Since I bought my first unhooking mat from years ago,an aqua handmade version I used this for many ,many years without any issue..I always tried to look after the carp as best as I could..

I guess,I'm trying to say,has the flat mat run the course of time,because I like for example the ESP flatmat,as it would go on the porter ,laying flat,less to carry etc,bedchair on top..

I use a cradle,like so many,but it's big,bulky on occasions, plus as everyone should know fish care also comes down to the experience of the angler...

Have flat mats had their time,what do people think,remember I like flat mats..so not digging at them..!



Edit,I just remembered where this mat I had came from,it was Pickerings of Burslem..as we had no shops down here,at the time..

In reply to Post #1
Personally having seen that video of a fish losing it's tail on a cradle type mat, albeit a freak accident, I have gone back to a flat mat, in my case the TA one, so in answer to your question, no

In reply to Post #1
ive got the aqua deluxe matt its bang on got a zipped flap,and plenty of padding,having owned framed cradles and hi sided matts .its like everthing else be organised when weighing your capture.having been carp fishing for 40 years
there a big improvement on the long grass.lol

I use a trakker combi mat. Ive never used a mat with sides or a cradle, i just don't like the idea of them.

Ive never had a single incident, or even close to make me think the flat mat wasn't as safe as it could be.

I think having a flap that can cover the fishif it starts to get lairy is more important than sides. IMO obviously.

I could however see that for a complete novice, a cradle type mat maybe safer in certain situations.

In reply to Post #4
Agree with all the comments, yes when I think back ,some people never even used a mat,it was a new thing years ago..

Certainly, the amount of fishing and venues I've fished,yep can't think of a single problem using a flat mat,I never leave a fish unattended, it comes down to experience as already said, even a cradle like the NGT one I currently use,does not garentee anything in a unexperienced person's hands..

I have only ever bought flat mats, a couple of foam folding were the 1st iirc, then a Nash beanie for near 20 years and now I have the Thinking Anglers foam/beanie. I have used the big Fox Carpmaster high sided mat abroad, and I liked it for big fish, I have never used a cradle.

Personally, I find flat mats easier to remove the net/arms from under the fish, I find high sided mats make that awkward, for me. If I can I will try and avoid sliding the fish on the netting especially if they're not often caught, or in the case of Pike because their mucous stinks

Edit, and another reason I like flat mats, quite often abroad I've had to put 2 mats together to fit fish on, long Commons and any decent grassy.

I have loads of mats flat, inflatable, cradle etc
I can't find anything I am 100% happy with
When I finally get out again I'm hoping the esp solves all my problems

In reply to Post #7
Is that the ESP quick draw mat ,or the ESP flat mat you like Framey?

In reply to Post #1
I have the chub xtra protection duo mat
The base is recessed so holds a bit of water and stops
the fish sliding off

In reply to Post #9
I have one of those as well, very good mat actually

In reply to Post #1
i prefer a flat mat, one of my local clubs brought in a rule whereby you had to use a cradle or a mat with sides but i don't think they offer anything special, if a fish flips out of your hands it can easily land on the metalwork of the cradle or right on the side of a zipped up mat with sides. Sided mats and cradles might stop a fish sliding off your mat on uneven ground but they are far from perfect and personally i'm more comfortable with everything flat on the deck

Flat mats and common sense are so last century. I've heard that Nash has a new mat in the pipeline - this is the prototype. The one for sale will be camo

In reply to Post #12
>>>> I've heard that Nash has a new mat in the pipeline - this is the prototype. The one for sale will be camo<<<<<

I hope not, I have ordered 1000 of those from China in Cammo. I was going to sell them and use them upside down as inflatable Bivvies!!!!

In reply to Post #8
The quick draw

In reply to Post #12
I like it,two please..lol..

I use a chub cradle, no idea what it's called but the sides are a stiff type foam material. I have never had any problems as I am ultra careful with fish on the bank. I like it as there in no chance of the fish sliding out when on uneven ground.
I wouldn't use one of these metal cradle type things as I am sure accidents can happen.

