Wow, thats alot to get through.
First off, hello First post on here I think.
I've been float fishing every now and then for a while, and now I've started going for the carp, with a friend of mine.
We're both new to it, and he gets quite alot of advice from a seasoned friend, and passes it onto me of course.
Anyway, fishing yesterday (Saturday), I landed my 2nd carp (apart from the numerous previous Crucians on the pole / rod / float).
But I digress, this was a 5 1/2lb Common, which I am quite impressed with. For me, it was a monster. Didn't put up much of a fight, or at least not what I excpected. Was great fun.
We got it in, on the mat, unhooked it, weighed it, and took a photo before promptly returning it to the water.
However, I do have one query. While holding the carp for the photo, I tried putting my finger in its mouth, and apply a gentle downward pressure. as advised to me by a couple of people, to 'subdue' it from wriggling, as it were.
If you look at the photo, I think I was a little too heavy handed, and as you can see, its mouth is quite exposed.
I hope I haven't damaged the fish in any way, and did I do it right? I suppose I panicked a little. I was also in quite a rush to get it back into the water too (was top on my memorised lists of things I'd read up on prior to the fishing).
Anyway, am I holding it right, was I too heavy handed? Any tips? I also notice my right thumb was covering the dorsal fin. I wasn't squeezing at all, just letting the fish rest in my hands.
Also, what about when it starts wriggling on the unhooking mat, we sort of apply a gentle spread-out pressure onto the carp with both hands until it calms a little, so it doesnt damage itself by jumping about. Anything wrong there?
Anyway I'll shut up now, and simply say it was caught on a 1inch piece of pepperami. This was the only fish of the day, but a beautiful catch it was!
Regards
[ 03. May 2004, 02:55 AM: Message edited by: Bod ]