Unhooking policy...

[Adz]

I thought it was about time I posted something original on here, instead of just hijacking other peoples threads ;-)

 

Which, in your opinion, is kinder to the fish:

 

Removing it from the water, placing it on a damp unhooking mat to remove the hook and then returning the fish to the water?

 

Or...

 

Keeping the fish in the water, inside the landing net, in order to unhook it and allow it to recover before releasing it?

 

This is really a question to do with fair weather fishing for stillwater carp, where getting into the water with the fish isn't a big deal and, normally, only single hooks are used. I appreciate trying to unhook a couple of trebles from a struggling pike up to your waist in near freesing water isn't a very practical way to go about things ;-)

 

Cheers,

[coarsefish-torbay]

I find I don't have problems unhooking carp to upper doubles by supporting the landing net across my knees and keeping the fish inside. I use a 22" pan net and the fish never goes onto the ground. After unhooking, I tip direct from the net into keepnet (in a match), or drop the net back into the water while I compose a catch shot, or simply let the fish swim out again.

Unlike a lot of match anglers, I usually carry a mat, this is used mainly for shots for mags, or for sitting on while taking photos!

Steve

[david platt]

I never take the fish out of the

landing net, I find that this tends

to keep the fish quieter and makes

the unhooking faster & less stress

on the fish & after unhooking put

landing net back in the water turn

the net inside out & the fish swims

away. Job done

david

[Hereford_angler]

I find it easiest to take fish out but then agen i mostly fish for roach etc.. I take carp out also but when it comes to pike over 10lb they stay in the net! Its really hard to handle a big pike out of water without getting your fingers damaged!

[Hereford_angler]

I find it easiest to take fish out but then agen i mostly fish for roach etc.. I take carp out also but when it comes to pike over 10lb they stay in the net! Its really hard to handle a big pike out of water without getting your fingers damaged!

[chesters1]

take a board 4ft long 2ft wide 1" inch thick drive a hundred 2" nails through it ,turn it over (nail head down),any fish caught can be put on the board without fear of wriggling and damaging them selves on the ground ,to ensure complete safety in the case of frenzed pike attack make another identicle board lay it ontop (nail heads up)of the beast and lean on it ,job done and no nasty grit on your fish

[david platt]

Chesters I dont think you thought

your post through

what about all the splinters off the

boards they will stick in your fingers

david

 

[ 28. November 2002, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: david platt ]

[chesters1]

curses! back to the broken glass then