In reply to Post #1
Cradles are actually rubbish imo much prefer a Matt. The ESP matt is an extremely well thought out product a Matt with he ability to raise the sides so act as a cradle much like the les Graives thingy used for decades for big/extreme carp.
I'll get an ESP Mat for sure, I also have a cotwold Aquarius mat for fish over 30 which I highly rate.
I said naive anglers around these days led by sales rather than common sense.....
I was naive when I first started fishing I still am and I make mistakes and learn from them. I'll
Try to explain myself in my detail above
Cradles are actually rubbish imo much prefer a Matt. The ESP matt is an extremely well thought out product a Matt with he ability to raise the sides so act as a cradle much like the les Graives thingy used for decades for big/extreme carp.
I'll get an ESP Mat for sure, I also have a cotwold Aquarius mat for fish over 30 which I highly rate.
I said naive anglers around these days led by sales rather than common sense.....
I was naive when I first started fishing I still am and I make mistakes and learn from them. I'll
Try to explain myself in my detail above
In reply to Post #9
I'm sorry I was very rude with my reply I was out of order and it was a stupid thing for me to say.
I'm sorry I was very rude with my reply I was out of order and it was a stupid thing for me to say.
In reply to Post #17
How does he not know how to treat a fish,letting the carp rest on your forearms is fine
How does he not know how to treat a fish,letting the carp rest on your forearms is fine
In reply to Post #18
He knows or at least try's to limit the risk and allowing a fish to roll on to your forearms is great, experience will teach you to do this, I'll happy hug them if they get frisky, I and I'm sure most people do this and would keep the fish low to the carddle/Matt.
I'm not stating he doesn't know what he's doing as such more that to assume these things can't go wrong is naive.
Fish are unpredictable and nothing will prepare you for that odd time when bang you think it's plan sailing and off they go.
I prefer a Matt although I do have a cradle. They both have their limitations. I do think side bars of a cradle is sufficiently padded on more and not a great concern as such, stability/rigidity on platforms was a concern for me.
Experience has taught me that any form of unhook platform has its limitation and at some point the old what can go wrong will go wrong. Put another way the hazard is a fish out of water hitting the ground etc we try and reduce the risk of damage by using PPE which will never reduce the risk to zero.
He knows or at least try's to limit the risk and allowing a fish to roll on to your forearms is great, experience will teach you to do this, I'll happy hug them if they get frisky, I and I'm sure most people do this and would keep the fish low to the carddle/Matt.
I'm not stating he doesn't know what he's doing as such more that to assume these things can't go wrong is naive.
Fish are unpredictable and nothing will prepare you for that odd time when bang you think it's plan sailing and off they go.
I prefer a Matt although I do have a cradle. They both have their limitations. I do think side bars of a cradle is sufficiently padded on more and not a great concern as such, stability/rigidity on platforms was a concern for me.
Experience has taught me that any form of unhook platform has its limitation and at some point the old what can go wrong will go wrong. Put another way the hazard is a fish out of water hitting the ground etc we try and reduce the risk of damage by using PPE which will never reduce the risk to zero.
In reply to Post #19
When making pics and my fish falls and i can not keep it it falls 10cm lower on my forearms in the cradle, on a mat if a fish flips and you can not hold it will fall min from alot higher when taking pics
if you use a cradle correctly and hold the fish correctly in your cradle, it cannot fall/hit the the bars.
When making pics and my fish falls and i can not keep it it falls 10cm lower on my forearms in the cradle, on a mat if a fish flips and you can not hold it will fall min from alot higher when taking pics
if you use a cradle correctly and hold the fish correctly in your cradle, it cannot fall/hit the the bars.
In reply to Post #9
Anything that's made for fish protection shouldn't have metal bars running around it in my opinion. I can't see what they offer over a good matt.
Anything that's made for fish protection shouldn't have metal bars running around it in my opinion. I can't see what they offer over a good matt.
In reply to Post #1
I bought an Avid Stormshield for the rules on a certain fishery and although its nicely made I much prefer my Aqua combi mat as its far less faff . . .when the new ESP Quickdraw mats are eventually released both will be up for sale . . .
I bought an Avid Stormshield for the rules on a certain fishery and although its nicely made I much prefer my Aqua combi mat as its far less faff . . .when the new ESP Quickdraw mats are eventually released both will be up for sale . . .
In reply to Post #22
What's the opinions of the pop up mats anyone use one
What's the opinions of the pop up mats anyone use one
has to be said this is far from a latest craze ... framed cradles have been around for nearly 15 years and soft wall cradles for around 20years
In reply to Post #23
Used a Fox XL Easy Mat since they came out, fish up to 50, plenty of room, well padded base and deep enough sides, packs down quite well.
It's not the product's its the ****ing idiots that fish the Carp waters these day's. The closest these idiots have been to a fish before they rock up to the day ticket is taking the fishfingers out of the freezer.
How many companies put out decent videos about fish safety etc using their products?
Used a Fox XL Easy Mat since they came out, fish up to 50, plenty of room, well padded base and deep enough sides, packs down quite well.
It's not the product's its the ****ing idiots that fish the Carp waters these day's. The closest these idiots have been to a fish before they rock up to the day ticket is taking the fishfingers out of the freezer.
How many companies put out decent videos about fish safety etc using their products?
In reply to Post #24
This was my first cradle in 2010
Nash Monster Cradle
From 2:15
Think you need special twisted arms when you get it done that a fish fall on the bars.
This was my first cradle in 2010
Nash Monster Cradle
From 2:15
Think you need special twisted arms when you get it done that a fish fall on the bars.
In reply to Post #26
The shorter carper's could kip in that.
The shorter carper's could kip in that.
In reply to Post #20
I appreciate that point however the cradles I've used the fish tend to flap around a lot more compared to a decent Mat and therefore are already excited and thus more problematic. The other issues I've found with cradles are that they need to be level, fixed if used on boards and allowed to drain when pouring water over the fish easily sorted agreed just things to be aware of when using them.
I appreciate that point however the cradles I've used the fish tend to flap around a lot more compared to a decent Mat and therefore are already excited and thus more problematic. The other issues I've found with cradles are that they need to be level, fixed if used on boards and allowed to drain when pouring water over the fish easily sorted agreed just things to be aware of when using them.