I fished for 30 years without a net. Early years I beached them like everyone else and then evolved to tail them in shallow water. All that with single hand.
About 2010 or so I started using a net for trout since all the science out there says if you don't have to touch them, don't. I will admit, it also helps to snap a quick pic of them when solo. Mind you, the pics are those crappy, too much net pics, but it's better than phone in one hand and the fish in the other pics. And, I have big hands.
For whatever reason, that hadn't quite translated to steelhead or salmon. Maybe because the catch rate is much lower? Maybe because I'm decent at bringing them in without a net. The longer 2 handers took some getting used to, but still not terrible. Maybe just because I'm dim.
About 2015 I started packing a net. I clearly remember it was a chum session off the beach that I thought "I need a net". And pinks off the beach like to roll so I took it there too. Well, now that I had my cheap and lightweight rubber C&R net from Bass Pro Tacoma, just big enough for most steelhead, that I hacked down to the right length to put on my back, I started packing it steelheading and salmon fishing on the river as well.
It it my opinion that I should have started this LONG ago. I have always fought fish very aggressively to get them in sooner than later and the net makes that even easier. Even if I'm 80' out in the river I move "down & out" of the river to get even or below the fish. Several guys I admire very much taught that to me many years ago. Make the fish fight you and the river.
I see people lose fish all the time because the fish is way downriver of them and they never leave their spot. Not only is this a sure way to lose a fish, it's also a very good way to kill a fish. It makes landing much harder as well.
My advice...get a net just big enough that you can still hike in with it. I've hiked several miles with mine and it's only tripped me once.
