| How to Handle Carp, Part 2 |
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Step 3: Unhooking the Fish It may be possible for you to unhook the fish using your fingers. If the hook is firmly embedded into the mouth, though, you will need to use forceps. Never try to twist the hook out of the mouth. Try to perform the task in the safest possible way. When using forceps, grasp the part of the hook that is closest to the insertion. Ensure that you do not pinch the carp's skin with the forceps. Once the hook is out, make sure your rig is out of the way of the net and the fish by hooking it to one of the rod rings. Step 4: Carp Treatment Take a good look at the fish on both sides and treat any sores or cuts with liquid treatment. Step 5: Weighing the Fish Try to carry out the task of weighing the fish in the simplest way possible. When handling fish that we are not going to sack, we prefer not to use weigh slings as these are awkward to use and mess the fish about too much. Instead, we weigh the fish in the landing net. To do this, simply detach the head of the net from the pole, zero the scales and weigh. The exact weight of the fish can be calculated by weighing the empty net once you have returned the fish to the water. For safety reasons, never lift the fish too far off the ground and always have the unhooking mat underneath. If, for any reason, the fish starts to bleed from the gills, make sure that it is returned to the water immediately. Usually this is roughly the equivalent of a nose bleed in a human. It will stop shortly after giving the fish a breather and you can continue with the weighing. Step 6: Sacking the Fish If the fish is to be sacked for photographic purposes, weigh it in a sling. Make sure you soak it well and place it at arm's length from the unhooking mat before lifting the fish out of the water. After treating the fish (Step 4), slide the net carefully from underneath. The fish can then be placed inside the sling/sack. After weighing, place the sack carefully in deep water, with the safety cord attached to a solid support, such as a deeply embedded bankstick. Support and watch the fish until it looks comfortable in the sack and able to settle on its own accord. |
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