I'm going to France this year, first time in a while and I need a bigger unhooking mat. I'm a bit out of the loop, What's the general consensus on cradles? Are they any good?
Or anything else that folds up compact that I might get use of back in the UK?
Or anything else that folds up compact that I might get use of back in the UK?
In reply to Post #1
Its a good question, not just France but in the UK. Some waters seem to dictate cradle types in their rules, i have one for this purpose and this purpose only, otherwise its a sling mat for me. Just bought a scope one, tidy bit of kit. In summary i would check with the fishery
Flip side is pack down size and you end up with a dirty great stinking cradle in your car, i have a Nash one, i would go for one that dry's quick and has a stink bag
Its a good question, not just France but in the UK. Some waters seem to dictate cradle types in their rules, i have one for this purpose and this purpose only, otherwise its a sling mat for me. Just bought a scope one, tidy bit of kit. In summary i would check with the fishery
Flip side is pack down size and you end up with a dirty great stinking cradle in your car, i have a Nash one, i would go for one that dry's quick and has a stink bag
In reply to Post #1
If you want the best of both worlds I don't think you can beat the draw string cradle mats by ESP and Cotswold Aquarius. Obviously can be used flat. Draw the sides in you've a cradle. Also roll up fairly compact as well. Which is handy as everything these days seems to be unnecessarily bulky. Some of these cradles I've seen seem to be the size of a baby's cot...
If you want the best of both worlds I don't think you can beat the draw string cradle mats by ESP and Cotswold Aquarius. Obviously can be used flat. Draw the sides in you've a cradle. Also roll up fairly compact as well. Which is handy as everything these days seems to be unnecessarily bulky. Some of these cradles I've seen seem to be the size of a baby's cot...
In reply to Post #1
Fox easy mat XL.
They dont soak up water, dry quickly and pack down easily.
Fox easy mat XL.
They dont soak up water, dry quickly and pack down easily.
In reply to Post #1
I've got loads of different types of unhooking mats/cradles. And I use the all dependant on the situation:
Cradle on a metal frame - probably the best one I have and use most. Use when I'm on my own because they're great with the velcro lid for self takes, help to retain your fish if you have to go away from the fish for a short period. Only downside is it's the bulkiest and heaviest.
Korum cradle (basically a flat mat with sides). Very lightweight, but you can't leave the mat with the fish flapping around unattended. Same with any cradle of this type, though I think you can get these with a lid on now which unfolds and becomes a mat to kneel on.
XL Beanie Mat, tend to use this now just for catfish as it's mahoosive. Pretty lightweight but bulky, even when it's folded in half.
Just a simple fold-up flat mat, not the crappy thin ones, the one I have is about 2" thick. Nice and lightweight, fits inside a chair, OK when there's someone with you to take pics.
TBH, think I'd just get a framed cradle one if I was getting one now.
I've got loads of different types of unhooking mats/cradles. And I use the all dependant on the situation:
Cradle on a metal frame - probably the best one I have and use most. Use when I'm on my own because they're great with the velcro lid for self takes, help to retain your fish if you have to go away from the fish for a short period. Only downside is it's the bulkiest and heaviest.
Korum cradle (basically a flat mat with sides). Very lightweight, but you can't leave the mat with the fish flapping around unattended. Same with any cradle of this type, though I think you can get these with a lid on now which unfolds and becomes a mat to kneel on.
XL Beanie Mat, tend to use this now just for catfish as it's mahoosive. Pretty lightweight but bulky, even when it's folded in half.
Just a simple fold-up flat mat, not the crappy thin ones, the one I have is about 2" thick. Nice and lightweight, fits inside a chair, OK when there's someone with you to take pics.
TBH, think I'd just get a framed cradle one if I was getting one now.
Quite a few places I fish don't like the framed cradles, as they are concerned the fish could hit them frame.
