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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.
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In reply to Post #26
The shorter carper's could kip in that.
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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.
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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?
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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
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In reply to Post #22
What's the opinions of the pop up mats anyone use one
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4431 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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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 . . .
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In reply to Post #17
How does he not know how to treat a fish,letting the carp rest on your forearms is fine
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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.
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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
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I used to own the nash deluxe cradle and the trakker sanctuary one, when set up the trakker one was much better but MASSIVE when packed down, the nash one was good but not in the same league tbh. Either way ive since got rid and got the trakker Insta mat it's so much better and I love it I won't be changing anytime soon.
As for lifting fish out the water in a sling or broken down net I completely agree with it.
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In reply to Post #1
I bought a Nash cradle a year ago .... I've never used it or even taken it with me cos when dismantled and in its bag ... it is as big as my packed up bivvy ... there is only so much I want to carry.
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In reply to Post #12
If I ran a fishery they would be banned as well. Seen far more problems with them than with a walled mat.
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In reply to Post #1
Strange isn't it how different venues have different idea's for carp safety. Cradles are banned on my syndicate, only soft walled mats.
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In reply to Post #1
I can sympathise with this - I use an Aqua Combi Mat for most of my carp fishing. Has excellent padding, is big enough to take anything swimming in UK waters ], well made and has a retaining flap - so fish can't get off the mat, no matter how lively they are. Also, it rolls up fairly small. Then... along comes the 'high sided/cradle' rules... the times I have seen carp leap out of a cradle and go crash, bang, wallop down the bank and don't get me started in noddies dropping fish as they lift them out of the cradle... anyway, despite having one of the best unhooking mats money can buy, I was forced to get a fecking cradle mat.
As they were on offer, I got myself a Trakker Sanctuary Oval, but bought unseen due to lockdown last April... when it turned up, I honestly thought it was April 1st. The size of it! After reading reviews that described it as portable and easy to transport, well, utter crap. I used Godzilla for a season and whilst I will admit that it provided great protection, the bloody thing took up a third of the boot space in my car. Also, the bag it comes in doesn't seal properly and you get water seeping out when transporting... then Trakker give us the Insta-Mat (cradle)... it's a revelation after the other cradle (I sold that) and packs down very small, is light and takes seconds to erect. It's not as big as I'd like, but I have had fish to 39 in it, which surprisingly fitted in just fine. If you want a cradle that's easy to transport and use, that's the one to buy. Had mine six months now and it's been great. I'd still rather use my Aqua mat, but rules is rules, even stupid ones...
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In reply to Post #9
agreed ... ive used a framed cradle on and off since 2007 .... I just dont see how a fish can damage themself if used with common sense
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In reply to Post #8
Only happens if you have no idea how to treat a fish, have a Cradle for over 10 years, never had a carp that landed on the metal bars, when a carp flips and I can't keep it , it will always falls over on me forearms
Yes there are a lot of **** cradles, but Sonik Sk tek is one of the better ones, well and thickly padded over the metal bars
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Think some of those cradles cause more damage to carp than anything else. Those metal bars and fish flapping and landing on them awkwardly is never good. Can't see what they offer from a normal Matt.
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Maybe one of those new ESP cradle mats,they look really good..
When they come out,I should say as well..
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In reply to Post #2
Shame, since Brexit, Forge don't post to UK.
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I bought an avid stormshield safeguard cradle purely for my barbel fishing on the banks of the trent where its not very level and thats was the best of all the ones i looked at. I got the smaller version which us easily big enough for carp to mid 30's and has really thick padding over the frame on the top of the cradle. i dont use it for carp though as dont really like cradles as there to bulky. I use a aqua self inflating mat for carping as rolls up really compact.
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In reply to Post #1
Every place I've fished with a cradle rule includes walled mats under the cradle banner. You might want to check mate.
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In reply to Post #1
I have this:- https://www.forgetackledirect.com/collections/carp-care/products/forge-cradle-sling-compact-combo
Very compact and light. Sent from Eastern Europe. Easily fits carp up to 30lb.
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OMG, it's rules, rules, and more rules...
As a large proportion of my local waters are starting to insist on the use of cradles, my hand is being forced in terms of having to make a new purchase. Heck, one of my local venues is even insistent on the use of a retaining/weigh sling to lift all (typically 8lb-12lb) carp out of the water.
It does seem a tad overkill to me. Been fishing for near enough 30 years and have always ensured I have the correct and safe gear for the job. I've felt the use of a large padded and walled safety mat has been more than adequate for waters where I'm likely to land fish to 40lb.
So here's my dilemma...
With so many cradles on the market, all looking and doing roughly the same, but with size difficult to gauge online, is there a cradle out there you can recommend that wouldn't be out of place, too heavy, too big or too obtrusive for your average commercial water where a typical catch is sub-12lb.
I guess what I'm looking for is a nice, lightweight and small cradle.
Does such a thing exist?
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