KastKing Brutus Fishing Net, Foldable Extendable Fish Landing Net, Lightweight & Portable Fishing Net with Soft EVA Foam Handle, Holds up to 44lbs/20KG, Fish-Friendly Mesh for a Safe Release

This is the largest Brutus net with silicone webbing, which I have tested on my bass boat and kayak. I ordered this because I wanted: 1. Something larger than I had been using on my kayak; 2. Silicone webbing that would be gentler on the fish and not allow hooks to get stuck 3. Also usable on my bass boat yet stowable.There is product quality and there is fit for use. Some people confuse these two. This net scores in both regards for me. I’ve had the chance to use it on a few kayak trips and one in the bass boat. So far it has performed well and seems well made. I can’t speak to long-term durability—if I run into issues I will edit this review.Quality: It was easy to assemble—just a couple steps. You can play with the alignment to position the measuring scale to be on top or wherever you want it when the net is deployed. It is easy to open up the hoop and extend the handle as much or little as needed—standard twist-lock and telescoping mechanism. And once you’ve worked the release a few times to fold the hoop back up it’s pretty easy. I’ve played with Academy’s comparable net and the Brutus is much easier to set up and adjust and feels lighter yet more solid overall. Worth the extra $10 in price. It comes with a zippered cover, but I don’t know why you’d use it unless your having to pack it for transport.Fit for Use: This is a big net. I wanted a bigger, beefier net, since the foldable net I’ve been using strains with a 4-5 lb bass. See two pics comparing the nets collapsed and deployed/fully extended. It is definitely heavier, particularly with the huge silicone net. See in another pic that 16”/ 2 lb bass looks like a minnow in the bottom of this thing. This model Brutus may be a little bigger than I need for the kayak (unless I go after something bigger than typical bass). The next size down would probably be better sized if I used it only there. But I’ll also use it on my bass boat, for which it is sized perfectly with the handle extended. On the yak I keep it up on the bow of my Hobie Outback with the handle unextended between my drive pedals.The silicone net delivers on the reasons I wanted it and then some. It is easier on the fish than thin webbing, plus hooks are easy to remove. It is a pain when hooks get wrapped in the webbing (or even worse, pierce it), especially trebles. I netted fish with all kinds of lures and had no problem getting the hooks out. Another thing I noticed that I didn’t think about when ordering is odor retention. I usually have to wash my other nets when I get home to remove the fishstench. This last yak outing I netted three fish and just dipped it quickly in the lake after each one. It had no fishy smell at all when we were done. So if you’re stowing this thing after use it shouldn’t stink up your hold, etc.So BOTTOM LINE: well-made, sized great for a boat, ok for a yak but a little big unless you’re going after something bigger than typical bass. Easy on the fish, easy to get hooks out and doesn’t hold odor very much. I would recommend, and would definitely consider the next size down if only using on a yak.

The overall design and construction quality are outstanding. I got the 20x16" hoop with the silicone net. The hoop segments are hexagonal aluminum tubing that's taller than it is wide (see photo). This creates a light, sturdy hoop with very little flex. The main shaft is round aluminum tubing with square channels to allow for extending/retracting and locking with a simple twist. To test the overall strength I placed 20 pounds of iron weights in the basket and held at the padded handle and about halfway down the shaft. The only place there was any noticeable bend was right at the base of the hoop, and it was slight (see photo). It regained its original shape as soon as the weights were removed.I was worried about how sturdy the folding/extending mechanism would be. Turns out it's extremely sturdy. Much better than I expected. It pivots smoothly and locks securely, and it unlocks easily with a thumb switch. The sturdiness comes at the expense of a little extra weight, but it's worth it.I got the silicone netting for two reasons. It's very gentle on fish, including on their mucus coat. It also doesn't grab hooks and get tanged in them.I got this net for use on my kayak, so the folding is important. I've seen other folding nets that fold up smaller, but this one seems much more sturdy, with a full aluminum hoop and more typical hoop shape. The nylon case helps keep it from tangling too.The only thing I can think of that I would change is the zip ties used to keep the netting from sliding away from the folding mechanism when folded. The little blocks on the zip ties are on the inside (see photo). These could scratch you when reaching into the basket, which isn't a big deal, but it seems like it could be done better.This is a great net, and like most KastKing products, the price is very reasonable.