Tired of reaching for a fishing net and finding it entangled in hooks, line, and other things found in your boat? Rod Presnell, of Tallahassee, Fl. has developed a product that solves the issue. A few years ago, Rod was fishing in Lake Talquin. He caught a catfish that was large enough to make him grab for the handle of his net. The net, however, was ensnared by the various gear that inevitably finds its way to the bottom of a boat. Frustrated, Rod cut the net, freeing it but rendering it much less functional. He decided that the hassles of having a net of that nature in his boat were not worth the benefits of employing the net.

His exasperation motivated him to conceive of a net that was available when he needed to use it. Rod started working on the project in his garage, trying all types of materials, shapes, and sizes. He tried various plastics for the net arms and various metals, including graphite and aluminum for the handle. He then worked with Chuck Rodriguez of St. Petersburg, Fl., a retired plastics engineer, and the two of them eventually developed a mold that would work, quite a challenge according to Rod.

The result is a retractable net that is stored in its own handle until needed. Rod contends, It is the only net that belongs in your boat.? A pull string releases the net arms, and a fold on the end of the net arms will set the net for use. To disengage the net, simply release the locking slide pin from the pin channel, allow the net arms to fold together, press the release button down, and push the net and net arms back into the handle. The handle is made of a sturdy, lightweight aluminum; the net is made of bonded nylon, very light and very durable.

Rod calls his invention The Lasso Net.