Made by Rising Fishing: See the Lunker Net on risingfishing.com
The Rising Lunker Net is the larger of Rising Fishing's two core nets: a 22 inch hoop, 6000 series aluminum frame and 11 inch rubber bag, made in the USA. It is built for large browns, grass carp and redfish. FFIP score: 8.6/10.
Overall: 8.6/10 · Badge: Highly Recommended
Verdict: A big, fish-friendly net that earns its spot on the pack.
Best For: Anglers who regularly land bigger trout, carp or redfish and want a rubber-bag net with a roomy hoop and a modular, repairable build.
Not For: Minimalists counting every ounce on a backcountry hike, who may prefer the smaller Brookie.
Price: Starting from $179 (per maker site; the 16 inch and 24 inch handle versions cost more).
Pros:
- A 22 inch hoop that gives big fish room
- Hard-anodized aluminum handle with a hydrophobic soft-touch texture
- Modular design with interchangeable, replaceable parts
Cons:
- Heavier than the Brookie: 1.34 lb with the 10 inch handle
- Premium price for a landing net
- A larger hoop is more to carry and can snag on brush
The FFIP Scorecard
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish care (bag/material) | 30 | 9.5 | Clear rubber bag, deep and gentle; the trout lies calm and flies do not tangle. |
| Handling/reach | 20 | 8.5 | The big hoop slides a fish in headfirst; the short handle is great for wading, less so from a boat. |
| Weight/portability | 15 | 7.5 | Not the lightest net; the 22 inch hoop is more to carry and catches on brush now and then. |
| Durability | 20 | 9 | Hard anodized handle with the Made in USA mark; rocks, trucks and dog slobber, no marks that matter. |
| Value | 15 | 7.5 | Starting from $179 is real money, but the bag and build are the kind of thing you buy once. |
| Overall (weighted) | 100 | 8.6 | |
How Is the Rising Lunker Net Built? The Engineering Behind It
Frame and handle: 6000 series aluminum
Rising lists 6000 series aluminum construction for the Lunker. The 6000 series is a family of aluminum alloys built on magnesium and silicon. That chemistry can be heat treated to give a strong yet light frame that resists corrosion, which is the right profile for something that is constantly wet. The Lunker weighs 1.34 pounds (21.44 ounces) with a 10 inch handle and 1.58 pounds (25.28 ounces) with a 24 inch handle, per Rising.
Hard anodizing and the Cobbletech texture
Rising says the Cobbletech handles are hard anodized to military specifications. Anodizing grows a hard oxide layer out of the aluminum itself, so it is part of the metal and not a paint film that peels. Rising adds a hydrophobic soft-touch texture, which sheds water so your grip stays secure in cold, wet conditions, and a lanyard attachment point on every handle. In my photos the handle carries the “Made in USA” mark.
Hoop size and bag depth
The Lunker hoop is 22 inches long, compared with 16.5 inches on the Brookie, and the bag is 11 inches deep. Hoop size is the difference between sliding a fish headfirst into the net and chasing it around the rim. A longer hoop lets a large fish settle fully inside the bag, so its tail does not hang out and flop. Rising explains on its site that bag depth helps recovery: a deeper basket lets the fish stay upright and submerged while stress comes down, reducing thrashing and air exposure.
Rubber bag
The Lunker uses a rubber net bag in clear or black. Rubber is non-absorbent, gentle on slime and scales, and less likely than knotted nylon to catch hooks and flies. The bag on my Lunker is clear rubber.
Modular design, wading staff and sizes
Rising designs every component to be interchangeable, replaceable, upgradable and swappable. You choose a 10 inch, 16 inch or 24 inch handle when you order, and Rising says the net doubles as a wading staff. The maker lists a total length of 33.5 inches with the 10 inch handle and 47 inches with the 24 inch handle. A longer handle trades packability for reach, which matters when you are reaching from a raft or a high bank.
Choosing a handle length
The three handle lengths are really three different tools. The 10 inch handle keeps the net short and tidy for a sling, a pack hook or a wader strap, but you net by reaching with your arm. The 16 inch handle gives you a little more reach without much extra length to carry. The 24 inch handle turns the Lunker into a boat and bank net and is the one that doubles most convincingly as a wading staff. Because Rising makes the components modular, you are not locked in forever; the same company that makes the net also makes the parts. If you float rivers, the longer handle is worth thinking about, because it lets you stay seated or braced while you scoop.
Why a bigger hoop is not just about size
A fish enters the net headfirst, and the net has to catch the whole animal before it figures out what is happening. On a hoop that is too small the tail hangs over the rim, the fish thrashes against the frame and you are tempted to lift it clear of the water. A hoop with more room lets the fish slide in, settle and stay submerged. That is the real advantage of the 22 inch Lunker: it shortens the stressful part of the landing, which is what Rising's Catch and Care guidance is all about.
