Unhooking mats

[Gary Foster]

Hello me again,

As some of you know I'm a born again angler who has started drowning maggots again after about ten years break. While fishing yesterday morning(while most of you where at work! Ha!) for the usual..........anything that swims past..........I had a bit of a bonus, a common carp of about 6-7lbs.....ah the joy of fishing! Now I'm by no means a specimen fisherman like our carping buddies in their sleeping bags so I don't actually own an unhooking mat and while landing my 8-9lb carp i was being watched by a passer by who told me "shouldn't do that mate!" when i unhooked the 10-11lb carp on the bank. I totally agree with said passer by but what should I do? The next 12-13lbs bonus I get while you're all at work nose to the grind I want to treat with a little more respect.

 

Can any of you tell me the best way to unhook these 14-18lb bonuses or suggest an unhooking that would suit my style fishing, all the ones I've seen this morning have been very large and very expensive.

 

At a guess my carp yesterday was (really!) about 5-6lbs

I was fishing a 2lb hook length size 16 hook two red maggots and I was made up!

 

thanks guys

[Elton]

Hi Gary,

 

When I first started pike fishing, I used to use a piece of camping mat, the type used on the floors of tents to keep a bit of distance between a sleeping bag and the ground. It's a cheap alternative to get you started.

 

However, we have been talking lately to a company called Fishrite about a few things (I prefer to be open about things!) and they do a small unhooking mat for £9.99. I haven't seen one yet, but it's got to be worth investigating. The page it's on is:

 

http://www.fishrite.co.uk/specialist2.html

 

Tight lines,

 

Elton

[phonebush]

In the US we have inflatable camping pillows that are about 2' X 3'. Four dollars US. Half or less inflated it looks to me as though they would work if the size is big enough. Absent that thought the only time I needed one a plastic trash bag (dust bin) liner was provided. I put some heavy cold weather clothing under it for protection of the fish.

Phone

 

[ 18 April 2002, 08:11 PM: Message edited by: phonebush ]

[Gray-Catchpole]

if your after something cheap, and your kids are past the baby stage, a changing mat is goo, so alan fawcett says,

[Elton]

Gray-Catchpole:

if your after something cheap, and your kids are past the baby stage, a changing mat is goo,

Best to wipe the goo off first, though

 

 

Elton

[Newt]

Changing mat - works great and you can pick them up for next to nothing at a yard sale.

 

Plastic trash bin liner with some of that egg-shell foam sheeting cut to fit.

 

And it may get me bashed but IMO if the bank is grassy and not rocky, only the trash bin liner is needed.

[Gray-Catchpole]

oopsie lol

of course i really meant goo

[Alan Fawcett]

Like Gray said if you need a cheap unhooking mat then try a changing mat.

 

If you're really lucky you can pick one up for around £2 at most cheapie shops.

 

My unhooking mat cost me £6 from the fishing 2001 show last year & i've gotta admit it is a good bit of kit for the price.

 

I was hoping to win the giant sized one Gaffer donated to the raffle at the december fish-in but some other lucky sod won it

[Spiderfan]

Get hold of some carpet underlay off-cuts, the corrugated foam-backed kind.

 

Cut 'em into 3' by 2' rectangles and they roll up for easy transport and weigh next to nothing as well as costing nowt.

 

They can double up as a bit of a padded seat when stalking and they're disposable too once they get tatty or a a bit smelly . . .