Hi,
Rules of a new club mean I am having to get a new unhooking mat with walls.
Has anyone had any experience with the two below and can recommend one over the other?
Cotswold Aquarius Roll Up Cradle Mat
ESP Quickdraw Unhooking Mat
Cheers,
James
Rules of a new club mean I am having to get a new unhooking mat with walls.
Has anyone had any experience with the two below and can recommend one over the other?
Cotswold Aquarius Roll Up Cradle Mat
ESP Quickdraw Unhooking Mat
Cheers,
James
In reply to Post #1
The ESP is crap imo,the walls are flimsy and feels cheaply made.Chub xtra protection mat is very good if can get a secondhand one as discontinued now
The ESP is crap imo,the walls are flimsy and feels cheaply made.Chub xtra protection mat is very good if can get a secondhand one as discontinued now
In reply to Post #1
Nash carp corral good bit of kit
Nash carp corral good bit of kit
In reply to Post #1
ah should have mentioned sorry I was looking at them two as they roll up fairly compact and most my fishing i'm carrying my gear, ill have a look at the two you recommended though!
Cheers
ah should have mentioned sorry I was looking at them two as they roll up fairly compact and most my fishing i'm carrying my gear, ill have a look at the two you recommended though!
Cheers
How about the NGT,walled cradle..its very realistic in pricing ..
What I do is,take the soft padded inner out ,that goes on my porter,protects the frame,paintwork ,the actual walled bit then goes really easily in its bag ,I put mine across the bars .
We have two ,one in go other places,the other set up permanently last year or so maybe more on a lake we fish so it can take a bit of abuse..
What I do is,take the soft padded inner out ,that goes on my porter,protects the frame,paintwork ,the actual walled bit then goes really easily in its bag ,I put mine across the bars .
We have two ,one in go other places,the other set up permanently last year or so maybe more on a lake we fish so it can take a bit of abuse..
In reply to Post #1
Have a look at the trakker ones - total protection
Have a look at the trakker ones - total protection
In reply to Post #2
. . .ESP mat is not crap IMO - yes the walls aren't actual walls like a stiffer Graviers type beast, yes the padding could be slightly deeper, yes the jury is out on whether the cord mechanism actually lasts years without having to replace . . . .however if your looking for a highly transportable, lightweight, compact, decent quality flat mat with small sides that can also act as a sling and is good for most of the fish that normal beings catch in UK waters then I'd say its a good option . . .fishcare is primarily about the anglers handling ability - not the thickness of the mat he lugs . .
. . .ESP mat is not crap IMO - yes the walls aren't actual walls like a stiffer Graviers type beast, yes the padding could be slightly deeper, yes the jury is out on whether the cord mechanism actually lasts years without having to replace . . . .however if your looking for a highly transportable, lightweight, compact, decent quality flat mat with small sides that can also act as a sling and is good for most of the fish that normal beings catch in UK waters then I'd say its a good option . . .fishcare is primarily about the anglers handling ability - not the thickness of the mat he lugs . .
In reply to Post #7
I have seen my mates and imo it's crap,it's just my opinion and if you're happy with it then fair play
I have seen my mates and imo it's crap,it's just my opinion and if you're happy with it then fair play
In reply to Post #8
Sold my ESP mat as it was crap.
Got the Cotswold Aquarius and it's much better.
Sold my ESP mat as it was crap.
Got the Cotswold Aquarius and it's much better.
In reply to Post #9
The Cotswold one which is a similar design to the esp?
That's what I'm thinking of ordering as I like the fact it rolls up
The Cotswold one which is a similar design to the esp?
That's what I'm thinking of ordering as I like the fact it rolls up
In reply to Post #9
The esp mat does what it is designed to do. Certainly wouldn't say it's crap. It's designed to be compact and portable and offer protection to the fish from the bank. No it's not overkill protection like some mats offer, but we are unhooking them, not putting them to bed. If I'm not taking a barrow or able to unload behind a swim, I'm more than happy to use it. Otherwise I have my thinking anglers Matt, but that is not compact at all.
The Cotswold one looks decent, a bit of a step up over the esp one by the looks of it, but I've been pretty unimpressed with cotswolds gear for the price of it, although that mat looks more reasonably priced compared to some of their gear.
The Cotswold one looks decent, a bit of a step up over the esp one by the looks of it, but I've been pretty unimpressed with cotswolds gear for the price of it, although that mat looks more reasonably priced compared to some of their gear.
In reply to Post #12
. .totally agree - I have to use a cradle on my main water - is it 'better' than the ESP . . .not really, two different products for different situations. They both do the same thing - protect the fish from bankside detrius and provide temporary space for unhooking and graffs . . . fish is equally 'safe' in either as long as its not left unattended in either . . .
. .totally agree - I have to use a cradle on my main water - is it 'better' than the ESP . . .not really, two different products for different situations. They both do the same thing - protect the fish from bankside detrius and provide temporary space for unhooking and graffs . . . fish is equally 'safe' in either as long as its not left unattended in either . . .
In reply to Post #12
I agree that some CA gear is overpriced.
I did ok with the mat as the tackle shop had the large one priced up at the price of the small.
I agree that some CA gear is overpriced.
I did ok with the mat as the tackle shop had the large one priced up at the price of the small.
Just got my son the Prologic Inspire large unhooking mat for £42 and have to be honest, I'm really impressed with it. Decent padded matt that has a buckle either end that clips together with the walls folded up in the middle. Good drainage underneath and a decent bag for it all to fit it.