I have mixed feelings about taking and using landing nets on canoe trips. So far I have never taken one and here's why. Generally, fish that I'm not going to eat or photogragh get released without entering the canoe. For the most part, only the largest fish need to be netted so you should take a pretty big net to do the job....bigger than I've been willing to tote along. When I've seen people with nets, usually they are much too small to safely contain a trophy fish. If you don't have a net that's large enough, you will harm the fish and make a successful release more doubtful. I realize that if you are not comfortable handling toothy fish a net is a good option, but do take one that's large enough.
I'm beginning to think that one of (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) might be a reasonable option for landing those trophies. Any thoughts?

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A BogaGrip is all I use in the Q.

I originally bought it for Steelhead and Salmon fishing on Lake Michigan tributaries. I carry it on a long loop of parachute cord around my neck...hangs down to below my waist...but I clip the Boga to my wader suspender strap to keep it out of the way as I fly fish. When I catch a fish I "grip" him...and then can let it swim in the current on the cord while I put my fly rod down...take the hook out...whatever.

They are awesome but make sure you buy an authentic Boga. Knockoffs from even reputable manufacturers (e.g. Rapala) aren't as good.  The key is the holding power of the grip. I've landed big fish (30+#) with my Boga and have never had one shake loose.

Plus, the Boga has a built in scale...kinda nice.

In the Q I keep it clipped to my tackle bag or thwart...until I need it to grip a monster waldo or laker

If I wasn't a complete moron I would insert a picture here ....I'll work on it. (inserting a picture, that is; I don't have to work at being a moron).

Good Luck,

The Beaver

Since the title of this thread is "landing nets", I felt it appropriate to have at least one post favoring them. I take a collapsable net with nylon mesh. It fits nicely under pack straps along one side of pack, for travel, weighs almost nothing, yet is big enough for any fish I've ever sees brought to canoe. I only use it on bigger fish, as I prefer to unhook & release without bringing fish onboard.

Looks like a great idea for me. 

I bring a collapsible net like O_S does and yes it's plenty big, but I just HATE using it because of the hassle factor.  I'm very comfortable landing any big fish except a 15lb.+ pike by hand and if it gets away boatside (infrequent, but it happens) it's no big deal because I would have released it regardless.  I'm the opposite of some of you, almost the only time I do use my net is when I plan to invite a smaller fish to DINNER.  In that case, I'm taking no chances on losing the fish canoeside!!

This boga grip looks intriguing because I'd think if I owned one I could ditch the scale AND the hated net.  I'll still probably land a lot of fish by hand, but this should do nicely when I want a more secure option.

My brother and I take a musky cradle and find that it works absolutely wonderful for C&R of 10+ lb pike (we generally don't bother to net anything smaller).  The design is basically two 5' poles with maybe 3' of netting between them.  You guide the fish into the cradle, pull the poles together, then she is trapped.

I don't know how to insert a pic, so here is a link if you are interested to see what one looks like: 

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We have found that the cradle works absolutely awesome for C&R.  We've boated (from canoe) pike up to 45" and been able to release all of them with no damage.  Any of you guys that have seen a 10+ lb pike start flopping in the bottom of your canoe know that this is a bad thing for the fish, and dangerous thing for the fisherman (3 trebles being ripped violently around your legs and feet!).  With the cradle, I raise the fish out of the water and rest the handles perpendicular   to the canoe's axis on the canoe's gunwales.  The fish can flop all it wants and it receives no damage.  It's also easy to unhook for fish with the cradle sitting right in front of you.... almost like a table.

A fringle benefit is that it would double and a pretty descent stretcher if you ever needed it!  It's also pretty good for carrying 10 paddles across a portage.

In all of my trips since 1991, I have never seen another group that used a cradle.  This is probably because they are pretty useless/unnecessary for bass/walleye/trout, and only really useful for larger pike.

- Dave