Korda Spring Bow Net

How well is it built?

The one thing that absolutely hits you with the Spring Bow is the quality. Korda have absolutely gone to town with this and you can tell from the moment you pick it up. This is not just a landing net with a fancy price tag on - they genuinely have thought about every single part.

The reverse taper handle is fantastic. I know it's not in line with the modern ultra-slim poles that seem to match the rods these days, but I'm so glad that Korda have taken this route.

The handle tapers from 23mm down to 18mm which sounds like a tank but it is genuinely some clever engineering. That extra diameter means they can use less material in the carbon construction which means it's incredibly light but remains rigid.

Thin handles need more carbon fibre to be the same stiffness and they still flex more.

The JAG engineered spreader block is genuinely impressive. It's been machined from anodised aluminium with that stunning gun smoke ceramic finish and you can actually see the arms sitting inside through the cutouts.

It's not just for show either - those machined areas save weight without compromising strength. The block took 2 and a half years to develop and I honestly can see why they spent that time on it. The oval shaped entry points for the arms are clever too.

There is a leading edge that makes room as you flex the arm into position so assembly is effortless in comparison to most nets where you're wrestling the bloody things in.

Once they're in though, they're rock solid with that perfect 91 degree exit angle. The 316 stainless steel spike cap on the handle end is beautifully turned and you can properly jab this into the lakebed if you needed.

Because it's a solid one-piece 6ft handle, there is no spigot to get jammed so you can really drive this in without worrying.

Handle & Spreader

I could probably write an entire section on the handle of the Spring Bow because it is where the net really proves its worth. At 6ft with that reverse taper design, this thing feels absolutely perfect in the hand.

Thicker handles get a bad rep because everyone wants slim poles these days but it honestly feels so much more natural to grip and control this. The weight distribution is perfect.

Even with a wet mesh, you can hold this at the absolute bottom of the handle with the net fully extended and it stays horizontal.

That is impressive engineering right there. The rigidity is the thing that makes the biggest difference in real use. When a fish dives left or right at the last second, you can move this net exactly where you want it with zero lag.

There is basically no flex in the handle which means your movements translate directly to the net head. With thinner handles that flex, there's always that split second delay that can cost you the fish.

The spreader block deserves another mention here. Those oval entry points mean you're not fighting to get the arms in but once they're seated, there's absolutely no play or movement.

The arms exit at 91 degrees (someone at Korda clearly spent time on the maths) and the shape it creates is genuinely lovely.

The oversized machined aluminium arm ends are rounded off perfectly. This matters more than you'd think because this is where the mesh takes the most abuse. Sharp edges will eventually wear through the mesh but these rounded ends should prevent that for years.

Even the top of the spreader block has a 15mm isotope slot machined in if you're into that sort of thing.

Mesh

The mesh itself is proper quality stuff. It's a medium depth mesh that's soft enough to be fish friendly but still moves through the water really nicely. The depth is generous too - I'm just over 6ft tall and the mesh is almost as long as I am.

That depth isn't just for show. When you stab the handle into the lakebed to retain a fish, there's still plenty of mesh below the surface for the fish to sit comfortably. You're not left with a carp's head poking out of the water which some shorter meshes can do.

The mesh is full hexmesh throughout in this olive green colour. It's not ultra-fine but that's actually a good thing because it creates less drag when you're scooping.

The heavy zero-stretch cord between the arms keeps everything taut and the mesh opens up properly when you're netting.

Korda reinforce the corners where the mesh meets those rounded arm ends which should prevent the usual wear and tear you get with cheaper nets. The stitching looks solid and I can't see this failing anytime soon.

The mesh also shakes clean pretty easily and doesn't seem to hold onto weed like some of the finer meshes do. For a premium net, that's exactly what you want. One clever touch - the whole thing floats without needing a net float.

If you drop it or need to let go while playing a fish, it just sits on the surface rather than sinking.

That's proper attention to detail.

Is it good value for money?

Ok, time to talk about the elephant in the room. The Spring Bow is expensive. Really expensive.

This is a premium net. Premium materials, premium engineering, premium price tag that may put some anglers off. Don't get me wrong, the Spring Bow is exceptional.

The reverse taper handle, the JAG spreader block, the fact that it floats without a net float - these are all genuine innovations rather than gimmicks.

Korda have clearly invested serious time and money into development and the build quality shows it. The problem is the Horizon X4S does the actual job of landing fish just as well.

Yes the Korda is slightly lighter and the engineering is more refined, but at the end of the day you're paying for premium materials and design aesthetics rather than better performance.

If you're the sort of angler who wants the best of the best regardless of price and you appreciate premium engineering, the Spring Bow won't disappoint. The 2.5 years of development, the JAG manufacturing, the attention to detail - it's all there and it's genuinely impressive.

But if you're more practical about value, there are nets that'll do the same job for half the price or less. The Spring Bow is brilliant but it's a luxury purchase rather than a necessity.

The Dark Kamo sleeve is a nice touch and it's properly heavy duty with separate pockets for the handle and arms. That's included in the price which helps a bit.

Warranty and longevity should be excellent given Korda's reputation and the materials used. This net should still be going strong decades from now which does improve the value proposition if you're thinking long-term.

If you're weighing up whether the Spring Bow justifies its price against other options, our landing net buying guide compares all the top models to help you decide.