EGO S2 Slider Landing Net Review 2026: The Telescoping Net Bass and Trout Anglers Swear By

2026-08-14

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TL;DR: The EGO S2 Slider is the best all-purpose landing net you can buy under $70. A telescoping aircraft-grade aluminum handle that extends to 60 inches, a flat-bottom rubber mesh basket that's gentle on fish and won't eat your hooks, and a collapsed length short enough to clip to a belt or kayak hatch — this is the net you reach for when it matters.

Why Your Landing Net Matters More Than You Think

Most anglers don't think about their net until they're trying to land a 5-pound bass one-handed from a kayak, or standing knee-deep in a river watching a big trout run. Then they wish they'd bought a better one.

The EGO S2 Slider solves the two biggest landing net problems: it stores small and reaches far. The collapsed handle fits in a bag, clips to a belt, or slides into a rod holder — and when a fish is on, it extends to 60 inches in one smooth pull. No twisting, no snapping, no fumbling. Just grip and go.

Product Highlights

• Telescoping Handle: Aircraft-grade aluminum shaft extends from approximately 26 inches collapsed to 60 inches extended. That extra reach is the difference between landing a fish cleanly and taking a swim reaching over the gunnel of a kayak or the edge of a dock.
• Rubber-Coated Mesh Basket: The rubberized mesh coating does two things: it's gentle on fish slime, which matters for catch-and-release survival rates, and it won't snag and mangle your treble hooks. You'll spend more time fishing and less time untangling hooks from the net.
• Flat-Bottom Basket Design: The flat-bottom basket keeps a fish upright for photos and makes releasing faster — no rolling, no awkward flopping. Especially useful when you're fishing solo without a partner to hold the net.
• One-Motion Locking Extension: The S2 Slider's handle locks in both the fully collapsed and fully extended positions. Once deployed in the heat of a fight, it stays extended until you deliberately collapse it.
• Lightweight Construction: The full rig comes in under one pound. You won't feel it clipped to your belt until a fish needs it — and then you'll be glad it's there.
• Multiple Basket Sizes: Available in small (trout, panfish), medium (bass, walleye), and large (pike, musky, inshore). The medium is the call for most freshwater anglers.

Specs

On-Water Performance

The S2 Slider deploys faster than any fixed-handle net in its price range. The single-motion extension is smooth under pressure — and if you've ever fumbled a net with a fish running alongside the boat, you know exactly how much that extra second costs.

For bass fishing, the medium basket handles everything from 2-pound spotted bass up to 7-pound largemouth without issue. For river trout fishing, the rubber mesh keeps the fish calm and the hooks untangled, making single-angler catch-and-release genuinely faster and less stressful on the fish.

The collapsed length means it actually travels with you. It fits inside most tackle bags, clips to a kayak rigging track with a carabiner, or slides into a wading vest D-ring. Most fixed-handle nets don't make it out of the truck. The S2 Slider does.

The Cons

• Minor handle flex at full extension: At 60 inches, there's a small amount of flex in the shaft. It won't cost you a fish, but anglers who want a stiffer, lighter option should look at the EGO Ultralight series.
• Locking button wear: The locking mechanism has seen some reports of wear after two or more seasons of heavy use. Inspect it before a big trip and replace if there's any play in the lock.
• Lanyard attachment is minimal: The lanyard hole is functional but small — bring your own carabiner clip if you plan to hang it from a kayak rigging or a wading belt.

Verdict

The EGO S2 Slider is the best value-to-utility landing net on the market for freshwater anglers. It's the net you throw in the kayak hatch without thinking twice, clip to your wading belt on trout stream days, and reach for when a big bass finally shows itself at the surface. Rubber mesh, telescoping aluminum, sub-$65 price — there's no reason to fish without it.

👉 Check current price on Amazon — rubber mesh, telescoping handle, multiple sizes in stock.