I would also add that it is not advisable to leave the fish unattended on the mat whilst you collect items from your bivvy ie scales, camera etc. The best thing to do is to get everything in place before you lift the fish from the water and that includes the lake water as an unattended fish may cause itself severe damage if left.

I have tried most of the various carp care kits and have even wrote an extensive piece on the subject myself. I have found the Korda carp care kit to be the best as it has both body and mouth antiseptics and they most certainly do not disperse once the fish is placed back in the water. I think this was originally marketed by thinking anglers (Ben Hamilton). The nash one is aldo very good and at say £12 its about the cost of a kilo of bait and most of us throw that in on a day session.

If I owned a lake I would make it compulsory to carry carp care products onto my venue. Like Samantha quite rightly says it is in everyones interest to ensure the fish are in pristine condition for the next person to catch.

Cheers

Jamie

Sound advice all round. We all need to constantly remind ourselves of the importance of not only looking after our fish but those of others too.

I have on more than one occassion heard comments from other anglers about the guy down the bank who had caught a fish and didn’t have a clue what he was doing with it. They shouldn’t be fishing.

Upon asking if the ones criticising had gone down to give a hand and show the newcomer how to look after his capture I am usually left with a open jaw expression in return. In my mind the people criticising are just as bad if not worse than the angler who was struggling to handle his catch.

During the 25 years I spent at Walkers of Trowell I helped to set up hundreds and hundreds of different anglers wanting to start this marvellous sport of ours and used to put myself out to teach a few basic carp care rules and on the bank tips. Unfortunately most shops don’t have the time, the conscience or perhaps even the experience to do this. So, we must all take responsibility and if we see someone doing something which isn’t quite right, step in and offer to help.
Approach in the right manner rather than going in on the attack and most people will be more than willing to take advice.

Take time out to help others to look after the fish we want to catch later.

Best fishes – Shaun Harrison