For net-handling tips, read our netting tips podcast article, and see fly fishing from a drift boat if you net from a boat.
On the Water with the Rising Lunker Net
I have used the Rising Lunker Net for several seasons of regular use, on rivers and creeks across the western US. The main photo was taken on a clear, rocky freshwater stream in bright daylight. The water was cold and clear and the sun was out, with a red-throated Lahontan cutthroat resting in the clear rubber bag.
The net has been out in other conditions too. I have netted a brown trout from a grassy, muddy creek in fall and a golden brown from a snowy red rock canyon river in winter.
The moment that sums it up: I slid a nice trout into the net and held it in the water. My dog stuck her nose in to check it out, and the fish never flinched.
How Does the Rising Lunker Net Score, Criterion by Criterion?
Fish care (bag/material) (Score: 9.5/10)
The Lunker's bag is rubber, 11 inches deep, with a hoop big enough to cradle a large fish. The rubber is non-absorbent and gentle on slime, and the long hoop keeps big fish inside the bag. Rising's own guidance is that landing fish quickly, keeping them in the water and handling them gently helps them recover and swim away strong. See our article on wading safety and catch and release for more. The clear rubber bag is deep and gentle on the fish. In my photos the trout lies calm and the flies do not tangle in it, which is exactly what I want.
Handling/reach (Score: 8.5/10)
Handle length is the main handling decision. The 10 inch handle is compact; the 24 inch handle gives you reach from a raft or a steep bank. The hydrophobic soft-touch texture keeps a grip in wet conditions, and Rising says the net also works as a wading staff. The big hoop makes it easy to slide a fish in headfirst. My 10 inch handle is great for wading, though it is not much help from a boat.
Weight/portability (Score: 7.5/10)
Bigger hoops weigh more. The Lunker comes in at 1.34 pounds with the 10 inch handle and 1.58 pounds with the 24 inch handle. That is a quarter pound heavier than the Brookie in each configuration, which is the price of the larger hoop. It is not the lightest net out there, and it catches on brush now and then.
Durability (Score: 9/10)
Hard-anodized aluminum with a modular design is the durability story: the finish is part of the metal, and a worn part can be replaced. Rising's satisfaction guarantee lets you return the net for replacement or refund within four months, excluding ordinary wear and tear and damage from improper use. The hard anodized handle carries the Made in USA mark, and the net has taken rocks, trucks and dog slobber without a mark that matters.
Value (Score: 7.5/10)
At $179 for the starting configuration, the Lunker costs $20 more than the Brookie. You get a bigger hoop and the same fish-care features. If you land large fish often, that is easy to justify. Starting from $179 is real money for a net, but the bag and the build are the kind of thing you buy once.
Who Should Buy the Rising Lunker Net (and Who Should Skip It)?
Buy it if
You fish for big browns, carp, redfish or large rainbows, you net from a raft or a bank, and you want a replaceable, made-in-America frame.
Skip it if
You mostly catch small trout in tight creeks, where the compact Brookie is lighter and easier to carry through brush.
How Does the Lunker Compare to the Rising Brookie?
These are the manufacturer's published figures for the 10 inch handle versions.
| Item | Lunker | Brookie |
|---|---|---|
| Hoop length | 22 inches | 16.5 inches |
| Net bag depth | 11 inches | 11 inches |
| Total length | 33.5 inches | 28.5 inches |
| Weight | 1.34 lb | 1.10 lb |
| Starting price | $179 | $159 |
If you fish smaller water, see the Rising Brookie Net.
Get the Rising Lunker Net in the FFIP Shop
The Rising Lunker Net is available in the FFIP Shop, starting from $179. See the whole lineup in Nets or the Rising collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is the Rising Lunker Net hoop?
The Lunker has a 22 inch hoop length and an 11 inch bag depth. Total length is 33.5 inches with the 10 inch handle and 47 inches with the 24 inch handle, per Rising.
How much does the Rising Lunker Net weigh?
Rising lists 1.34 pounds (21.44 ounces) with the 10 inch handle and 1.58 pounds (25.28 ounces) with the 24 inch handle.
What fish is the Rising Lunker Net for?
Rising says the Lunker is for larger fish: huge browns, grass carp and redfish. It is the larger of the two core Rising nets.
Can the Rising Lunker Net be used as a wading staff?
Yes. Rising says the net doubles as a wading staff when needed, and every handle has a lanyard attachment point.
Final Verdict
This is the net I reach for when I expect a better fish. The rubber bag is easy on trout and easy to clean, and the build is tough. It costs more and weighs more than a small net, but I would buy it again.
Christian's Pro Tip: Keep the fish in the water and let the deep bag do the work.
Tight lines, everyone!
Related list: 11 Rising Fishing Nets and Tools Worth Carrying
