Wychwood Boatman Landing Net review

What is the Wychwood Boatman landing net?

The Wychwood Boatman landing net is a specialist landing net aimed at the angler who fly fishes from a boat. Compared to your average landing net, this is a real step up in terms of quality. It has a really premium feel and is made from top end materials. It has a long, extending handle, a firm grip and is made from plastic coated mesh, which is kinder to the skin of fish and reduces the likelihood of your hooks tangling in the mesh when landing fish.

How is the Wychwood Boatman net made?

The round head of the Boatman net has a very strong steel frame which screws into a sturdy T-section which screws into the handle of the net. The net head is very strong indeed and doesn't creek under pressure when you've got a large fish in the net or have had a double hook-up. It's one of the best-built trout landing nets I've seen.

What is the handle like?

The handle on the Wychwood Boatman net is made from a mixture of carbon fibre materials to reduce weight while keeping it feeling really strong, while the handle has a soft and grippy EVA section at the end so you can hold the net firmly without dropping it overboard. 

There's a locking mechanism at the end of the carbon handle to allow you to adjust the length of the net. When closed it's around 1.3m in length, but it will extend right up to 2.4m to give you extra reach when fishing with a long leader. 

What is it like to use?

The Wychwood Boatman is an excellent net for use in the boat. Despite the carbon fibre handle, it's not the lightest net due to the heavy duty construction at the business end, but it does feel built to last as a result. The handle has loads of grip, extends to a good length to allow you to reach fish when fishing with long leaders and is strong enough to take the strain of more than one fish. The plastic coated mesh causes less harm to fish and hooks don't get stuck in it, so you can net your fish without the need to spend the next five minutes picking the hooks out of the mesh.

How much does this net cost?

The Wychwood Boatman landing net costs £59.99. This is a reasonable price given the quality of the net. If you fish more from the bank, the Wychwood Bankman net is another option, which is a tad cheaper at around £49.99.

Available from: Amazon