How not to juggle with small fish?

[Alan Tyler]

The frantic juggles with small fish that can cost them some slime was mentioned on another thread, prompting me to ask two questions:
1: what's this grip I see photos of matchmen using to pick up bream, in particular? The fish is held across the back, just aft of the head, but what stops the fingers sliding forward? The pectoral fins? The gill covers? I dont relish the idea of my fingers sliping inside the operculum, and I'd bet the fish relish it even less, so how's it done, safely?
2: with really small fish that can be swung to hand, how do you aim to catch them? cradling the belly? The back? Or what?

[Graham Whatmore]

Skimmer bream up to two pounds are held exactly the way you describe Alan but bigger bream are more difficult because you have to squeeze too tight to hold so they ar best unhooked in the landing net, they are generally quite passive after landing.

Swinging small 2/3oz fish in to hand was quite common in match circles, its all done in one smooth movement. You learn to judge the distance and without stopping you swing 'em in to hand from the retrieve, what you don't do is lift the fish up so that it dangles in front of you then swing it to hand, thats not good for the fish and there is a good chance it will drop off as well. People will say ah! but you damage the fish doing that but that isn't true providing you don't try to swing bigger fish in and you do it all in one continuous movement.

Experienced matchmen don't knowingly injure fish, they know what is safe and what isn't but of course its a dying art now because most matches entail carp so that method is not used anymore.

Experienced matchmen don't knowingly injure fish, they know what is safe and what isn't

In that case why don't they stick to the NFA rules and net all fish?

[Graham Whatmore]

Because in the days I match fished everybody did it and had done for generations and as far as I know that rule didnt exist.

It does now.

[Alan Tyler]

Has that not rather knackered whip-fishing?
Are bionic bleakers a thing of the past?

Yup it has, and speed fishing, but rules is rules. With the NFA fish welfare comes first. Don't know about anybody else though.

[Alan Tyler]

I can just imagine the jovial camaraderie when someone insists on someone else being disqualified for swinging a bleak!
I guess I'd better leave the stone-age and invest in a seven-inch pan net for my next gudgeon hunt.

[Beecy]

well I never knew about the net rule, what a load of bollox that is.


The bream grip Alan is done by having the thumb and middle finger resting behind the 'knuckles' of the pec fins, no need to squeeze, the fish just rests there. As GW says, ok for fish up to 2-3lb ish. Perfectly safe as far as I have known.


The technique with small fish is, also as GW says, first you have to judge the point at which you swing right so it comes straight to hand without loosing momentum, then aim for the line just above the fishes mouth and sort of slide your hand down as the fish hits it, so you grip it just right for unhooking every time. It also pays to have your keepnet ring between your annkles so that any that do drop off have a good chance of falling in the net.



back to the net rule, is this a wind-up or what ? daftest thing ive ever heard.

Nope, not as far as I am aware Beecy. I have attended a number of NFA matches over the past (ten years) I think. Anybody caught swinging fish in was instantly disqualified.