Shimano Folding Damo Keiryu 25 net

Over a year ago I purchased a lightly used folding net for tenkara. It is a Shimano Folding Damo Keiryu 25 and it has been a great little net. It serves a purpose for me that it really excels at -- getting through tight brush and snags without getting hung up.

I have another folding net, a Handy-Pak Insta-Net, but I wanted a small net for smaller fish. I still wanted it to be a folding net though.

This 25 cm diameter Shimano net comes in a formed Cordura case. Since the case is formed, it is easy to net the net into and back out of when it is needed. The case closes with hook and loop closure strips. Getting the net out is as easy as grabbing the handle and pulling up. The net immediately unfolds and is ready to go.

The case is well ventilated with large holes on the ends. There is a belt loop provided making it easy to attach to your wading or trouser's belt.

Net in case

Case shape and end ventilation holes

Belt loop

Belt loop

Net inside case. Hook and loop strips seen on lid.

The net has a 16 cm handle that is plastic and coated with a very effective non-slip rubber coating. The handle attaches to the rim firmly and there is no wiggle or play, even after a years worth of use. The rim of the net is stainless steel covered with a woven nylon braid. The stainless steel rim attaches to the handle with a Phillip's screw and the nylon braid is held in place with clear soft plastic friction tubing. All of this works very well and appears quite robust.

Handle

Stainless steel rim attachment with friction plastic

Nylon weave over stainless steel rim straps

There is no lanyard attachment point, but I created my own by drilling a small hole in the tip of the handle. I attached a lanyard at this point. I know, the lanyard sort of defeats the effect of keeping the net snag free, but I've lost too many nets to go without a lanyard. Besides, the lanyard is easily tucked into the case while walking through brush and hasn't seem to be a problem getting snagged.

My net with lanyard attachment (it does not come this way; I modified mine)

The netting is a soft woven mesh that folds easily and dries quickly. Personally, I prefer a stiffer net material, like nylon mesh offered by Tenkara USA as it's easier for me to extract the fish from the net, but this netting material is still quite good. Sometimes the fish's head is hard to extract from the netting making the fish squirm a little more, however.

Folding the net is very easy. Using one hand you hold the net by the handle while the other hand hold the net rim at its apex. Rotate the handle hand clockwise while rotating the rim hand counterclockwise. This causes the net rim to form a figure 8. Push your two hands together and the figure 8 collapses into three small loops that lay one on top of the other. Bunch up the netting material and stick it net back into the case. It's that easy and takes about one second. Here is a short video showing how to fold the net:






Conclusion: I like this small net. I works great for bushwhacking to those small headwater streams. It appears durable and very well constructed. I keep mine in my car so I always have a net with me.

If you'd like one, you can get one from Chris Stewart at Tenkara Bum.