Photos: NuFish · supplied retailer imagery
Landing nets · Fish care · Our take
NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net
18-inch and 20-inch landing-net heads
A proper gentle landing-net head for carp and coarse anglers who want a bit more control once a fish is in the margins.
- Available in 18-inch and 20-inch sizes.
- Uses soft 2 mm fine mesh designed to be hair-rig safe.
- The frame size is matched to the net depth for a swaddling effect.
- This is a landing-net head only; a handle isn’t specified as included.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net head only. A handle isn’t specified as included, so you’ll need to pair it with a suitable landing-net handle.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A focused, fish-friendly net head with sensible construction and two useful sizes.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching9/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.5/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers fishing commercials, canals and smaller venues. The soft pan-style mesh gives you calm, controlled handling when a fish is ready to come in.
- Coarse anglers who care about gentle netting. The lightweight head, hair-rig-safe mesh and swaddling effect make it a tidy choice for general pleasure fishing.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers targeting very large carp. The 18-inch option could be restrictive, while even the larger head is aimed more at controlled everyday netting than huge fish.
- Fishing thick weed, snags or snaggy margins. A soft fine mesh and fish-care-led design may not be the first choice where you need to bully a fish away from danger.
The lowdown
Introducing the NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net
A proper gentle landing-net head for carp and coarse anglers who want a bit more control once a fish is in the margins.
- Available in 18-inch and 20-inch sizes.
- Uses soft 2 mm fine mesh designed to be hair-rig safe.
- The frame size is matched to the net depth for a swaddling effect.
- This is a landing-net head only; a handle isn’t specified as included.
Quick verdict
Verdict
The NuFish Dead Pan is all about fish care and control. Its soft 2 mm mesh, matched frame and shallow-pan design help keep a carp or coarse fish settled while you sort the net and get things ready on the bank.
There’s no faff here and no bells and whistles. Just choose the right size, add your own handle and you’ve got a light, sensible landing-net head for normal carp and coarse fishing. The 20-inch version gives a little more room; the 18-inch is the niftier option for smaller fish and tighter swims.
A focused, fish-friendly net head with sensible construction and two useful sizes.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 9/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.5/10
The D-section frame, cast alloy spreader block and reinforced trim give it a solid-looking build.
The lightweight pan design and matched depth should make fish control straightforward in normal swims.
Soft hair-rig-safe mesh and the swaddling effect put fish care right at the centre.
It’s light, simple and available in two practical sizes, although you still need to supply a handle.
It offers useful fish-care features without unnecessary complication, but the separate handle adds to the overall setup cost.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
NuFish
NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net
There’s a lot to be said for a landing net that just gets on with the job. No daft gimmicks. No faff when a fish is ready to slide over the cord. The NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net is built around that simple idea: get the fish in, keep it settled and make the whole last bit of the fight a touch less frantic.
This is a landing-net head rather than a complete net setup, so don’t expect a handle in the package. You’re choosing the head and pairing it with a handle you already own or pick up separately. That’s handy if you’ve already got a decent handle in the holdall and want a fish-friendly head to go on the end.
The first choice is size. There’s an 18-inch model, SKU NFN212, and a 20-inch model, SKU NFN213. The smaller head should feel neat in tighter swims and won’t be more net than you need for modest carp or general coarse fish. The 20-inch version gives you a little more breathing room when a better lump turns up.
Both versions use soft 2 mm fine mesh. That matters when you’re fishing hair rigs, because the mesh is designed to be hair-rig safe rather than acting like a little trap for your hooklink. Nobody wants to be stood in the margins, fish ready for the mat, while a rig has a proper tangle in the net.
The soft mesh also helps the fish remain still once it’s in the pan. That doesn’t mean you can switch off and start making a brew while a carp is flapping about. You still need to keep the net low, support the fish properly and get it onto the unhooking mat sharpish. But a calm fish is a much easier fish to handle.
The head uses a strong D-section frame, giving it a reassuring shape when you’re guiding a fish over the front. There’s also a solid cast alloy spreader block at the centre. That’s the bit taking the strain when the frame is opened up, so having a proper solid block there is a welcome touch.
Around the frame, reinforced perforated soft nylon trim adds protection without turning the head into a heavy old beast. The net head is lightweight, which is dead handy when you’re fishing alone and trying to guide a fish with one hand while keeping the other on the handle.
The design detail I like most is that the frame size is matched to the net depth. That creates what NuFish calls a swaddling effect, with the fish held more securely inside the pan rather than left rolling around in a big, loose bag. It’s a sensible fish-care approach for those last few seconds before the net comes out of the water.
