber Coated Nylon | 28" |
| S1 Genesis Medium PVC Coated Net | 17" x 19" | PVC Coated Mesh | 16" Flat Bottom |
| S1 Genesis Medium Rubber Net | 17" x 19" | Rubber | 15" Flat Bottom |
| S1 Genesis Medium Clear Rubber Net | 17" x 19" | Clear Rubber | 15" Flat Bottom |
From a personal preference standpoint, the standard nylon mesh is my least favorite option just because it is harder on fish in catch and release situations – and my favorite is the Rubber Coated Nylon, but I understand how rubber nets have such a loyal following!
Oh, and did I forget to mention these nets will run somewhere between $50 – $65 depending on the option you pick! That is a VALUE BUY!
If you are someone who wants a slightly larger walleye net you still got some great options with the Large EGO S1 Genesis Line. Same great features as listed above, except the handle is 31″ in length and the hoop size is 19″ x 21″. Here are your large options:
| EGO Net Name with Link | Hoop Size | Hoop Material | Net Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 Genesis Large Nylon Net | 19" x 21" | Nylon Mesh | 31" |
| S1 Genesis Large Rubber Coated Nylon Net | 19" x 21" | Rubber Coated Nylon | 31" |
| S1 Genesis Large PVC Coated Net | 19" x 21" | PVC Coated Mesh | 31" |
| S1 Genesis Large Rubber Net | 19" x 21" | Rubber | 15" Flat Bottom |
| S1 Genesis Clear Rubber Net | 19" x 21" | Clear Rubber | 11" Flat Bottom |
These nets are slightly more expensive, normally in that $55 – $70 range depending on the option you pick. Again, it is just hard to beat that value for the net you are going to be getting!
I think it is pretty easy to see why the EGO S1 Genesis Fishing Nets are our #1 Best Walleye Landing Net Value Buy Option.
Easiest Walleye Net to Stow: StowMaster Mr. Walleye Fishing Net
There are two things you probably gathered by this fishing net’s name – it was designed for walleye fishing and it should be easy to stow. If you made those assumptions, you would be correct!
It was easy for us to name the StowMaster Mr. Walleye Fishing Net the easiest walleye net to stow…and it is a great overall fishing net as well!
The telescopic handle is what makes this net special and easy to store. Here are the important handle details:
- It is a two-stage telescopic handle. The handle is 1″ in diameter.
- The handle has extra-ridges that help with the grip; and the 1″ diameter is easy to handle.
- Handle is made from aluminum alloy that is incredibly durable.
- When fully extended the handle is 72″ in length; When you are ready to store the fishing net – the stowed size is ONLY 11″ x 34″!!!
The hoop size is 20″ x 24″ with a bag depth of 24″. The netting is a coated knotless design that is easy on fish and it helps prevent your fishing lures from getting snagged into the mesh.
All these features make these StowMaster Mr. Walleye Fishing Nets a great walleye landing net – but that stowed size of only 11″ x 34″ is a game changer! This terrific fishing net well be a popular option for walleye anglers!
Best Catch and Release Walleye Fishing Net: Frabill Conservation Series
I am a huge fan of catch and release fishing (although walleye tends to be the one species of fish I tend to keep when I can). So, we wanted to make sure you had a great catch and release walleye fishing net option. The option we would recommend would be the Frabill Conservation Series fishing net.
There are a 3-different size options that work for walleye that we will list out in a second, but all these nets are built with catch and release anglers in mind. Here are some of the special features that are great for catch and release fishing:
- The bottom of the net has a flat/linear design that supports the fish and reduces potential injuries.
- The net mesh is knotless to reduce injuries to fish. This mesh design also helps reduce lure snagging.
- The black finish of the net looks really good in the water and will hopefully prevent “spooking” the fish.
Besides these great features, we recommend the telescoping handle design that is easy to grasp, control, and is very durable. And price wise you are right around that $90 to $100 mark which is fantastic for a net of this quality.
Here are the Frabill Conservation Walleye Net Options we would recommend:
| Model Number | Hoop Size | Handle Length | Net Depth | Mesh Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9510 | 20" x 23" | 24" - 48" Telescopic Handle | 16" | 1" |
| 9512 | 23" x 26" | 36" - 72" Telescopic Handle | 16" | 1" |
| 9522 | 26" x 30" | 48" - 96" Telescopic Handle | 38" | 1" |
If you are big into catch and release fishing you are going to love one of these options. And best yet, the Frabill Conservation Series Walleye Landing Nets are well designed to become your go-to fishing net for most fishing situations.
KastKing Madbite Folding Fishing Net
KastKing makes some really good fishing equipment at a very good price – which is why we wanted to include this fishing net on the list. This is a great option for anglers that don’t necessarily want to spend a lot of money on fishing nets or don’t have a lot of room yet to store their fishing gear. If you are in that boat, this is a great walleye landing net option.
Here are the highlights of the KastKing Madbite Folding Landing Net:
- These nets have a triangular shaped hoop design that folds up for easy storage.
- Net hoop and handle are made from E-glass; this makes it light-weight and durable. In fact, the heaviest option of this folding net is only 2-pounds in weight.
- The Net mesh has a great, tangle-free finish that should help prevent hooks from getting tangled-up.
Here are the specs of the KastKing Madbite Folding Walleye Landing Nets that we would recommend:
| Fishing Net Name | Hoop Size | Net Depth | Extended Handle Length | Folded Net Size (L X W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KastKing Madbite Folding Fishing Net (Small) | 20" x 16" | 20" | 45" | 27" x 8" |
| KastKing Madbite Folding Fishing Net (Large) | 24" x 20" | 24" | 76" | 33" x 10" |
The price of these fishing nets is also going to be under $50 – making it a great investment for a dependable walleye fishing net that won’t break the bank!
Final Notes
Like we said before, don’t lose trophy walleye because you don’t have the right type of fishing equipment. These fishing nets are the best at landing walleye – and if you are a serious walleye angler – you are going to want one of these to be on the boat beside you.
Hopefully, these detailed walleye net breakdowns and walleye net reviews will also allow you to purchase the perfect walleye landing net for your fishing situation.
If you are taking a fishing trip adventure to a place like Canada where there is a chance to land trophy sized fish of multiple species, you might want to check out some of these links:
Enjoy your walleye fishing adventures and we can’t wait to see the pictures of your trophy catch!