Curious to know anyones thoughts on buying a cradle vs a net. It seems like cradles take up less space in the boat but are they practical? What do the majority of musky guys perfer to use?

Cradles are dangerous and bad for the fish IMO. It causes your hands to be way too close to those hooks. It’s hard to cradle a green fish to say the least, so that usually means the fish has to tire itself out before you can get it in there.....not good for the fish. If your by yourself its impossible. Either a big beckman or frabil net is where you should look. They have lots of room for the fish to swim around in.....that also gives you plenty of time to organize after the hooks are out for fast pics and measure. Netting a fish is a lot faster and therefore better for the health of the fish too. Nets are definitely the way to go!
chris britton

get the net, once in the net you can leave the fish in the water while you get your release tools to unhook it. fish stays breathing and you can also do this by yourself.
the goal of the cradle is to be supportive of the fish's full body weight once caught, you have to fight the fish until it is completely exhausted, your fishing partner has to hold the cradle open in the water, you lead the fish into it, then you pick up the fish and dump it into the bottom of the boat to unhook it, where it gets tangled in everything.

nets are the way to go hands down, just remember to keep it in the water until taking out for a pic

The great!nets on the market now make the cradle a thing of the past. I would never be on the water without my big kahuna. Even though I don't have alot of room in the boat; it's the best thing you can do for the musky. I also have the extension handle for mine that makes it even a better tool. If I'm alone I can lay the handle from one side of the boat to the other, and tie the handle end off so it won't flip up while I unhook the fish. Don't let space dictate geting a cradle. Al.