- Forceps
- Disgorgers
- Landing Nets
- Unhooking Mat or Cradle
- Weigh / Floatation Sling
- Bucket
- Fish Care Kits
- Scales
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Undoubtedly a lot of mouth damage can be caused during the unhooking process with a barbed hook if done carelessly. Obviously playing them correctly is essential too, but the way in which you remove the hook can make a big difference to whether any damage is caused. It always goes without saying that each hook hold should be treated with some form of carp care product.
Minimizing damage is ensuring carp are returned unharmed after they are caught. This is why it is of utmost importance on our part to learn how to unhook a fish. Being able to unhook and return fish unharmed is a key skill for any angler. To help spread good practice, Angling Direct has put together this brilliant set of tips to help everyone get it right, with every fish they catch.
With a barbless fishing hook, you can avoid any harsh hooks, keeping yourself and the fish safe when removing the hooks. There is some debate about barbed vs barbless hooks, but many anglers find fishing with barbless hooks far easier to remove and they tend to do less damage to the fish.
Whilst Barbless hooks do result in more hook pulls, you can reduce this by using larger rounder hooks [Korda Wide Gape B] with an aggressive kicker
Investing in a high-quality pair of forceps is an absolute must-have for any angler. These versatile tools are perfect for crushing barbs and safely unhooking fish, ensuring that you can handle your catch with ease and precision. Don’t let a lack of proper equipment compromise your angling experience – get yourself a reliable pair of forceps today.er. These versatile tools are perfect for crushing barbs and safely unhooking fish, ensuring that you can handle your catch with ease and precision. Don’t let a lack of proper equipment compromise your angling experience – get yourself a reliable pair of forceps today.er. These versatile tools are perfect for crushing barbs and safely unhooking fish, ensuring that you can handle your catch with ease and precision. Don’t let a lack of proper equipment compromise your angling experience – get yourself a reliable pair of forceps today.er. These versatile tools are perfect for crushing barbs and safely unhooking fish, ensuring that you can handle your catch with ease and precision. Don’t let a lack of proper equipment compromise your angling experience – get yourself a reliable pair of forceps today.
It is crucial to have an unhooking mat or cradle to handle fish safely. This provides a protective and padded surface between the fish and the bank, ensuring the safety of the fish. So, make sure you pack one before you head out to catch your favorite species, from pike to our beloved carp.
Unhooking mats are most commonly used by Carp anglers, however they are also used throughout coarse fishing. They are typically not used for small species such as roach and perch because they are a lot easier to handle. Whereas medium to large sized fish like Pike and Zander can be difficult to handle and may cause problems when unhooking them. Typically for large Carp, cradles are used instead of mats which offer more protection and prevent the fish from ending up on the ground.
Other than just unhooking the fish, many anglers use the mat to take photos. Typically this is a rule in most fisheries to prevent the angler accidently dropping the fish. Furthermore, the mat can be used to measure the length of the fish.
While fishing scales are not essential for fish care, they can be quite useful when it comes to measuring and recording the weight of your catch. Knowing the weight of a fish can help you keep track of your angling progress and possibly even earn bragging rights. Digital scales are often preferred for their accuracy and ease of use, while some anglers still prefer analogue scales for their durability and simplicity. Whatever your preference, it’s worth considering investing in a good quality fishing scale if you want to keep track of your catches.
Fish Care Kits, this is possibly the most forgotten piece of kit yet the most important. Re really recommend ESP Carp Doctor or Gardners Intensive Care.
Both of these are highly effective and easy-to-use antiseptic sprays for keeping carp and other freshwater fish safe from infections, including fin rot, ulcers and the occasional hook mark.
Investing in the best carp weigh sling should be a top priority for any carp angler. Fish care is paramount if we’re to continue enjoying fishing for carp for years to come. A well-designed carp weigh sling works to protect your catch throughout the entire weighing and photography process.
Keeping your skin that contacts the fish wet protects the fish’s delicate scales and keeps the fish more hydrated. It is also worth keeping a bucket of water from the venue (lake or river) nearby so you can keep the fish calm and cool when on the unhooking mat or cradle.
You need to have a look at where the fish has been hooked to determine your next course of action. If the fish is hooked in the top or bottom lip then you can usually remove it with your fingers; by using barbless hooks this becomes a lot easier.
To remove the hook from a lip-hooked fish with your fingers hold the fish with your left hand (if you’re right-handed) then grasp the shank of the hook and pull it firmly in the opposite direction from which it enters. Give it a wiggle if it won’t come straight out.
For bigger hooks and trebles a pair of forceps may help you remove the hook more easily.
Contact Number 01344 777411
Account Enquiries : Accounts@crowthorne-angling.com
Customer Contact : Daryl@crowthorne-angling.com
Address: 91-95 Church St, Crowthorne RG45 7AW
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