Gear · Landing nets · Updated September 2026
The Best Landing Nets for Carp Fishing
Which size you need, the nets I have used for years, the accessories that make netting a fish easier, and how to net a carp without damaging it or losing it at the last second.
The Wychwood Signature 36, a Trakker carbon 42 and a Fox Warrior S 50 have been my nets for years, after a run of cheap ones that taught me what to avoid. The rest here are assessed on specification and buyer feedback, and the how-to is from a lot of fish on the mat.
The short answer
Buy a 42-inch net: it is the minimum most specimen waters require and it will land any UK carp. The Trakker Sanctuary T8 is the one I would buy today, the Fox Horizon X3-S comes with a decent pole if you need both, and the NGT 42 does the job for £25 if you are starting out. Go to 50 inches only for catfish or if you fish waters with fish over forty.
Best 42-inch net
Trakker Sanctuary T8 42"
Carbon arms, metal spreader block, deep fish-friendly mesh. The net to buy once.
Best net and pole
Fox Horizon X3-S 42"
A 42-inch net with an 8ft two-piece pole in one box, from the range I specify for beginners.
Best budget
NGT 42" net and 3m handle
A full 42-inch net with a three-piece handle for £25. Fine for a first season; buy a float for it.
Which size landing net for carp
Carp nets come in three sizes and the choice is simpler than it looks. A 36-inch net is for fish to around ten pounds, general fishing on small lakes and float fishing for smaller species. A 42-inch net is the minimum most specimen lakes require, and it will land any carp in Britain. A 50-inch net is for catfish, whose tails will not fit in a 42, and for waters where a forty is possible.
Cheap nets are a false economy and can be dangerous to the fish. Coarse, stiff mesh catches a carp’s fins and breaks them, and a plastic spreader block that will not hold the arms under tension collapses at the wrong moment. I bought several cheap 50s before the Fox Warrior S, and if I had bought it first it would have been the only one I needed.
Whatever you buy, set it up before the rigs go in, keep it in the water with a float so it is ready, and let it dry when you get home. A landing net is one of the main pieces of tackle you own, and it is worth buying a good one from the start.
The three sizes
What makes a good carp net
Six things to check before you buy, in order.
Mesh
Fine, soft mesh that will not catch fins or split scales. Fish-friendly and carp-safe mesh is the standard on good nets; the coarse mesh on cheap nets is the reason they are cheap.
Depth
A deep net lets the fish rest in the water while you sort the mat and camera. A shallow net has the fish thrashing at the surface.
Spreader block
Metal blocks last longer, hold the arms under tension and break down faster. Plastic blocks crack and slip. This is where the money goes on a good net.
Arms
Carbon arms are light and stiff, and a light net matters when you have a rod in one hand and a fish on. Fibreglass is heavier and cheaper. Replacement arms are available if you break one; buy the same size.
Handle
Extending handles that go from 2ft to 6ft stay out of the way in the swim and slide out when a fish is on. Screw-together handles are sturdier but always in the way. Fibreglass is strong and light; do not step on it.
Float
A net float keeps the net where you want it in the water while you play the fish. A must-have for me; the cheapest upgrade on this page.
The six nets, reviewed
Three sizes, two budgets, and one rubber net for the predator angler. Prices are what Amazon was asking in September 2026.
1. Best 42-inch net
Trakker Sanctuary T8 42" Landing Net
The successor to the Trakker carbon net I have fished for years
My 42 is an older Trakker carbon net that has landed more carp than I can count, and the Sanctuary T8 is the current version of the same idea: light carbon arms, a machined metal spreader block that holds the arms under tension and breaks down in a second, and a deep, soft mesh that lets a fish rest in the water while you get the mat sorted. It rolls down small enough to live in the rod bag so it never gets left in the car. You simply will not get a better 42.
Pros
- Light carbon arms
- Metal spreader block
- Deep, soft mesh
- Packs into a rod bag
Cons
- Handle extra
- Around £90
Verdict: The net to buy once. Add a float and a 6ft handle and you are set for a decade.
