Many anglers consider including a net in their wilderness fishing gear. It is additional weight to carry, but it is highly recommended. Making the hike to wilderness lakes pays dividends. You'll catch many fish, and big ones, too! On one such hike carrying our Backpacker Pro ultralight float tubes for access to the best water, all four of our Wilderness Lite team landed lifetime personal best brook trout on the same day from a backcountry lake. They included several 20" plus fish.
Nets came in handy! Using them best assured quick landing and release, so those big brookies would be alive and well for our next visit. Securing your rod with the dual Velcro clamps while working with the landed fish on the wet, extra fine mesh stripping apron of your Wilderness Lite float tube enables fast measurement. This facilitates quick release with minimal stress for best fish survival. Bottom line, a net has become a must have tool in our ultralight float tube fishing gear. Ultralight nets weigh as little as 6.0 ozs.
Our current recommendation is the 6.0 oz White River aluminum trout net for just $9.99 at Bass Pro.
www.basspro.com/shop/en/white-river-fly-shop-aluminum-trout-net?searchTerm=white
Rubber baskets also are available to replace a fine mesh nylon net basket. The rubber basket is typically about 3oz heavier, but current consensus suggests rubber may be easier on the protective mucus coating of fish skin than even a fine mesh, knot free nylon basket.
Dovesun Rubber Fishing Net Replacement Rubber Mesh Net Bag for Trout Net, 16” diameter; Amazon $15.99
In any case, fishing from an ultralight float tube and using a net has MANY advantages, especially when contrasted with the worst case scenario of fishing mountain lakes from shore with no net. Fish are played to exhaustion attempting to land them, and many fish are either lost before landing and/or injured when landed onto shoreline rocks, etc.
CONCLUSION...a net is NOT an option, it is ESSENTIAL gear for your wilderness ultralight float tube fishing.