Impressions: Four years ago I reviewed Promar's Dan Hernandez Signature series landing net. Though I liked that net for it is rock solid construction and is easy to remove hooks from, the frame and mesh were outrageously heavy for a net of that size. A few years later Promar now responds with a new net called the ProMesh Landing Net.

Promar's Catch, Photo, and Release ProMesh net

I can still remember the first time I picked up the Promar ProMesh net, it was in two parts as the handle is able to breakaway from the hoop. I snapped the two pieces together and it felt solid hand. The entire landing net is lightweight and features a sturdy construction. I compared the weight of the new ProMesh and my used "Dan Hernandez" net, and in seconds I tossed the old Dan Hernandez net into my tackle-to-retire corner. The netting on the LN-652 is much thinner with a tighter mesh design having more small holes. The hoop frame and handle use large diameter aluminum tubes yet they are lightweight, and as mentioned above the handle can be removed from the hoop for easy transportation or storage.

 
Field Tests: The Promar ProMesh comes in various sizes but I've opted for the largest, LN-652, because I want to be able to utilize it for a wider range of fish. The ProMesh landing net was put against Delta stripers and largemouth bass, Pacific rockcod and lingcod, and Crowley trout in the Eastern Sierras.

Telescoping handle goes from 26 to 48 inches

Construction: I've been through many freshwater and saltwater nets, and having a solid net to land that prized fish is an absolute must. Promar did a good job with the ProMesh, the LN-652 model has an absolute rigid yet lightweight construction. Both the hoop frame and handle are fabricated from durable aluminum tubes. The yoke is made of thick nylon for greater strength and toughness.

Netting a hefty 11 pound Cabezon

One key feature that you will see on the Promar ProMesh net is that they use a double pin in the yoke to join the frame and handle. Most nets you see on the market uses one pin and that creates play and can feel very sloppy when landing fish. The double pin that the ProMesh uses held up well and gives zero play at critical loading points. One thing I did find was that it's much harder to disassemble the handle from the hoop because of the double pin design. This isn't a major issue because when retracted the overall length isn't that long and can be tossed in the back of a vehicle or boat locker easily.

Speaking of handle, the ProMesh has a telescoping handle that extends to 48 inches. This was especially good for those species that just didn't want to get close to the boat and would surface further out. And in some of our tests when fully extended the entire assembly felt sound even with a big load in the net, but you should always apply proper netting techniques.

After netting Zander lips the Cabezon

Netting: The netting on the Promar ProMesh net is very similar to many of the new catch and release style of rubber meshes. The LN-652 has a thin and smooth rubber mesh that's great for catch and release especially on sensitive species like trout. The team utilized the Promar net at Crowley Lake in the Eastern Sierras over the summer for those hard fighting yet fragile Rainbows and each time we are able to net, photo, and release them without harm.

Cal battles a Crowley Rainbow Trout while JIP waits to net the fish with the ProMesh

The netting is great for those big trout but is also great for those tougher and meaner species such as bass, stripers, and rockfish. Tough spins, vampire-teethed Lingcods, and death rolls couldn't do any damage to this thin and smooth yet durable rubber mesh.

A fine rubber mesh is used on the Promar ProMesh net

Netting that has small holes means that it is harder to get your hook tangled in the mesh but the disadvantage is that when you do get a hook snagged on the mesh it can be equally hard to get out as well. This happened a few times fishing Megabait LiveJigs with a single treble hook at the end of the metal jig. Bringing up large Cabezones or Lingcods, after you net the fish they sometimes roll voraciously. If all three treble points hook through the mesh holes at various points, it can take you some time and delicate pliers work to undo. When I tested the Promar Dan Hernandez in the past, that net had large mesh holes, you're guaranteed to get your hook snagged in the netting but it was easy to remove the fish and lures the vast majority of the time.