Fly Fishing

What Stands Out

• A compact, brush-friendly hoop. The 18.2 × 11.2 in hoop avoids the bulky profile that makes larger landing nets awkward on narrow creek trails and overgrown riverbanks; Fishpond says the shape minimizes snags on trees and bushes.
• Lightweight composite construction. A carbon fiber and fiberglass frame keeps the complete net at 0.86 lbs / 390 g with its TPU bag.
• Waterproof and buoyant. The frame floats, which gives you a margin for error when the net slips from your hand in moving water.
• A slender 9 in handle. The narrow grip makes the Yampa easy to maneuver in close-range landings, especially when you’re wading and managing a fly rod with the other hand.
• A PVC-free TPU net bag. Fishpond says the 12 in deep bag is lightweight, harder to break, and stretches farther before failing than comparable nets tested the same way.
• A matte finish and a scale on the handle. The understated finish suits the practical design, and the scale is a handy reference when checking a fish.
• Pack and net-slot friendly. At 27.5 in overall, the Yampa is a natural fit for anglers who carry a net behind a vest or in a dedicated pack slot.

In The Field

Plenty of fly-fishing accessories seem useful in a shop and get frustrating after a few hours on the water, and landing nets are especially easy to get wrong. A big hoop looks reassuring when you’re imagining the fish you might catch, but the same hoop becomes a nuisance when you’re squeezing through alder branches, stepping over fallen timber, or working along a narrow bank. On Cascade tributaries and smaller Olympic Peninsula rivers, the walk between good holding water can take as much maneuvering as the fishing itself. For that kind of fishing, I want a net that stays out of the way until I need it, and that’s the appeal of the Yampa 2.0. Its compact hoop, slender handle, and light composite frame all serve the same purpose: a net that’s easier to carry and control while moving through water and brush.

One of the first things I consider is how a net rides while I’m walking. One that hangs too low interferes with stepping over logs or scrambling down a bank, and a wide hoop snags brush when I turn sideways through a gap. The Yampa’s 9 in handle is a deliberate compromise: long enough for a useful handhold, short enough not to add length to the whole package. The slender grip also gives the net a clean profile, without an oversized handle sticking out behind me.

I like carrying a net where I can reach it without taking off my pack or looking away from a fish, and a vest or pack net slot is the logical place for the Yampa. Fishpond says it integrates into any pack or net slot, but I’d still check the fit with my actual pack, since retention varies from one design to the next.

Wooden landing nets have their appeal, but for wet Pacific Northwest conditions I prioritize practical materials. The Yampa’s carbon fiber and fiberglass frame has a matte finish and gives me three useful traits: low weight, resistance to wet conditions, and buoyancy. At 0.86 lbs / 390 g with the TPU bag, it’s light enough to carry every trip rather than only on special outings. Olympic Peninsula fishing can mean persistent rain, soaked vegetation, and gear that never fully dries, so a waterproof, weatherproof net removes one more worry.

Buoyancy is the most valuable practical feature. Dropping a net in a river is easier than it sounds when you’re controlling a fish, keeping your footing, and holding a rod at the same time, and a net that floats gives you a better chance of getting it back. Floating doesn’t mean it can’t be carried downstream, though. In moving water, I’d still secure it rather than treat buoyancy as a substitute for a retention setup.

The frame gets most of the attention, but the bag is what actually holds the fish. The Yampa comes with a 12 in deep, PVC-free TPU bag, and for trout I prefer a flexible bag over coarse, abrasive mesh. The goal is to support the fish and keep the landing controlled and brief. Fishpond’s claim that the bag stretches farther before failing than comparable nets is useful, but I wouldn’t read it as a guarantee against hooks, rocks, or long-term abrasion. A deep bag helps contain a fish while I get ready to remove the hook, and I keep a trout supported in the water whenever conditions allow rather than lifting it out for a long look.

The 9 in handle is one of the Yampa’s greatest strengths for carrying and one of its clearest limits for landing fish. On a small river or an alpine lake shoreline, a short handle is usually enough. I don’t chase a fish with the net. I control the rod, bring the fish to a good landing spot, and move the hoop into place for a controlled scoop. Where the design gets less convenient is when I can’t get close to the water. A steep bank, a high shoreline, or a boat deck calls for reach that a 9 in handle simply doesn’t provide. The 18.2 × 11.2 in hoop sets its own practical limit, too. It suits compact, mobile fishing, but I wouldn’t pick it for regularly landing big steelhead or other powerful fish that need more room. There’s no precise fish-size cutoff, because length, girth, behavior, and landing conditions all matter.

The Yampa isn’t tied to one environment. On small Cascade streams, its compact shape is the main advantage. At alpine lakes, weight and packability matter more after a few miles of trail, and the Yampa’s manageable size makes it a reasonable companion on fishing-focused hikes. Fishpond pitches it for everything from local ponds to saltwater flats, and on Puget Sound beaches its waterproof construction and TPU bag are useful. Afterward, I’d still rinse it with fresh water, check the bag and frame for damage, and hang it to dry.

At $169.95, the Yampa isn’t an inexpensive net. For someone who fishes a few stocked ponds a year, a simpler net may be enough. For an angler who regularly walks several miles, wades rivers, fishes tight banks, and values a light setup, the composite frame, buoyancy, compact hoop, and TPU bag are practical features rather than decoration. The scale on the handle is a convenient way to check a fish without reaching for another tool, though I’d look at the handle before assuming particular markings or units. Shadowcast Camo 2.0 sells at the same $169.95 as the BT 2.0 reviewed here, so I’d choose on finish alone. A net that stays out of the way for hours and works when I need it is exactly what I want for mobile trout fishing.

Technical Specifications

Final Thoughts

The Fishpond Nomad Yampa Hand Net 2.0 gets the priorities right for an angler who spends more time walking and wading than fishing from a boat.

Its appeal isn’t an oversized hoop or a long handle. It’s the combination of a compact profile, buoyant composite construction, a flexible TPU bag, and manageable weight that makes the net easy to fold into a mobile fishing setup.

For my kind of Pacific Northwest fly fishing, those traits matter. Narrow trails, wet brush, uneven banks, and long stretches between productive water reward gear that stays out of the way.

The Yampa’s 18.2 × 11.2 in hoop and 9 in handle are sensible for close-range trout landings, but they also define its limits. I wouldn’t make this my primary net for bigger steelhead or boat fishing, where extra reach and a larger opening pay off.

At $169.95, it’s a premium price for a fairly simple piece of equipment. Still, the waterproof, buoyant carbon fiber and fiberglass frame and the TPU bag are real reasons to choose it over a basic landing net.

For the walk-wade angler who wants a compact net that fits naturally into a pack or vest setup, the Yampa is a well-focused option.