Landing Fish From A Steep Drop

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of Ken:

 

quote:

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I want to fish a swim on the River Thames where carp have been crashing and moving around for the last four months, the problem is landing them as there is a nine foot drop to the water. Any ideas on haw I can land them safely.

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[Cranfield]

Long handled gaff.

 

Sorry, I didn,t mean it.

 

If the drop is sheer , than a "drop net" as used by pier anglers would do the job.

Some landing nets do have very long handles,it would be worth shopping around.

[carpking]

Mmm Big drop mate, what size carp are you targeting and what size do you anticipate you have seen in that swim?

[Cranfield]

....and where is the swim ?

[Peter Sharpe]

I think you would find it far more difficult than you might imagine to get a lively carp into a drop net. You can buy landing net poles that will just about do the job, but you would probaly break your net on a big fish, with the horrible possibility of the pole breaking, and a tangled fish being swept away in the net. It's just as big a problem to put them back. You really need a large weigh sling/unhooking mat with a length of rope tied to each of the handles. You can then lower it down to the water and release one end to let the fish out. I was caught out once while piking on the Welland in the middle of Spalding.

 

I would say that on no account should you fish such a place without someone to help out, and it might be that you have to consider the welfare of the fish by just not fishing there. The only safe option is to fish from a place where someone can get to a boat and net it from the water. I suppose you need a punt really.

[Vagabond]

Going back to the net, make sure it has a very deep "bag" to it, as you will then be able to twist the net handle and close the bag before lifting the fish out. Pull the net up vertically, hand over hand. If you try to swing the fish up, then as Peter Sharpe has warned, there is a high risk of breaking your net handle.

 

I use a telescopic net handle (9') for some of the steep banks on the upper Medway. Even then, I often find I can only just reach the fish. Some of these banks are pretty treacherous in winter, so even if you have a companion with you, it is worth wearing a Crewsaver jacket

[Chris Playle]

A nine foot drop is quite considerable.

 

However, myself and the missus went for a walk along Bempton Cliffs in late summer. To my amazement, there were two sea anglers perched on top of the cliffs quite happily fishing. I don't know if any of you have been to Bempton but the cliffs along the stretch we were walking were about 300-350ft.

 

Not thats a long landing net

 

Tight Lines.

 

Chris

[RobStubbs]

I would probably opt for a very big drop net. It would be possible to convert a big landing net to a drop net (as I have done) but use a very long pole net handle to manouver the net. Then disconnect net and use as a normal drop net. However you need to be very careful doing the same in reverse to get the fish safely back into the water.

 

A couple of easier options maybe to walk the fish along to a more accessible piece of bank (if there are any) and net there, get a boat or fish from the opposite side assuming it's easier there.

 

Rob.

[Adz]

Chris Playle:

A nine foot drop is quite considerable.

 

However, myself and the missus went for a walk along Bempton Cliffs in late summer. To my amazement, there were two sea anglers perched on top of the cliffs quite happily fishing. I don't know if any of you have been to Bempton but the cliffs along the stretch we were walking were about 300-350ft.

 

Not thats a long landing net      

 

Tight Lines.

 

Chris

I wonder how they released any undersized fish?

[Rob Ward]

I'd opt to fish from a boat or alternatively draw the fish away to a fishable spot using a bit of strategic baiting, I wouldnt fancy hauling in a hefty Carp in a Drop Net - too dangerous for the fish unless the drop is vertical.