CARP CARE

Good carp care is easy enough - common sense and preparation are all that is required. Think about what you are going to do with the fish before you catch....if you are coming here as a sole angler with your non-fishing partner we think it is reasonable to expect that she will assist you with the process of carp care on the bank.

We provide landing nets, unhooking mats, weigh slings and tripods of the highest quality, and we ask anglers to use them in the following mannner, which is the correct and most fish friendly procedure.

Anglers are provided with 2 -way radios to communicate with the owners. For all fish caught over 30lbs, the owners must be notified and the fish to be retained in the landing net in the lake until the owners arrive to assist you. This rule may be relaxed at the owners discretion.

All fish of 40lbs + must be weighed & photographed in the water - this involves getting into the lake waist-deep -
should you be lucky enough to catch a 40lb+ carp you will be required to do this.

If you are not sure if the fish is 30+ then call us anyway. If you are fishing as a sole angler you will need help with the photograph at the very least. We are more than happy to assist you as often as neccessary.

Ensure that your kit is laid out ready with the sling laid out on the mat, having your medi-carp and camera easily accessible. Our weigh slings fit perfectly inside the unhooking mats, if they are laid out like this ready, this is the best way to start - once you have removed the net, the carp is already in the sling ready to be weighed.

1. With the carp safely in the net, cut the line above your leader ( call us on the radio if the fish is 30+, all carp over 40lbs are to be weighed and photographed in the water )

2. Wet the sling and mat using the water bucket provided - always use plenty of fresh water from the lake, not hot water that has been sat in the bucket for hours. Zero your scales with the sling wet.

Break down the landing net and check that the fins of the carp are folded flat against its body, and then lift the fish in the net on its side and take it to the mat and lay it down on its side and unhook it. Inspect the mouth of the fish and apply medi-carp to the hook exit point, check the body of the fish and apply medi-carp to any other areas needing attention . Never stand the fish up on its belly as this places pressure on its internal organs which can cause damage. Remember that a carp is always supported in its environment by the water that surrounds it and when it is out of the water, gravity exerts unnatural forces on the fish.

For carp weighed/photographed on the bank, anglers must remain kneeling whilst holding fish. No standing up whilst holding the carp.
Watches, bracelets etc must be be removed before handling the fish.

3. Move the carp out of the net and into the weigh sling, at the same time removing the net from the mat. If you want a photo then photograph the fish now.

4. Zip up the weigh sling at both ends, check again that the carp is lying on its side weigh and record the weight and then return it to the water in the sling, ensure that you are in sufficient depth of water, open the exit zip and leave the fish in the water in the sling until it is ready to swim off of its own free will - do not force the fish out of the sling, fish can sometimes stay in the sling for 30 minutes or more before moving off. Anglers are provided with 2 weigh slings so that this practice can be followed.

The above procedure should take no longer than 3 or 4 minutes. During hot weather the fish should be returned to the lake as quickly as possible.

5. Please take your time playing the fish (there are no snags in the lake) the more pressure that is put on the fish the more chance that damage will be caused to its mouth, this is especially true when the fish is on a short line prior to netting.

In this way we can all continue to enjoy catching carp that are in superb condition. Thank You.

Photos are to be taken before the fish is weighed and the fish must be returned to the water immediately after weighing and left in the sling in the water to recover until it swims away of its own accord.