Carp care: unhook, handle and return fish properly
Course pack: Fish-care kit list and return checklist. Coach Willy, our virtual AI coach, can explain each step, set you a practice task and check your understanding.
Who it's for
New to this? Perfect — no experience needed. Aimed at carp.
Where and when
Done on the bank. Best in: all.
What you'll work through
- 1Set up the care kit before you cast
- 2Net and unhook calmly
- 3Handle, weigh and photograph quickly
- 4Return the fish and check yourself
Step 1: Set up the care kit before you cast
Alright mate, let's get stuck into carp care: unhook, handle and return fish properly. I'll walk you through what to look for, what to try and how to tell whether it helped. We'll start with set up the care kit before you cast, then work through a proper practice job at each step. Take it at your own pace and keep a few notes so you've got a useful plan for next time.
By the end of this step
Have a go at: set up the care kit before you cast.
Willy’s take
Get your fish care kit out and ready on the bank before you even cast a rod out, not after you've hooked something and are scrambling about.
That means your unhooking mat unrolled and wetted down, forceps or a disgorger within easy reach, a wet sling if you're weighing, scales zeroed and a weigh bag checked for holes, plus a landing net big enough for anything that swims in that water.
A mat that's been sat dry in the sun gets hot and can harm a fish's protective slime coating, so give it a splash from the lake before use.
Lay everything out in the order you'll use it, net first, then mat, then tools, so when a fish is actually in front of you there's no fumbling about while it sits out of the water.
Kit I'd start with
- Your fish care kit for every carp session should include a padded unhooking mat large enough for the biggest fish the water realistically holds, a soft knotless landing net sized the same way, forceps or a disgorger for hook removal, and a wet sling if you plan to weigh fish, along with scales that you check are properly zeroed.
- Carry a weigh bag free of holes or fraying, and check it regularly since worn mesh can let a fish slip or catch a fin. A small water container or jug for keeping the mat wet during long sessions is worth having, particularly in warm weather when a mat can dry out and heat up quickly in direct sun.
- Antiseptic treatment for any obvious wounds is sensible to carry too, applied sparingly and only to clearly visible damage. Lay all of this out ready before your first cast of the session, in the order you'll actually use it, so nothing needs finding while a fish is waiting on the mat.
On the bank
Worked example
Imagine hooking a lovely common and only then remembering your mat is still rolled up in the bag and your forceps are buried at the bottom of your rucksack. That's precious extra seconds the fish spends out of the water for no good reason.
Your turn: Set up the care kit before you cast
- 1
Wet and unroll the mat before the first cast of the session.
- 2
Lay forceps, sling and scales out ready in order of use.
That's the free sample — this is where it stops
The full step keeps going with the rest of the practice job, common mistakes and fixes, a check-your-understanding quiz and your Fish-care kit list and return checklist. Then 3 more steps, each with its own task, and Coach Willy on hand to talk it through.
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