I first started fly fishing when I was 4 or 5. I am not a very productive fishermen. And that has never really been my ultimate goal. Instead, I find fly-fishing to be an activity closer to meditation. I relax in the river, in the repetitive motions, and the necessary focus and concentration.

Part of finding my “zen” in fly fishing has been simplifying the stuff I fish with.

One of my best discoveries has been the Brodin Ghost Net. Unlike traditional mesh nets, the Ghost Net is made of clear thermoplastic rubber webbing. It might seem strange to replace lightweight mesh with something slightly heavier, but the advantages become clear the second you walk along a stream.

Fine mesh nets are fragile. They catch on branches and thorns, and they have a tendency to tear. Not only that, but small hooks, especially nymphs, tend to catch and snag in the mesh. The Brodin Ghost Net resolves this with it’s rubber webbing. The tough clear webbing is robust in the face of snags, doesn’t get caught on thorns, and I have never had a fly get snagged or snarled. What this means is that I can spend less time hassling with my net, and more time fishing. I have also read elsewhere that the clear webbing is less visible underwater and less likely to spook the fish (I haven’t been able to confirm this personally, but it makes sense).

Out of water, the Brodin Ghost Net is a handsome and robust teak net. Produced in Costa Rica, the wood is sustainably sourced, and the care and craft in production shines. With that being said, there are plenty of companies that make beautiful wooden nets. What sets Brodin apart is the Ghost net webbing. Luckily, for those who are less inclined to spend $100 for a new wooden net, Brodin sells the thermoplastic rubber webbing independently, providing instructions on how to affix it to existing wooden nets, or as demonstrated by other DIY-fishermen online, tennis racket frames. This also makes it easy to fix or replace in case something goes wrong.

-- Oliver Hulland 10/19/11