Correct fish handling techniques.

Right john asked me to put a little thread together were we can all see the correct way of the landing, weighing, and releasing our prized capture.

Firstly before even leaving to fish for carp we should all have these items.

Landing net of a adequate size
Unhooking mat
Bait bucket or some form of tub to store water to pour on the fish
Klinik (optional)
Small pair of discorgers (for those ones that your fingers just cant reach)

Right now we have the correct equipment we can start fishing for them, here are some tips for landing the fish.

So now your fishing make sure everything is to hand the mat all out ready for the hopeful capture. should look abit like this
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ttie123/01.jpg

So now you have just had a run and now have the fish safely into the net now this is the important part. Make sure you have plenty of slack line and carefully break down your net. Now i usually roll the net up and am getting ready to remove the fish from the water.

To remove the fish from the water first check all the fins are flush to the carps body and are not sticking out as lifting them whilst there sticking out could cause the fish to become damaged. Now your ready to remove the fish out of the water supporting its body weight take the fish over to the mat still making sure you have plenty of slack line. Now carefully unhook the fish and if you choose to use it add the klinik to the hook hold. Now remove the net and lines away from the fish but making sure either someone is with the carp or the carp has no way of coming of the mat.

Now is the part were its time to photograph and weigh the fish.

So here is a little list of the equipment for weighing your capture.

Quality large weigh sling (see to many being doubled over in tiny slings)
Quality set of scales

So now its time to weigh your capture. Firstly make sure your weigh sling is wet and not bone dry! Now get your scales and add the sling and them take the dial back to the zero or if using digital scales zero them. Once this is done lay the sling onto the unhooking mat and carefully lift the fish into it. Now put the handles onto the scales and lift the fish up you only have to lift the fish a few inches above ground. No need to hold the fish 5ft in the air .

Now I'm sure most of us know how to photo a fish.

But here is a few rules!

Always kneel down.
Always keep the fish over the unhooking mat
Always keep the fish wet
Try to photo it on a neutral background (no rods or such in background)
Remove weigh sling from under the fish
Take plenty of pictures of both sides and different angles

Follow these tips and you get quality photos

And this is how they can look
http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...3/DSCF1531.jpg

This picture clearly shows the fish over the mat

Now it comes to releasing the fish.

So you can either choose to put the fish back in the weigh sling or you can carry it back to the water in the unhooking mat. You should never put the fish back by carrying it!!!

So taking the mat or sling to the water put it in the water making sure its deep enough for the fish to swim off. Push the fish under the water keeping hold of its tail or head and giving it a few pushes backwards and forwards till it regains its strength and when it kicks let it swim back to the depths in the same condition as it came out.

These are just the basic's off quality fish care. So please respect the fish.

If anyone has any pictures or any more tips please feel free to add them to the bottom

Kieran