Carp Welfare
This guide will help to protect carp and assist with your catch & release
Courtesy of CARPology magazine.
Taking the carp from the water
Always carry a spare bankstick that is positioned in a convenient part of the swim you’re fishing in order to safely hold the net in place, with your fish inside, whilst you prepare the all-important utensils needed to look after our carp whilst they’re on the bank.
Dampen your hands and wet both the unhooking mat and weigh sling with lake water. This ensures that the protective slimy membrane on the carps skin doesn’t dry up which could cause damage and scarring to your capture.
Position mat in an appropriate place with the backdrop you desire for your photographs. It’s worth positioning the mat slightly away from your gear with a backdrop of foliage or the water in which your carp resides.
Get the camera out of its case and in position to shoot. Also zero the scales with your wet sling so that the recorded weight is accurate.
Detach the net from its handle and roll net towards the carp. This will support the carp as you lift it from the water and allow you to have complete control of the lift.
Ensure all of fish’s fins are folded flat against its body and then lift the carp from the water’s edge, being cautious not to bump the carp on any obstacles and gently lower the fish onto your well-padded mat.
Unhooking
Fish safety and looking after the fish we catch in the right manner should be the most important skill to be learnt in fishing. It also goes without saying that each hook hold should be treated with some form of carp care product.
It’s important to grip the hook correctly when removing it from a fish’s mouth. You need to hold the hook at two points, apply steady thumb pressure against the eye of the hook and use your index finger to prevent the hook from moving around.
Once you’ve got to grips with the hook, apply the thumb pressure to the eye of the hook whilst pushing down the shank in the opposite direction to the point of penetration.
Some hook holds are easier to remove than others. If you’re really struggling to unhook the fish, then use a pair of forceps by clamping down on the shank applying steady downward pressure.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position where the hook point has gone in and come back out of the flesh, instead of passing it back through, which could cause significant damage to the fish’s mouth, simply snip the point and barb off the hook and pass it back through.
Transferring to the sling
You’ve caught a cracking fish, the photos have been taken, it’s now time to get those all-important figures and find out just how much it weighs. Again, from a fish safety aspect it’s essential to get this right so the fish can return to the water without damage and minimal stress.
Ensure your sling is wet before attempting to place a carp into it. If the sling mesh is dry then this can cause the protective slimy membrane that covers the fish’s body to dry out and may result in damage or scarring to the carp’s skin.
Lay the wet sling open on the mat and lift the fish onto the sling in an upright position. This is better than laying the fish on its side as the movement of lifting the fish up on its side whilst weighing could cause fin damage.
Before you zip up the sling and lift the fish onto the scales, check that all the fins are flat to the fish’s body. If they are not this will cause unnecessary stress to the fish and potentially damage its fins.
Once all the previous steps have been carried out, zip-up the weigh sling to ensure the fish cannot fall out when lifted, then attach the scales to the sling handle and lift your prize, not moving the fish away from the mat, in order to see those pounds and ounces.
Controlling
Every now and then we catch a real lively one that continues its fight on the bank. Some fish go berserk on the mat and it’s essential that we own the knowledge and ability to calm them down and stop the fish causing itself harm whilst in captivity.
The very first action to take if our carp gets a bit excited on the mat is to get your body over the carp and hold the it in position so it’s not left flapping around of its own accord. This will reduce the light on the fish as your body will shadow any sunlight that is present and you will be able to take full control of the fish so that it cannot injure itself or slide off the mat.
If the fish is still giving you the run around, cover its head with a wet sling. This will relax the fish, as the mesh will block all the light.
If your catch decides to give you a tail slap whilst your holding it for a photograph, then bring the fish close to your body and lower the carp gently onto the mat until the fish behaves. When holding a fish you can tell when it’s going to flick its tail or have a wriggle, as the fish will tense up just before. When you feel the fish tense, lower it onto the mat until normal order is restored.
Holding a carp
This may seem like a no brainer for many, however, we still see people in photographs or on the bank almost cuddling their catch rather than holding it correctly. It is paramount to hold a carp in the right manner for two reasons. Firstly it will be a more comfortable experience for the fish and secondly, your photos will look great.
Make sure you are in a crouched or kneeling position when holding the fish at all times, and always hold the fish over the mat, in case for any reason the fish should begin to flap and force you to lose grip.
To hold a carp correctly, one hand must be placed with your fingers gripping either side of the pectoral fin and the other hand should repeat the process on the carp’s anal fin.
Never hold a fish too far away from your body, as you will find it difficult to safely control the fish should it start to flap around. Always stick to tucking your elbows and upper arms parallel to your body with your forearms at a right-angle, this is the safest and best way to hold a carp.
