Therefore, from the moment you unhook the carp, weighing it and taking photos to the release, carp care is vital if we all want to enjoy this great hobby.

Again, we selected to review the Avid Carp Stormshield standard model– but there is a large cradle available for anglers seeking something larger. This clever design has been created with both angler and carp in mind, with 210Denier soft-touch PVC fabric for water drainage plus extra strong and safe frame padding to protect the carp. When I first got this cradle pumped out on out the bank, the first thing that crossed my mind was “what it if I puncture it somehow?”, well, after closely inspecting the external material, it does seem very tough, and I have hard (so far) no complaints from carp anglers that this is prone to damage in this way.

The Nash Hi Protect Camo Carp Cradle has increased leg extension to allow for optimal positioning, whether kneeling or bending down. This design also allows for drainage through the open slots in the cradle, or for retention. Basically, if you portable walled unhooking mats, the maybe this is the best carp cradle you could ask for?

The best carp cradle has one job – to protect the fish at all times. So it’s important that you choose a good strong, but compact cradle that has fish safety in mind. To make sure the windy weather or uneven terrain stress out your catch, you can use the pegging points to keep your cradle secure. There is also the added features of a heavy cushioned kneeling pad so not only in the fish comfortable but the angler is too.Features include a mesh base so water can drain away as you keep the fish calm by pouring water over its gill areas. User friendly on any bank, the Carp Cradle Deluxe from Nash uses adjustable legs with swivel mud feet to cope with uneven and soft ground, meaning a secure sanctuary for your catch to rest whilst weighingand photographs are takes place. This Carp Cradle Deluxe is the re-mastered version of the celebrated Nash Carp Cradle. The Carp Cradle Deluxe is essentially an unhooking mat that is suspended in the air. This provides an exceptionally safe space to store your carp whilst you’re unhooking and preparing to weight and photograph your catch. Suspending the carp means that no matter how vigorously your carp thrashes around it cannot do itself any harm, as it is lifted off the hard bankside. Pros: Impressed with the increased adjustable leg height which means I can choose between keeping the carp low to the ground, or raised up so i can sit with my legs underneath. Improved drainage/water retention is a big plus.

Ideal for short sessions, this cradle is aimed at those on a budget, but this doesn’t mean that it is poor quality! An impressive unhooking mat that offers the ultimate in carpy fish care,giving total, air-mattress comfort and protection to your priceless catches, keeping fish supported, and well clear of the bank, this Carpmaster Air Mat from Fox has to be the ultimate lifestyle essential for the dedicated carp angler who is committed to ensuring the very best treatment of each and every fish they catch, and looking for a final photo of a sleek, scaley beast swimming strongly away as the water ripples around it.Before use, New Direction advise that you should press the ‘R’ on the receiver to reset the scales. A top setup, this is the best carp cradle in our guide – well it is for the added extras and the value for money accessories you get with it! The Air Mat comes in two sizes, so you can choose the mat that’s right for the kind of carp you typically catch, or invest in a larger and more supportive option from the start, a good choice if you know your carpcampaigning will take you to foreign shores, and bring you face to face with some truly massive specimens. The Standard Carpmaster comes in at 100cm x 50cm, while the XL gives you 125cm x 70cm of cushioned, protective space to unhook and photograph your new personal best, which is fully enclosed by the air-cushioned, raised ribs that form a traditional cradle arrangement, and also support the weight of a fish if you decide to flip the Air Mat upside down, and use it that way – a better choice for smaller specimens, and those long, slender carp that sometimes crop up. In cradle form, a removable 50mm foam base gives soft, soothing support to carp of all sizes, and simply pulls out if you need to invert the mat for smaller fish. Four pegging points can be used to secure the mat to the bank during rough weather, while both the mat and its waterproof carry bagfeature durable webbing carry straps that make your bankside exploits even easier to get underway.