In reply to Post #6
That's why I don't use them
That's why I don't use them
In reply to Post #1
Not keen on cradles so I recently purchased a Scope Ops inflatable mat. Great piece of kit.
Not keen on cradles so I recently purchased a Scope Ops inflatable mat. Great piece of kit.
In reply to Post #1
If there's a possibility of a big Cat or Grassy I wouldn't entertain framed cradles.
Not of help to you but Cotswold Aquarius do mats which you can join together, but they're big to start with.
If I were to do that sort of fishing again I'd take a blow up mat/sim/childs bed/cot, along with my normal mat. Maybe even several NGT beanies joined together but that's big storage wise.
If there's a possibility of a big Cat or Grassy I wouldn't entertain framed cradles.
Not of help to you but Cotswold Aquarius do mats which you can join together, but they're big to start with.
If I were to do that sort of fishing again I'd take a blow up mat/sim/childs bed/cot, along with my normal mat. Maybe even several NGT beanies joined together but that's big storage wise.
In reply to Post #1
after having multiple matts, cradles ect ive just taken delivery of the carp life Eclipse elite MF combi mat.. pricey but Exellent quality nice and padded..
after having multiple matts, cradles ect ive just taken delivery of the carp life Eclipse elite MF combi mat.. pricey but Exellent quality nice and padded..
In reply to Post #9
I wouldn't entertain framed cradles
Same here, foam surrounds much better,
Typical design overkill!
l have a few mats and they get used pending the rules, lighter and smaller pack down size with stink bag the better for me
I wouldn't entertain framed cradles
Same here, foam surrounds much better,
Typical design overkill!
l have a few mats and they get used pending the rules, lighter and smaller pack down size with stink bag the better for me
In reply to Post #10
The Carp Life one looks good. Like a sensible, smaller cousin of the Korda Compac, which is great but massive.
The Carp Life one looks good. Like a sensible, smaller cousin of the Korda Compac, which is great but massive.
In reply to Post #4
That looks decent, but is it not the type of material that soaks up water? Hardly any mats these days seem to be made from Welded PVC?
There's Grass carp up to 40lb in my Syndicate here in the UK so I think a framed Cradle is not the one.
That looks decent, but is it not the type of material that soaks up water? Hardly any mats these days seem to be made from Welded PVC?
There's Grass carp up to 40lb in my Syndicate here in the UK so I think a framed Cradle is not the one.
In reply to Post #13
Grass carp, maybe you'd be better off with a straight jacket
Grass carp, maybe you'd be better off with a straight jacket
In reply to Post #13
I'm thinking of getting a mop cap or envelope sheet made for my landing mat as they're so big and bulky to dry, never mind having somewhere to dry them or the time involved.
I'm thinking down those lines, as a club water has a dry mat rule and if going twice a week I'd never get it dried, so it's 2 mats or the above which would be a lot easier to dry, cheaper, and save any mither. Years ago I did use a tarp for the same reason but they don't tend to be smooth, that was for week French trips where the mat without a cover could be soaked and a mare.
I'm thinking of getting a mop cap or envelope sheet made for my landing mat as they're so big and bulky to dry, never mind having somewhere to dry them or the time involved.
I'm thinking down those lines, as a club water has a dry mat rule and if going twice a week I'd never get it dried, so it's 2 mats or the above which would be a lot easier to dry, cheaper, and save any mither. Years ago I did use a tarp for the same reason but they don't tend to be smooth, that was for week French trips where the mat without a cover could be soaked and a mare.
In reply to Post #15
The envelope is really easy to make if you can borrow or own a sewing machine.
Cut your material, fold it, stitch down two sides, stitch some Velcro to the open end. Job done.
I've made one for an inflatable mattress which I fold in half to create a lightweight unhooking mat.
The envelope is really easy to make if you can borrow or own a sewing machine.
Cut your material, fold it, stitch down two sides, stitch some Velcro to the open end. Job done.
I've made one for an inflatable mattress which I fold in half to create a lightweight unhooking mat.