Check price on Amazon2. Best net and pole
Fox Horizon X3-S 42" with 8ft pole
From the same Horizon X3 range I specify for beginner rods, this is a complete 42-inch net with an 8ft two-piece pole in the box. Fox’s soft mesh is carp safe, the block is solid, and the pole is stiff enough to reach a fish over a marginal shelf. If you are buying your first net and handle together, this saves choosing twice.
Pros
- Net and pole in one
- Fox mesh and block
- 8ft reach
Cons
- Two-piece pole is always in the way in the swim
- Heavier than the Trakker
Verdict: The one-box answer for a beginner who needs a net and a pole. Assessed on specification and on the rest of the Horizon range.
Check price on Amazon
3. Best 50-inch net
Fox Warrior S 50" Landing Net
Fished with, several seasons
The best 50-inch net I have seen on the market and the best I have seen on the bank. After a few cheap 50s that either split, sagged or caught fins, the Warrior S was the one that lasted. It is big enough for a catfish’s tail and a forty-pound carp, the mesh is soft, and the block holds. Stock on Amazon comes and goes; the button searches for it, and the NGT below is the budget alternative if it is not there.
Pros
- Big enough for cats
- Soft mesh
- Lasts
Cons
- Heavy at 50 inches
- Hard to find at times
Verdict: If you fish for catfish or on a water with fish over forty, this is the 50 to buy.
Check price on Amazon
4. Best 36-inch net
Wychwood Signature 36" Landing Net
Fished with, many years
Mine has lasted a very long time, and it is deep, which lets a fish rest safely in the net while I sort myself out. For small lakes, float fishing and fish to ten pounds it is all you need, and at this money there is no reason to buy anything cheaper. Pair it with a light handle for stalking.
Pros
- Deep for its size
- Lasts for years
- Cheap
Cons
- Too small for specimen waters
- Not a carp net for big fish
Verdict: The 36 I have used for years. Buy it for small waters and stalking, not as your only net.
Check price on Amazon5. Best budget 42
NGT 42" Net with 3m Handle
A full 42-inch net and a three-piece 3m handle for the price of a bag of boilies. The mesh is coarser than the Trakker and the block is plastic, so it will not last as long and you need to be careful with fins, but it meets the 42-inch rule on specimen waters and it gets a beginner through a season. Add a float. The 50-inch version is around the same money if you need the size.
Pros
- Net and handle for £25
- Meets the 42-inch rule
- 50-inch version available
Cons
- Plastic block
- Coarser mesh
- Will not last like a Trakker
Verdict: The starter net. Buy it, fish it for a season, then buy the Trakker and keep this as a spare. Assessed on specification and buyer feedback.
Check price on Amazon
6. Best rubber net
Fox Rage Warrior Rubber Landing Net 2.4m
Rubber nets are built for predators and lure fishing: the mesh does not catch hooks or fins, does not absorb water and does not smell, and a shake dries it. Most are too small for specimen carp, and this one is no exception, but for pike, perch and lure sessions it is the net to have. The telescopic handle and slide-and-click head make it quick to use from the bank or a boat.
Pros
- Hooks do not catch
- No smell, dries in a shake
- Quick to use
Cons
- Too small for big carp
- Heavier than mesh
Verdict: The net for the carp angler who also fishes lures. Assessed on specification and buyer feedback.
Check price on AmazonAll six side by side
| Net | Size | Arms | Spreader | Handle | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trakker Sanctuary T8 | 42 inch | Carbon | Metal | Extra | ~£90 | 9.5 |
| Fox Horizon X3-S | 42 inch | Fibreglass | Solid | 8ft included | ~£120 | 9 |
| Fox Warrior S | 50 inch | Fibreglass | Solid | Extra | ~£45 | 9.5 |
| Wychwood Signature | 36 inch | Fibreglass | Plastic | Extra | ~£15 | 9 |
| NGT 42 | 42 inch | Fibreglass | Plastic | 3m included | ~£25 | 8 |
| Fox Rage Warrior rubber | Predator | Alloy | Slide and click | 2.4m telescopic | ~£35 | 8.5 |
How to net a carp
Most fish are lost at the net, and most net damage happens on the bank. This is how I do it.
