If you are heading to the lake for a long day of fishing or even a multi-day trip. You are going to need a lot of bait. Bait can get expensive if you are buying it all the time. It’s much more cost effective to catch your own. Let’s figure out what a great cast net is for you.
What better way to do this than getting a great cast net. However, finding the right cast net can be overwhelming. There are so many to choose from. What’s the right size for me? What size netting do I need; for the fish I’m trying to catch?
We’re here to help you out with that. We scoured the web and found all the good, the bad, and the ugly of cast nets. We tried out a few. Picking only the top 5 that we liked and hope that you will too.
What Makes a Good Cast Net?
I’m going to try and make this as easy as possible with tables instead of 1000’s of words. Keep this one short and to the point.
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When looking for a cast net you want the material to be made of soft, hand-tied mesh netting. The hand line should be a braided polypropylene rope. All the weights should all be securely attached. The brail lines should run from the handline to the weights and be a quality heavy-duty monofilament. In other words, this thing should be as tough as it can possibly be.
You would ideally want something that is not going to mark up the boat deck. So a coating over any metal areas, the horn. A heavy duty swivel at the neck, and aerodynamic so it flies through the air and you get that beautiful perfect circle.
Diagram of a Cast Net
Cast nets do come in various sizes, styles, and shapes, making them ideal for all types of bait fishing scenarios. I highly recommend checking with state and local Department of Natural Resources about rules and regulations before just throwing a line out.
Here is a link for ODNR (Ohio Department of Natural Resources) fishing regulations.
If you want to learn more about cast nets see my previous post
Cast Nets: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming an Expert at Fishing with a Net
How to Find the Right Size Cast Net
Net Size & Mesh Size
Weight
Material
I know I said I was going to just have tables, but this one needs some more explination.
Monofilament
As the name implies, the monofilament is made up of a single thread. Typically made with nylon. This is a more transparent netting, making it harder for the fish to spot as it sinks into the water. However, it is not as strong as the rest of the materials, making it susceptible to tearing and stretching. The material is not as easy on your hand when emptying your catch.
Multifilament
The Multifilament netting or nylon multifilament is made up of several stands of monofilament. It is either twisted or braided together. Making it stronger than monofilament. This material is still very light and flexible. It has a higher visability in clear water, but can be dyed any color. The mateiral typically does not float, making it more prone to picking up debris (grass, sticks, leaves).
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a super soft plastic material. It is more flexible than most nettings, holds up in cold weather, and more resistant to cracking than other netting materials. This material is one of the most widely used plastics on the planet (2024). It floats and is very resistant to UV-rays.
Braided Dyneema
This is considered to be one of the strongest materials in the world today (2024). Manufactured exclusively at a Netherlands based company. On a molecular level it is stronger than steel. It’s a super light, an ultra strong fiber, that can also float on water. Making ideal for a heavy duty fishing net in deep water, for hauling in large species.
Types
Disclaimer: These are affiliate links. Meaning I get a kickback if you click the link and purchase the item. This does not add any additional cost to you. This is a service that we provide, with researching and trying out different types of cast nets.
Okay… now that is out of the way.
5 Best Rated Cast Nets
Our Picks for Best Cast Nets and Why
Best Overall Cast Net: Bait Buster Professional Grade Cast Net
Features:
- Patented Dragon Head swivel makes it easy to replace brail lines
- Weight: 1.5 pounds per foot
- Dimensions: 3/8 inch mesh – available in 5ft, 6ft, 7ft, 8ft, 9ft, 10ft, 12ft
- Material: 0.28mm 100 pound test green monofilament
- Comes with it’s own bucket for easy storage
Pros:
- Great for cast in shallow water
- Durable for monofilament
- Easy hand line retrieval
- Good for beginners and pro’s
- Sinks fast
- Green color doesn’t spook fish
- Comes with a bucket
- Weights are crimped in the line to prevent sliding
- Dragon Head swivel
Cons:
- Doesn’t always open fully
- More expensive than other alternatives
- Weights are barrel shaped, not round as advertised
Best Small Bait Cast Net: Betts Old Salt Premium Cast Net
Features:
- Weight: 1 pound per foot
- Dimensions: 3/8 inch mesh, comes in 3.5 foot to 10 foot
- Material: Monofilament
Pros
- Great for begginers
- Has the ideal 1 pound per foot weight ratio
- Weights are crimped into the line
- Oval weights
- Ideal for shallow water
- Long retrieval line
- Comes with a utility box
Cons
- No hand loop
- Retrieval line is slippery
- Not ideal for deep water
- Catches debris
- Rip and pull easily
Best Variety Cast Net: Goture American Cast Net
Features
- Weight: 3/4lb per foot
- Dimensions: 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch mesh, available in 4ft, 8ft, 10ft, or 12ft
- Material: Copolymer monofilament
- 30ft braided hand line
- Handle and wrist loop for retrieval
Pros
- Lots of variety in mesh size and net size
- Good for beginners and pros
- Long durable hand line
- Easy to grip handle
- Environmentally friendly sinkers
- Durable monofilament
- Good for any size bait
Cons
- No brail lines
- Easily tangles
- Loose perimeter lines
- Horn can easily come apart
- Bucket not included
Best Beginner Cast Net: Ahi USA 50 Monofilament Cast Net
Features
- Weight: 3/4 pounds per foot
- Dimensions: 3/8 inch mesh, available in sizes from 3 feet to 0 feet
- Material: UBE monofilament, 80 pound test brail lines
- 24 foot handline
- Handline swivel
Pros
- Good for shallow to medium water (3-6 feet)
- Works for beginners and experienced throwers
- High size variety
- Chip resistant weights
- Strong brail lines
- Comes with a bucket
- Hard for fish to see
Cons
- Slow sinking
- Hand line gets slippery
- Catches debris easily
- No ideal for deep water
Best Budget Cast Net: FiTech Super Spreader Cast Net
Features
- Weight: 3/4lb per foot
- Dimension: 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch mesh, comes in a variety of sizes 3ft to 12ft
- Material: 80lb test brail lines, clear monofilament
- Komfort Kuff
Pros
- Great for any level caster
- Size variety
- 20ft braided poly hand line
- Triple-tied lead line
- Velcro Komfort Kuff wrist strap
- Ideal for shallow water
- Comes with a utility box
Cons
- Slow sinking
- Hand line gets slippery
- Easily tangles
- Picks up a lot of debris
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is there are a ton of cast nets on the market. While all of these nets, if used properly, will catch fish. There are significant difference in every net on the market today. You do need to pay attention to the size of the net, the size of the mesh, the weight per foot, and how deep are you trying to catch bait fish in. Choose a design that meets your needs and your budget.
Happy Fishing
