| Carp Care Tackle, Part 1 |
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Unhooking Mats An unhooking mat is, as the name suggests, a mat used for unhooking fish on. It should be used every time a fish comes out of the water and should be carried by the carp angler at all times. Every time you catch a fish, rather than bring the fish out of the water and unhook it on hard, rough ground, place it on a soft protective mat, such as those marketed by Rod Hutchinson Developments. The mat will cushion the weight of the fish and protect it from any unnecessary damage such as lost scales or cuts, which may lead to infection. The mat should be the right size to comfortably fit the size of the fish you are trying to catch. When Should they be Used? As stated above, unhooking mats should always be used when a carp comes out of its natural environment. This could be: when weighing fish, when unhooking fish, when photographing fish or when treating fish. We know for sure that some anglers do not use unhooking mats when weighing and photographing fish. It is vitally important that they are placed underneath the fish when carrying out either of these tasks. The reasons for this are obvious - you never know when the fish is going to flip out of your hands or when the weighing sling will detach itself from the scales hook. Why Should We All Have One? All carp anglers should carry unhooking mats because the welfare of the carp is our main concern. It is as simple as that. Every time a carp is caught we inflict stress upon it, and we should therefore try to minimize any damage the fish may cause to itself as it flaps around on the bank. Never rely on someone else to bring a mat - always take your own each and every time you go fishing. |
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