Step 1
Set the net up before the rigs go in
Assemble the net, fit the float, and lay it in the margin with the handle to hand before you cast. Fumbling with a spreader block while a fish tears about under the rod tip is how fish are lost. Keep the handle retracted and out of the way in the swim.
Step 2
Sink the net and bring the fish over it
When the fish is beaten and on the surface, sink the net so the mesh is under the water and draw the fish over it with the rod. Do not chase the fish with the net; let the rod bring it to you, then lift. Once the fish is in, let it rest in the water while you get the mat, water bucket and camera sorted.
Step 3
Break the net down and lift by the arms
Never lift a fish out by the handle; it bends the handle and the fish falls out. Unship the handle, fold the arms out of the block, roll the mesh up so the fish is secure with its fins flat against its body, and lift with both hands under the fish. Carry it straight to a wet mat. Never leave a fish unattended in the net in the water.
The accessories that make netting easier
Three small purchases that make more difference than you would think, and two that only matter if you break something.
Telescopic handle
I use a handle that extends from 2ft to 6ft. It stays retracted and out of the way in the swim, and when I hook a fish I tilt it towards the lake and it slides out to full length. Fibreglass is strong and light; I have broken several by stepping on them, so keep it off the ground.
Net float
A must-have. It keeps the net floating where you want it while you play the fish with the rod in one hand, instead of watching the net sink while you try to concentrate on the fish.
Stink bag
There is nothing worse than putting a wet net in the car. A stink sleeve keeps the water and the smell off the seats, and off your marriage. Air the net as soon as you get home.
Replacement arms
If you break an arm, buy the same length so it sits snugly in the block. They come with the cord, so you thread the old mesh onto the new arms and carry on.
Metal spreader blocks
When you start spending on higher-end tackle, a metal block is the upgrade: it lasts longer, the arms fold out to create the tension, and it breaks down faster than plastic.
Looking after a net
Rinse it, dry it and never store it wet. Check the block and cord at the start of the season. A net that has been left damp in a bag will rot at the seams and let you down with a fish in it.
Questions I get asked
What size landing net do I need for carp?
42 inch for almost all UK carp fishing, and it is the minimum on most specimen waters. 36 inch for small lakes and fish to ten pounds. 50 inch for catfish and waters with fish over forty.
Are cheap landing nets safe for carp?
Coarse mesh catches and breaks fins and cheap blocks fail under tension. A £25 NGT with a float is fine for a first season if you are careful; a good net is a fish-care purchase as much as a tackle one.
Do I need a net float?
Yes. It is the cheapest upgrade on this page and it keeps the net where you want it while you play the fish.
Can I lift a fish out by the handle?
No. Unship the handle, roll the mesh up with the fins flat to the body and lift the fish by the arms with both hands. Handles bend and fish fall out.
Are rubber nets any good for carp?
For predators and lure fishing, yes. For specimen carp, no; they are too small and too heavy at size.
How do I stop my net smelling?
Rinse it, dry it and use a stink bag in the car. Never store it wet.
The verdict
Buy a 42-inch net and buy it once: the Trakker Sanctuary T8 with a float and a telescopic handle is the setup I would put together today. The Fox Horizon X3-S is the one-box answer if you need a pole, the NGT gets a beginner through a season for £25, and the Fox Warrior S is the 50 to hunt down if you fish for catfish or very big carp.
Read next
Prices are indicative and change often. Buttons link to Amazon; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my affiliate disclosure and how I test.
Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Shane Stanford
Shane Stanford has fished for carp for over twenty years, in the UK and in France, and currently fishes a private syndicate water in West Sussex. He writes Fishing Again to put the things he learned the hard way into plain language: location and watercraft first, then bait, rigs and gear. He is straight about which kit he has actually fished and which he has assessed on specification, and says so on the page.