Best Keepnets

The Drennan Keepnet 3m Carp is a full 3m net with a 50cm x 40cm frame, made from super-soft carp sacking from the top ring right down to the base. Hook-resistant material around the top ring protects the part that takes the most knocks.

Its three bottom rings are weighted to sink, with large stake-out points that take a bank-stick, and all three pull through easily at the weigh-in. The fail-safe Angle Tilt mechanism is built to stay put once it's set.

Commercial anglers who catch carp in numbers off deeper pegs will get the most from it. Next to the Drennan Keepnet 2m Compact Carp it gives the fish far more room, though the Compact suits venues with a weight limit per net, where several nets sit side by side.

To be fair, it only comes in 3m, which is a lot of net for a shallow margin peg. For carp and commercials, though, I think it's the best keepnet here, and its fish care is hard to fault.

Made in super-soft carp sacking, the Drennan Keepnet 2m Compact Carp is a 2m net for commercials with a weight limit per net. Its 40cm x 50cm frame stands in portrait, so several nets sit side by side in front of the box.

That taller top ring also makes it easier to slide a bigger carp from the landing net into the keepnet. Quick-sink weighted base rings pull through easily at the weigh-in, and the fail-safe Angle Tilt mechanism holds each net at the angle you set.

Match anglers splitting a big catch between nets will get the most from it. The Drennan Keepnet 3m Carp gives each fish more room on venues that allow one net, while the Guru Coarse Keepnet 3m Carp Match adds a protective ring sleeve and an oversized top ring.

To be fair, 2m is short, and some fisheries ask for a longer net. For weight-limit commercials with tight pegs, though, I think it's the neatest way to run several nets.

Fish care drives almost every detail of the Guru Coarse Keepnet 3m Carp Match. It's a 3m net with super-soft mesh in a dark finish, and an oversized top ring takes a landing net easily.

Weighted external rings sink and keep the net stretched out, while an external sleeve stops the mesh wearing where it meets the rings. The bottom three rings are smaller and pull through for weighing or returning fish, and a screw thread sets the angle.

Anyone who catches a lot of carp and wants a net built to last is the obvious buyer. It's longer and roomier than the Drennan Keepnet 2m Compact Carp, while the Preston Innovations Space Saver Keepnet is the simpler choice if you need to fit more nets in front of the box.

To be fair, it's the dearest carp net in the group, so value trails the build. For anglers who put fish care first, though, I think it's worth the extra.

Crowded pegs on long matches are the reason the Preston Innovations Space Saver Keepnet exists. Its reversed top ring leaves room for more nets in front of the seatbox, and it comes in 2.5m and 3m lengths.

The mesh differs by length, with super-strong carp mesh on the 2.5m and quick-dry mesh on the 3m. Both have pull-through handles and Preston's Fix Angle locking system, which sets the top ring quickly.

For me, it suits tournament anglers catching big weights who need to split them between several nets. It's a plainer net than the Guru Coarse Keepnet 3m Carp Match, which adds a protective ring sleeve and dark mesh. Next to the Guru Team Guru 2.5m Keepnet, both save space around the box, but the Preston adds pull-through handles and a 3m option.

To be fair, only the 2.5m version has carp mesh, so check it suits your venue. For busy tournament pegs, though, I think it's a smart, practical answer to a real problem.

Several nets around one seatbox is the set-up the Guru Team Guru 2.5m Keepnet is made for. A compact 40 x 30cm top ring and a lock on the narrow side let more nets fit in the swim, and it comes singly or as a triple pack.

Every ring is weighted to keep it extended, and an external base ring stops the bottom wearing. The super-soft micro mesh is tightly woven, with a dark finish to keep fish calm.

It makes a lot of sense on busy commercials where you catch plenty of fish but few huge carp. The Preston Innovations Space Saver Keepnet adds pull-through handles and a 3m option, while the Daiwa Matchman 2M Commercial Keepnet is shorter and simpler.

To be fair, its 40 x 30cm top ring is the smallest listed in the guide, which makes landing big carp a tighter job. For tidy rows of nets on a match, though, I think it's a well-made, sensible choice.

Venues with a weight limit per net are where the Daiwa Matchman 2M Commercial Keepnet fits in. It's a compact 2m net with super-soft mesh throughout and an oblong top ring set at 90 degrees, so several nets sit close together on an accessory bar.

Past the top ring, the body tapers out wider and the spacious rings are made with large fish in mind, so the catch gets more room than the compact opening suggests. A secure Daiwa angle lock handles the adjustment.

Newer commercial anglers needing two or three nets on a tight budget will find it covers the basics well. The Guru Team Guru 2.5m Keepnet adds weighted rings and an external base ring, while the Shimano Match Aero Pro Keepnet Rectangular is a fine-mesh net aimed more at silvers and match fishing.

