Jackson, Wis. - How about this for a landing net concept? A broomstick. That's right, a broomstick. Ok, so what about, you know, the net? It's inside the handle. Yes, inside the handle. When you need it, the net pops right out with the ease of an umbrella. No more worrying about where to store the net in the boat. That's because the hoop and netting disappeared. Poof, they went back inside the handle.
Frabill's patented new Hiber-Net has made this unlikely concept a reality: the first completely portable, retractable landing net. Stored, it's no bulkier than your nighttime running lights. It's the first net that fits cleanly inside any standard rod locker. You'll forget it's even there...until you need it. Grab the handle, slide the grip forward, and out shoots a hoop and net, locking into place for the big moment.
"Hiber-Net is unquestionably the best portable landing net solution we've seen," states Frabill Engineer, Ryan Kleckner. "And in over seventy years in the net business, we've seen more than a few.
The beauty of the Hiber-Net really lies in its simple, foolproof design, Kleckner believes. "There are no buttons or confusing push connections. All you do is slide the handle upward. You feel, see and hear the net lock into place, so there's no way to overdo it. Hiber-Net retracts instantly, too. Just pull the Slide Grip back toward the handle. This unlocks the hoop and draws it back inside the tube."
"I can't imagine that there's an angler out there who couldn't use one of these," says Dale Stroschein, professional guide and Frabill product tester. "Hiber-Net is the perfect all-purpose landing net. During my time on the pro walleye circuit, this net would have prevented a lot of hassles-fish lost when loose hooks tangled in the mesh, not to mention the damage that's done to most nets when they're stepped on or plain snagged. Hiber-Net eliminates all those worries. And it fits inside by rod box."
And it's as solid in construction as it is in performance. "Hiber-Net's handle and hoop frames are built with heavy-walled, extruded aluminum," reports Kleckner. "The Slide-Grip uses pultruded fiberglass springs, which power the automatic hoop lock. There's no tension when the net's retracted, so it never wears out. We use stainless steel hardware and anodized aluminum, too. The whole product is extremely corrosion resistant, so it works equally well in saltwater."
More features: a premium rubberized handle yields sure-handed use. The netting itself is a soft, black poly mesh. Retracted, Hiber-Net is 52-inches in length, with a triangular-shaped hoop that's 22- by 22-inches by 24-inches deep.
Says Stroschein: "Hiber-Net does what a good net's supposed to do-land fish. But it also does what most fail to do-stow cleanly out of the way until you need it."