Mats are for all, but . . . . . . . ?

[Peter Waller]

'Mats are for all', an article in Anglers Mail this week. Do you use an unhooking mat for species other than carp or pike? I can just picture Dennis Flack having one in his back pocket! The main topic being, or so it seems, whether barbel need mats.

 

Interesting advert within the artical. Its an advert 'endorsed by the Barbel Society'. I was amused to see that the B.S. 'endorse' the 'Makin's' unhooking mat. Never thought I would ever see the words 'Makins', 'endorse' and 'Barbel Society' on the same sheet of paper!!

 

The serious point of the whole artical was as to whether we should use an unhooking mat or not. Got to admit that I don't for bream. Never even entered my mind. I suppose the reason being that I don't lay bream on the ground.

 

Birmingham Anglers Association secretary, river anglers' best friend, John Williams states that 'he can't see the point of them and would have thought soft grass was as good as anything'. Well, is it? My feeling is that not all grass is that soft, especially when it's be trod on & broken. In that concern I feel a pike's eyes, especially, are liable to damage.

 

Steve Pope, Barbel Society, is quoted as saying 'Really they should be used for all species, even in matches,' Yes, I suppose they should if a laden keepnet is going to be dumped on the tow path! But for individual small species, surely not!?

 

But . . . . . . do we need to use mats for smaller species? Surely a smooth piece of thick polythene sheet, laid on the ground, is more than enough protection? Such a sheet has the advantage of portability. Some of these super luxurious mats are bulky, superior upholstery jobs in the extreme!

 

[ 22 June 2002, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

[Chris Shaw]

What we have to consider here is the design of a fish. Think about this and you will see the reason for unhooking mats on larger species.

 

All of a fishes internal organs are below the spinal bone, when the fish is in water the weight of these organs is supported by the water. Remove the fish from water and these internal organs then become prone to damaged, (they have nothing to support them) this damage is more than likey to occure whilst the fish is layed on the bank whilst being unhooked and being got ready for weighing etc.

 

The fish flips and bangs its body or head on the hard bank, ahh I here you say, I laid it on the soft grass, soft to us maybe, but to a fish and its delicate internal organs, it is hard. So you have unhooked the fish, it flipped a couple of times, but it looks OK, on the outside maybe, but what damage could have been caused inside, or to its eyes????

 

What size fish need an unhooking mat of some description, this would be a matter of thinking about what you aim to catch and the fact that could the fish damage itself if it flips on the bank. If you are going roach fishing, I would think a descent folded teatowel across your knees would suffice, if you feel this is not good enough and the fish could be damaged, then use something a bit softer and thicker.

 

If you are going after carp then one of those nice unhooking mats made for the job, is the order of the day.

 

I have seen and HEARD carp flip on what we think is soft grass, they can half give it a wallop, then there is their eyes to think off, how would you like your eyes rubbed into some soft grass, no, thought not.

 

[ 22 June 2002, 11:33 AM: Message edited by: Chris Shaw ]

[chesters1]

the carp mat i have is double with velcro all round when its not being used as a mat its a large bag ,best of both worlds

[Steve Burke]

I agree that mats should be used for all species. However, it doesn't have to be a shop-bought model - anything suitable like bubble wrap will do.

 

In fact, I make unhooking mats compulsory at Wingham. I'm not the only one, and even commercial fisheries are beginning to insist on them. Indeed, one such local water has a big sign up saying "No unhooking mat, no fishing!".

[Steve Burke]

Does anyone know who produced the first commercial unhooking mat. Was it ET?

 

Certainly pike anglers seem to have been using unhooking mats for many years, and almost certainly before even carp anglers. I suppose that pike can take a relatively long time to unhook. Plus many of us when boat fishing used carpet underlay to deaden sounds. This of course doubled up as an unhooking mat.

[Gaffer]

I think that any fish that can't be held in one hand, whilst the other hand unhooks it, needs to be on an unhooking mat....simple!

[Howard 13]

I agree with Gaffer, I always take a mat for all my fishing.Normally whilst pleasure fishing the chances are you'll get one bonus fish like a decent chub,bream or tench and as Gaffer said if you can't hold it with one hand and unhook it with the other - you need a mat of some sort.

 

HB.

[david platt]

Hi

Well Gaffer said it for me also

but I started fishing taking a

piece of foam in a plastic bag

before Unhooking mats were made

Commercialy I saw a senior Angler

using a piece of foam on a water

I fished Thought it was a good Idea

so, I modernised it by putting a

plastic bag over the foam keeping

it dry.

david

[david platt]

david platt:

Hi

Well Gaffer said it for me also

but I started fishing taking a

piece of foam in a plastic bag

before Unhooking mats were made

Commercialy I saw a senior Angler

using a piece of foam on a water

I fished, Thought it was a good Idea

so, I modernised it by putting a

plastic bag over the foam keeping

it dry.

david

[Chris Shaw]

Gaffer:

I think that any fish that can't be held in one hand, whilst the other hand unhooks it, needs to be on an unhooking mat....simple!

Nice way to put it Gaffer, I spent a while trying to think of the best way to explain this one.