With this test series we take a look at unhooking mats and of course, protection is paramount here. As much as we all love a pocket-friendly product, we honestly believe that this is one product that no angler should scrape on, ever! What we are looking for here is the complete protective package, how much padding is on offer, can the carp be retained for short periods without flapping off or out of the mat and how mobile the entire bundle is. Yes, before you say it, the carp we have used for illustrative purposes is rather large, measuring in at a whopping 84 centimetres long and 56 centimetres from dorsal fin to pelvic fin, hence the tight fit.
Weighs: 2.
With thisTest series we take a look at unhooking mats and of course, protection is paramount here. As much as we all love a pocket-friendly product, we honestly believe that this is one product that no angler should scrape on, ever! What we are looking for here is the complete protective package, how much padding is on offer, can the carp be retained for short periods without flapping off or out of the mat and how mobile the entire bundle is. Yes, before you say it, the carp we have used for illustrative purposes is rather large, measuring in at a whopping 84 centimetres long and 56 centimetres from dorsal fin to pelvic fin, hence the tight fit.
Weighs: 2.
With thisTest series we take a look at unhooking mats and of course, protection is paramount here. As much as we all love a pocket-friendly product, we honestly believe that this is one product that no angler should scrape on, ever! What we are looking for here is the complete protective package, how much padding is on offer, can the carp be retained for short periods without flapping off or out of the mat and how mobile the entire bundle is. Yes, before you say it, the carp we have used for illustrative purposes is rather large, measuring in at a whopping 84 centimetres long and 56 centimetres from dorsal fin to pelvic fin, hence the tight fit. Weighs: 1.
Kevin Nash was one of the first within the angling industry to think about suspending carp safely off the ground in a cradle-type structure, radically reducing the risk of damage during unhooking and photography. Well he has pushed the boundaries once more. Supplied with a foot pump, the Air Cradle can be inflated in seconds and deflates to a much smaller size than traditional cradle-type designs. Utilising three robust tubes, both the standard and monster sizes are capable of holding fish to over 60kg without any compromise on the protection offered.
Carp care should always be any angler’s focus when any capture is on the bank; keeping the fish in pristine condition for future anglers to enjoy is paramount, as well as the carp’s welfare.
The Sabre Crib has been designed using a super-soft PVC waterproof material, ensuring that the fish are well protected while in it. The Crib itself has adjustable legs and mudfeet, ideal for those situations when you find yourself in a swim with uneven ground.
The Crib also has a protective cover for keeping your catch safe and well protected while setting up your scales or the camera for those all-important capture shots, and its lightweight and durable folding frame makes the Everlevel Crib perfect for transportation either on the barrow or carrying to a swim.
With carp care being paramount, fish care should always be at the top of any anglers list. The Quick Matt is a great example of fish care. Simple to set up, it has the main body which is a pop up frame that comes in a water proof carryall ideal for keeping all your other fishing gear dry. Once the frame is removed from the carryall it simply pops open and you can then insert the 2” foam base, this padded base offers protection for even the liveliest of carp.
Travelling light has always been deemed as an aspect for river anglers or dedicated bank crawlers awaiting a stalking opportunity, well I think this is as far from the truth as it could be. Of course, it is more essential for such anglers but, no matter where you fish, what you fish for, or how long your next session is, the lighter you are, the more mobile and adaptable you can be and it’s better to be prepared than not. Carp care is paramount whether you travel light or take everything including the kitchen sink. As part of the established Atom Concept range, this lightweight unhooking mat provides a compact fish-care solution utilising the best materials available.
Extremely accurate digital weigh scales Tough polycarbonate body Stainless steel hook and hang point 50 weight memory capacity Weighs in pounds and kilograms Water and dustproof sealing Large, easy to read LCD display
£64. 99
WWW. REUBENHEATON. CO.
Travelling light has always been deemed as an aspect for river anglers or dedicated bank crawlers awaiting a stalking opportunity, well I think this is as far from the truth as it could be. Of course, it is more essential for such anglers but, no matter where you fish, what you fish for, or how long your next session is, the lighter you are, the more mobile and adaptable you can be and it’s better to be prepared than not. Carp care is paramount whether you travel light or take everything including the kitchen sink. As part of the established Atom Concept range, this lightweight unhooking mat provides a compact fish-care solution utilising the best materials available.
A versatile, well-padded unhooking mat designed by Dave Lane
Doubles up as a tackle transport solution
Heavy-duty and durable construction
Removable liner for ease of use
Features an oversized lid to ensure your quarry is safe
£74. 99
WWW. TOTALFISHINGGEAR. CO.
Compact digital scales with neoprene case
Weigh up to 85lb in 1oz divisions
Powered by a supplied 9V battery
Large backlit LCD display
£29. 99
WWW. KORUM. CO.
Being a night-themed issue, we thought it would be relevant to cover a suitable unhooking mat that not only offers the carp oodles of protection but is also complete with an array of features that benefit the angler, making for an efficient and, most importantly, safe carp-care experience.
With five centimetres of luxuriously padded base and walls the Oval Mat gives ample protection and is large enough to hold carp in excess of 40lb. A mesh cover allows you to leave the carp for a short period if you need to set your self-timer or grab your headtorch, safe in the knowledge that the carp is safe. The mesh also allows you to pour water over the carp to keep it in a healthy state while trying to keep stress to a minimum.
As with any outdoor activity, conservation is important with regard to protecting the future of our hobby and fish care is paramount to the success and prosperity of carp angling.
The new Intensive Care from Gardner is designed with protection and care in mind. Created to provide a complete care system that carp anglers can quickly and easily apply when out on the bank was key. With a highly active antifungal and antibacterial formula, Intensive Care penetrates easily and begins working immediately to fight infection and speed up the important stage of recovery.
Lightweight and compact digital scales
Clear LCD display with power-saving backlight
Shock and water-resistant polycarbonate body
Up to 55lb in 1oz divisions
Complete with stainless-steel fixings and aluminium weigh bar
£39. 95
WWW. REUBENHEATON. CO.
The first set of digital scales I ever tested were made by Fox and, while they were entirely new and took some getting used to, I kind of liked them.
It didn’t take long, however, for me to return to a traditional dial scale and I’ve not paid digital scales much attention ever since.
However, these new digis from Fox arrived with a request to review them, so I took a closer look.
They’re extremely easy to set up and, even better, are quick and easy to zero once the weigh sling has been hung on them.