What is everyone using for a net? Looking for some recommendations on a good quality net for kayak fishing

Rubber mesh.

I've been using the Ego small fishing net for about three years now. It's perfect for kayak use. It will handle small fish and big fish, and the rubber net has held up so far.
I've had other rubber nets and in a years time I had to replace the rubber net, since they would just tear or rot away.
At first it may seem a bit clunky because of the float, but it will not bend hoisting a big fish, and the handle does fit into your rod holders.

https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Small-Rubber-Landing-Net/dp/B002Y33KYO

2nd Tallgrass, get whatever net you like, but highly recommend it be rubber mesh. If your net is not rubber, you can go online a buy replacement rubber mesh. Its a must have,especially if you fish with anything using treble hooks. Good luck

I bought a Frabill rubber net from Academy. I've been very happy with it so far.

I have an EGO (the large one) and got it for my 16' Modified V boat and I love it.

I haven't used it on the yak as it "seems" a little large!

McLean Angling out of New Zealand makes the best kayak net I've found. The rubber net (big enough for the biggest bass you'll catch) folds over onto the handle, and the handle itself is retractable. I slide it into a rod holder behind the seat and it is completely out of the way - no net sticking up in the air whatsoever. When I need it, a quick flick of the wrist flips the net out, and if I need some extra length, a push of a button shoots out another couple feet of spring loaded handle. If James Bond ever needed to net a bass in a yak, this is what he'd use.

I'll try to find a link to it online somewhere and post it. All I am seeing on the McLean website are nets that are similar, but not quite the exact one I have, and they all seem to have the mesh bags instead of the rubber bags.

I've got one of those folding nets and they are nice since you can fold them and they take up very little room in a crate.
The downside, and not so much if you are willing to spend time untangling fins and hooks because of the mesh net.
It really depends on what type of fish you are after, and most of my fishing is for catfish and redfish where the pectoral fins of a catfish will wind up a mesh net when they death roll, and also the treble hooks on a big redfish bait will cause a person to cuss.
Rubber nets make life so much nicer!

I don't know why I can't find this thing ANYWHERE on the internet for sale, but this shows what it looks like:

https://www.flyfisheurope.com/mclean/hin...ctor-nets/d2448

One of those thumbnails show two nets side by side - that's the net collapsed and also in its extended state.

Again, they offer it with a rubber bag instead of knotless mesh, but I sure as heck am having trouble finding one online.

This reminds me of a story I have to tell. I never used a net unless I fished the coast. Decided before a kayak tourney I would use one. First fish I caught I tried to net and it jumped and came off. It was at least 18 inches and I was mad. Put the net away and finished the day lipping them like I always do. At the end of the tourney I was out of the money spots by 2 inches and 1st was only 10 inches more than I had. It was a close tourney and I would have won if not for that stupid net! I was so mad I swore to never use a net again. They had a raffle after they announced the winners and I had a winning ticket. What did I win? A stupid net!

I know that fish could have come off before I lipped it. I just had to blame something. I still don't use a net unless I'm fishing for fish with teeth.

For smaller species i have a yak gear net that collapses and pulls down in the handle. For larger species i have a big deep net with a 3ft handle.