So, where does it fit on the bank? Think commercials, canals, estate lakes and normal carp or coarse swims where fish care and easy handling matter more than brute-force snag work. Pick the size around the fish you expect, match it to a decent handle and it looks like a bob-on bit of kit for keeping the final part of a bite-time calm and controlled.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Product type
- Landing-net head
- Sizes
- 18-inch and 20-inch
- 18-inch SKU
- NFN212
- 20-inch SKU
- NFN213
- Mesh
- Soft 2 mm fine material
- Frame and spreader
- Strong D-section frame with solid cast alloy spreader block
Specs checked with NuFish, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The fish-care angle
The clever bit is the way the head is put together. The fine soft mesh is hair-rig safe, while the frame and depth are matched to create a swaddling effect around the fish. That should help prevent a lively fish from rolling about in the net pan.
It’s not trying to be a huge snaggy-water net or a monster carp cradle in miniature. This is a lightweight, fish-friendly head for getting a fish safely under control, especially when you’re fishing close in and need a net that behaves itself.
What you’re buying
A lightweight pan built around calm fish handling
The NuFish Dead Pan is a landing-net head with a soft 2 mm fine mesh, a strong D-section frame and a solid cast alloy spreader block. The frame is finished with reinforced perforated soft nylon trim, giving the edge some protection while keeping the head light enough to handle without a load of effort.
Its standout feature is the relationship between the frame size and the net depth. Rather than leaving a fish swimming around in a deep, loose bag, the pan is designed to give a swaddling effect. That helps keep the fish settled while you get the net under control and prepare for the move onto the mat.
Worth knowing. This is the head only. A handle or other extra contents aren’t specified, so check your existing handle has the right fitting before you’re on the bank and facing a cheeky last-minute faff.
Pick your size
A tidy option for everyday carp and coarse fishing
The 18-inch NFN212 is the compact choice. It should suit anglers fishing smaller carp, commercial waters and tighter swims where a massive head is more awkward than useful. It’s also a sensible option for general coarse fishing when you want a light net that stores and moves easily.
The 20-inch NFN213 gives you a bit more room for larger carp and mixed venues. If your lake throws up the odd better fish, or you’d simply rather have more space when a fish is ready to come in, that extra size makes sense. Just remember that head size should match the fish you realistically target, not the biggest one you daydream about.
Both sizes make most sense for anglers who put fish care high on the list. The hair-rig-safe mesh is reassuring for modern carp rigs, and the soft construction is well suited to a controlled margin netting job. In heavy weed or serious snags, though, you may want something more specialised and more forceful.
Quick answers
The bits you’ll want clear before buying
Is it suitable for carp? Yes, particularly smaller and medium-sized carp where the chosen head gives enough room. The 20-inch model is the safer all-round pick if your venue contains a wider range of fish. Always keep the net wet, avoid dragging fish across the bank and move straight to a proper unhooking mat.
What does hair-rig safe mean here? The fine soft mesh is designed to reduce the chance of a hair rig, hook or bait mount catching up in the net. It doesn’t mean you should yank a rig free if it does snag. Take your time and deal with it carefully.
Worth knowing. The net head is only one part of the setup. A suitable handle, a wet unhooking mat and a fish-care routine still matter just as much as the mesh. Get those bits right and the Dead Pan can be a proper sensible bit of kit for the final few yards.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Soft 2 mm mesh is kinder around fins, scales and hair rigs.
- The pan-style shape helps keep fish settled in the net.
- Lightweight head with a strong D-section frame.
- Solid cast alloy spreader block adds confidence at the business end.
- Two sizes cover a good spread of carp and coarse-fishing situations.
Worth knowing
- You’ll need to buy or already own a suitable landing-net handle.
- The 18-inch head may feel a bit tight for bigger carp.
- The soft mesh and fish-care focus won’t suit every rough, snaggy or weed-choked swim.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Does the NuFish Dead Pan include a handle?
Does the NuFish Dead Pan include a handle?
It’s listed as a landing-net head, with no handle or extra contents specified. You’ll need to match it with a suitable handle.
02Which size should I choose?
Which size should I choose?
Go for the 18-inch head if you mainly target smaller carp and coarse fish or fish tight swims. Pick the 20-inch version if you want a bit more room for bigger carp and a broader range of venues.
03Is the mesh hair-rig safe?
Is the mesh hair-rig safe?
Yes. The soft 2 mm fine mesh is designed to be hair-rig safe, helping reduce the chance of the rig catching up in the net.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are soft 2 mm mesh is kinder around fins, scales and hair rigs. and the pan-style shape helps keep fish settled in the net.; the main trade-off is you’ll need to buy or already own a suitable landing-net handle..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Soft 2 mm mesh is kinder around fins, scales and hair rigs.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers fishing commercials, canals and smaller venues: The soft pan-style mesh gives you calm, controlled handling when a fish is ready to come in.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “You’ll need to buy or already own a suitable landing-net handle.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net
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Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the NuFish Dead Pan Landing Net. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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