http://www.americanmaple.com/relaunchpromar/grandehalibutsalmon.html

The net is HUGE. The handle does retract in to the net. The strategy when fishing by oneself is to get the net in the water and steer the fish over it, then lift. The net is so big you have a wide margin for error and can net the fish tail first or any direction you like.

When fishing with a partner, the game is to get the fish going toward the boat and don't let up. Even if the fish explodes out of the water at the side of the boat, your partner won't miss because he can just get the net under the fish and scoop. Typical fight on 10+ bass hooked on a swimbait fishing with this net should be 30 seconds or less. Catching a 15lber in 15 seconds is not abnormal.

With a small net, or no net, all bets are off. Many people laughed at me when the saw my net a few years ago. More people get it now, but I am still amazed how many guys go to big fish tournament venues with tiny nets. They must be more sporting than me :)