I like and feel that you need to be prepared for the captures before they actually happen. This is why one of my main jobs after casting the rods out is to organize my weighing and photography equipment and line it up with the unhooking mat.
The tripod is positioned to achieve the best light angle and I simply move it over the unhooking mat to weigh the fish.
I always have a fox bucket of water filled up, not in the warmer summer months as fresh water from the lake is cooler and better for them.
The unhooking mat and weigh sling are always ready to go. I had a bank stick by the water’s edge with a long cord attached so I can attach the retainer quickly, just in case there’s a need to have the fish in the water before photographing. The lakes I fish can be prone to multiple takes occasionally.
I hope this helps you with your fishing and helps you feel better about fish safety.
I would like to give a brief snap shot of my life and introduce myself;
My name is Richard Handel and was born in 1965 in Suffolk. I have worked as a UK Operation & Intermodule Manager for a shipping company. I live in Hampshire now and am married with 2 young children, both girls so I am a bit outnumbered even the cat is a girl!
I have been fishing since I was about 7 years old. I started on small local rivers in Suffolk, then moved onto gravel pits and then carp fishing. My personal best is a 39.08 mirror, over recent years I have started river fishing again, on the Hampshire Avon, this is a nice break from the carp lakes.
My life has turned a big corner this year, the company I was working for relocated their Operation centre to Estonia. I was offered a job at the head office in London. This would have meant a 5 day commute and working in Stratford. As a family, we did not fancy this, as I would hardly spend any time with the children (and the Mrs). So after 22.5 years, I was given a nice redundancy package and with my wife is working full time. I became the house husband.
This has meant a complete turn around in my fishing, as I can pick and choose when I go. I have found a splendid new syndicate to fish this year, which includes 5 lakes and some 8 miles of river with only 150 members. It's an amazing change to the way I am able to fish.
I am now trying to start my own tackle business and make a bit of a name for myself in the world of fishing, as I have retired from real work.
Richard
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 