In reply to Post #12
to be fair its a unit, but the quality is first class.
to be fair its a unit, but the quality is first class.
I'm currently using the compac hybrid which is fantastic mat especially if you have a bad knee and take all your shots on your knees but it's a monster of a thing, even folded.
I've just bought the TA mat as a few lads on my syndicate use them and they are a much smaller footprint with great padding. I'll have to cross the dodgy knee part when I have a fish on it.
I've just bought the TA mat as a few lads on my syndicate use them and they are a much smaller footprint with great padding. I'll have to cross the dodgy knee part when I have a fish on it.
In reply to Post #18
Not sure which TA mat you have but if you fill the 2 pockets with a piece of foam it's great to kneel on with the knees. I use the pockets now so bought a cheap gardening foam mat which I chuck in the mat when packing up.
Not sure which TA mat you have but if you fill the 2 pockets with a piece of foam it's great to kneel on with the knees. I use the pockets now so bought a cheap gardening foam mat which I chuck in the mat when packing up.
Looking at all the mats available it's a bloody minefield but I'm quite liking the large Cotswold cammo one. It's welded pvc which I like.
In reply to Post #20
I had a good chat with CA about customising a mat, it wasn't to different price wise either, just throwing that out there
I had a good chat with CA about customising a mat, it wasn't to different price wise either, just throwing that out there
In reply to Post #18
This is great for the knees:
LINKY POO™ https://www.autofinesse.com/products/kneeling-pad?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20814473978&gbraid=0AAAAAD9fvveWPeDN0ad6asgD0QlLMyDnY&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk66X_-XRkwMVlpVQBh0sFQbFEAAYASAAEgLICvD_BwE
This is great for the knees:
LINKY POO™ https://www.autofinesse.com/products/kneeling-pad?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20814473978&gbraid=0AAAAAD9fvveWPeDN0ad6asgD0QlLMyDnY&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk66X_-XRkwMVlpVQBh0sFQbFEAAYASAAEgLICvD_BwE
In reply to Post #21
What was you thinking about JP?
What was you thinking about JP?
In reply to Post #22
At that price id want it help me get back up
At that price id want it help me get back up
In reply to Post #22
A £4 gardening kneeler with an ugly logo? Lovely
A £4 gardening kneeler with an ugly logo? Lovely
In reply to Post #23
It was a long time ago mate, iirc it was the origional mat, I wanted 2 that could be joined together, kneeling pad pockets, 1 solid single flap normal opening across the mat and one solid single flap that opened lengthwise along the mat. The last bit was so that the flap would effectively lengthen the mat when opened to 3m+ and could act as a slipway for very big cats back into the water, much like the way they use tarps in Europe.
Never got round to it because I stopped fishing a water I fished regularly. About 8 years later my thoughts turned to it again when the usual debacle happened with a 53lb grassy, much bigger weigh sling would have helped too!
It was a long time ago mate, iirc it was the origional mat, I wanted 2 that could be joined together, kneeling pad pockets, 1 solid single flap normal opening across the mat and one solid single flap that opened lengthwise along the mat. The last bit was so that the flap would effectively lengthen the mat when opened to 3m+ and could act as a slipway for very big cats back into the water, much like the way they use tarps in Europe.
Never got round to it because I stopped fishing a water I fished regularly. About 8 years later my thoughts turned to it again when the usual debacle happened with a 53lb grassy, much bigger weigh sling would have helped too!
For carp fishing i still dont think a framed cradle can be beaten, especialy when on your own. I bought the original nash version many, many years ago and another since. Never even threatened damage to a fish.
I really dont know how people manage it (unless leaving the fish unnattended, stupidity etc) .... framed cradles are the least of concern on how fish may get damaged imo.
I really dont know how people manage it (unless leaving the fish unnattended, stupidity etc) .... framed cradles are the least of concern on how fish may get damaged imo.
In reply to Post #24
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