To be fair, it's a plain net with fewer extras, and 2m won't meet every fishery's length rules. For a first set of commercial nets, though, I think it's a sensible, low-cost start.

With a 50 x 40cm rectangular frame and a choice of 2.5m, 3m or 4m lengths, the Shimano Match Aero Pro is built for match fishing. Its rings are extruded anodised aluminium tube, which keeps the shape rigid.

Ultra-soft fine mesh resists snagging and laddering on rocky banks, and the bottom three rings sit outside the mesh so it can't rub on the corners. A base loop lets you pin it down or add weight in flowing water, while a screw-tight block sets the top ring angle.

River and commercial match anglers who weigh in silvers will get the most from it. Next to the Daiwa Matchman 2M Commercial it offers far more length and a stake-down loop, while the Shakespeare Superteam Silvers adds handles on its lower rings but lacks a base loop for flowing water.

To be fair, its spec doesn't mention lower-ring handles, so lifting it out for the weigh-in may take more care. For silvers and match fishing, though, I think it's the best keepnet here, thanks to its tough frame and kind mesh.

Quick-drying latex mesh with openings from 2mm to 6mm sets the Shakespeare Superteam Silvers apart. It comes in 2.5m, 3m and 4m lengths with a grey finish, and it's made for commercial and natural venues alike.

Aluminium frames support the bottom three sections, and reinforced handles on the bottom rings make lifting and releasing the catch easier. A multi-position locking system helps when you're fishing from a high platform or a steep bank.

Anglers who bag up on carp one week and fish for skimmers and roach the next will get the most from it. Next to the Shimano Match Aero Pro, it adds those lower-ring handles but can't be pinned down in flow, and the Drennan Specialist Keepnet brings a carp-sacking base and stake-out points for rivers.

To be fair, it's one of the dearer silvers nets, and on pacy water a weighted net may sit more steadily. For commercial matches and stillwater bagging, though, I think it's a dependable net that makes weigh-ins easier.

Built for rivers or lakes, the Drennan Specialist Keepnet pairs olive green, hook-resistant soft micromesh with a super-soft carp-sacking base. That base makes it carp fishery approved, and it comes as a 2m net with a 45 x 35cm frame or a 3m with a 50 x 40cm frame.

Quick-sink weighted base rings and large-diameter stake-out points let you hold it in place with a bankstick, and the three bottom rings pull through easily for match weigh-ins. A multi-position fail-safe tilt mechanism sets the angle.

If you swap between rivers and carp lakes, or catch mixed bags, it's a very easy net to live with. Next to the Shakespeare Superteam Silvers, it adds weighted rings and stake-out points for flow, and its micromesh is finer than the 6mm free-flow mesh on the Korum 3m Allrounder.

To be fair, only the base is carp sacking, so a full carp net is softer for big fish. For anyone who wants one keepnet for rivers, lakes and matches, though, I think it's a superbly rounded choice.

Korum's 3m Allrounder is a lightweight keepnet for the specialist all-round angler, with a 40 x 50cm frame, a 300cm length and 6mm olive-green free-flow mesh. It's made to suit a wide range of cyprinids, from roach and bream to tench and chub.

The weighted base ring has carp-sack support material, the base corners are reinforced with extra-thick material and inner webbing handles make returning fish easier. An angle-adjustable bankstick attachment suits lake or river banks, and the net dries quickly between sessions.

Roving pleasure and specialist anglers will get the most from it. Next to the Drennan Specialist Keepnet, it gives up the finer micromesh and pull-through rings, while the Preston Dura Keepnet is far tougher but a much bigger spend.

To be fair, its 6mm mesh is coarser than the micro meshes on the match nets. For anglers who want a light, well-equipped 3m net, though, I think it's the best value pick here.

Harsh natural venues and commercial fisheries are what the Preston Dura Keepnet is made for. It comes in 3.5m or 4m lengths, with a choice of Quick Dry Mesh or fine Carp Mesh.

Exposed aluminium rings protect the inner net material and reduce wear, and the adjustable angle lock is simple to use with wet hands. It sets the net from a seatbox, platform or bank stick, while the Quick Dry Mesh retains less water, so it packs away more easily.

On rough natural venues and busy commercials, its toughness really counts. Next to the Korum 3m Allrounder it's far sturdier and longer, and against the Drennan Specialist Keepnet it gives up weighted stake-out rings but adds a choice of meshes.

To be fair, it's the dearest net in the guide and there's no length under 3.5m. For anglers who wear out keepnets on hard venues, though, I think it's a hard-wearing workhorse worth the extra.