In reply to Post #16
Accidents can happen in a framed cradle, a non framed cradle, or a flat mat. The tackle isn't the issue, it's the person using it

I personally think the whole mat/cradle phenomenon is a bit crazy. Some are bigger than a bivvy when packed up, its madness. I have a Nash Elevator framed cradle, a Trakker Combi Flat Mat, JRC Euro Zip mat amongst others and I would be happy using any of these ... Comes down to common sense and never leave fish unnatended. I personally think a framed cradle is possibly the safest when fishing alone ... but they are more tricky to move nets etc out of the way .... I dont buy into the claims that frames can damage. Nothing is fool proof 100% and so its just a matter of reducing risk. All have pros and cons

In reply to Post #10
Chuffy a good price too 👍

In reply to Post #11
You're supposed to hold the fish over the cradle . if used properly cradles are fine. User error can make almost anything potentially dangerous.

I've used both mats and cradles. I have had an Aqua combi-mat for over 18 years and it's still going strong. Good foam padding, retaining flap to help restrain flapping fish etc. I can transport it rolled up in its own bag or opened up flat on a barrow, usually at the bottom.

I also bought a cradle when they first hit the scene. Folded up in it's own bag it's not too bad as it fits upright right at the front of the barrow. I agree that any piece of angling equipment is only as good as the idiot using it. The rigid metal framed cradle therefore is potentially more dangerous in a misuse situation. I use a cheap additional padded mat in the bottom of it( one of the fold up EBay £8 jobbies) for a bit of extra padding in the bottom so I guess that says I must have some reservations about it.

My syndicate now provides mats, nets slings etc which must be used same as a lot of French venues so both mat and cradle have had little use over the last few years. If I was to get rid of one ....... It would be the cradle as the flat mat has proved its worth more over the years.

I have a Chub Xtra Protection Mat/Cradle that i tend to only use in France and a Forge tackle compact cradle and weigh sling combi but im going to start using the Chub more in the UK as i feel it has far better padding etc. then the cradle.

In reply to Post #20
I totally agree...and it is...but when was the last time you saw someone mention on a cradle/high mat thread what happens if you catch something else that's in the water that will invariably be bigger than any of the Carp/walled mats and most cradles.

I shudder when I think of big Grassies, Sturgeon or Cats in high walled anythings never mind a big Pike...can't just be me thinking that, especially in Europe.

In reply to Post #23
Most of the walled mats you can just remove the mat from the walls, but it would be a worry with a framed cradle for sure

In reply to Post #24
You could just unzip one end of the mat too

In reply to Post #24
That's just the sort of lateral thinking that escapes me with the way my brain works, best of both worlds in that case

I would like a net mesh that removed itself from underneath the fish.

Remember the old.keepnets that you could use untwist and unclipped at the closed end?

Something like that but padded for the fish

In reply to Post #27
I could be wrong but didn't a company called'fast net 'do this ,I seen one,and remember it had a sliding mechanism, which opened the arms very quickly...

In reply to Post #23
No reason to ever get a cat, grassy or a sturgeon out the water, just unhook it in the net and let it go.

In reply to Post #2
Exactly what I did! Saw that video and though **** that, 1 in a million freak occurence maybe but I don't want to be 2 in a million.

Put my Sonik walled mat up for sale and bought a Thinking Anglers flat mat, it's great.

In reply to Post #30
Good mats them, I wanted to get an esp roll up mat for short sessions but it was like those £10 roll up jobbies in comparison

In reply to Post #28
I still have a Balcombe Fast net Adam, the arms do slide up and down the handle, but the net mesh doesn't open at the bottom.
It's very top heavy as the net arms are made from solid aluminium, haven't used it for many years.

In reply to Post #32
That's it Andy..thats the make..👍

In reply to Post #5
I made or 'adapted' my first ever unhooking mat from a baby changing mat by simply covering it with parachute silk. Brilliant job, and much better than laying the fish on the ground; short grass, woodchip or stones.

I still do use a flat mat at times, when fishing for smaller carp, when stalking, or fishing for other species, they get placed on the mat for unhooking, treated with the same respect as the carp, although chub might actually get unhooked without even making it past the net, I still take the mat with me.

The cradles, or mats with sides, do help prevent fish sliding off down the bank, a lively fish or a sloping bank can see a fish going places it shouldn't, and again, even other species get unhooked on mine.

The big RH Cradle I use also doubles as a barrow carryall, putting foodbag, chest waders, lifejacket in it while barrowing to the swim.
Is it better and safer for the carp?
I would have to say yes.

Are flat mats a thing of the past? I think no, because some waters insist all anglers have a mat, even if they are not fishing for carp. 'Match' or silver fish anglers won't need (or want) to spend that money (carptax) on a mat.
Fishing for chub along the river I don't need a cradle, fishing for bream or roach in the reservoir I don't need a cradle.