Wintle's World of Angling

[Graham Whatmore]

There is a lot of comment and discussion about keepnets most of it derisory and a certain amount by people who know nothing about them and, like the anti fishing brigade attitude, knock them because they don't like them.

Its nice to see a well informed and part critical article by someone who knows what they are talking about, well done again Mark.

I think match commercials are, at some stage going to have to get their act together regarding fish retention especially as the average size is getting very large in a lot of instances. This new electronic hoop, that entails passing the fish through a hoop which registers a count but not the weight, then the fish is released, is the latest gimmick but I can't see that getting off the ground, matchmen like weight not numbers. To most matchmen a 6lb carp is not the same as a 2oz rudd but on the proposed system will register as equal, no way will that catch on.

Perhaps cages on every peg is the answer, I don't know but like you Mark I think there has to be an acceptable safe method of fish retention and maybe, just maybe, keepnets aren't the long term answer.

Actually Graham I think the technology exists to calculate the volume of the fish when it is passed through the loop. This might be the way forward. The problem with this type of system is the potential for double 'weighing'.

[Steve R]

It's great having fish-friendly nets and the improvement in the fish can be seen when returning them to the water with one proviso and that is that the person using the net actually knows how to empty the thing properly in the first place.
I still see people with the latest fish-friendly nets capable of holding bigger weights than many of could ever dream of catching, but what do they do at the end of their days'fishing - tip the fish from one end of the net, tumbling them down the rings until they finally drop into the water devoid of their protective slime and missing any number of scales - no wonder the antis want keepnets banned!
Perhaps the manufacturers could include a copy of the NFA's Keepnet Code with every new net sold but, then again, as most of the people we're talking about here can't be bothered about any sort of fish conservation then they're hardly likely to read the instructions either!
Maybe the time is approaching when a basic test has to be introduced before anyone can go fishing, a draconian measure I know but with everyone looking over our shoulder at what we're doing we must be seen to be doing watever we can to ensure every angler on the bank knows what they're doing which includes the most basic things like using a disgorger and taking your bloody litter home with you.

[Paul Ashby 4]

I to welcome the new standards for keepnets
the new nets are clearly capable of keeping fish in far better condition than the hotch-potch of shapes and sizes previously used the sooner all anglers are forced to accept the need to use them the better I still see far to many on the bank with inadequate nets(time for commercial fisheries to take the lead of Makins Fisheries,check out thier strict keepnet policy)However far more worrying is the numberr of anglers with landing nets that are to small for the fish they are catching,I was horrified watching Fishomania to see a number of these top anglers squeezing large carp into tiny nets on television for god's sake ANTI'S PARADISE OR WHAT.

[Graham Whatmore]

Paul, as regards Fishomania I think you will find that all keepnets are checked before they start the draw. Plus all keepnets are emptied regularly during the match, as you will have noticed so I don't think the anti's will get much satisfaction at that venue. You should also note that the likes of those that fish Fishomania are regular match anglers and by necessity will have fish friendly nets anyway, you're not talking about the twice a year know nothing angler here you know.

Steve. Most of the better match venues check your nets before the match or warn you of what is required and will throw you off if it is found to be not up to standard. Very few fisheries allow pleasure anglers to use keepnets anyway so unless you are a matchman theres no problem, come to think of it, none of the lakes I fish allow keepnets.

[Neil Maidment]

I believe Gold Valley only allow keepnets in matches and then only 50lb in a net (disqualified if more). Now that might mean just 6 to 10 fish in a net.

The top venue rods therefore often need 3, 4, 5 or more nets (better not to incur the wrath of JR!). JR also has a very healthy number of nets on-site for the poorer and/or more ambitious competitor.

Policies such at that go some way to help the situation.

[Peter Jacobs]

Another intelligent and articulate contribution from the Wintle pen, thanks Mark.

I watched the Fishomania (how I hate that name!) a few weekends ago and I really did wonder; why on earth do they not weigh each fish, when caught? With the number of 'officials' and stewards there they surely ought to be able to accommoadate that!

As to club matches, I have seen some really idiotic methods of 'emptying' the keepnet for the scalesman. Again, how much better to have the scalesman's assistant to be the only person allowed to empty the net for the scales. In this way you can have somone who actually knows what he is doing, and its in the best interest of the fish.

As I have noted previously, I am in favour of maintaining the use of keepnets if for no other reason that the banning of them I would see as the; 'thin end of the wedge' for angling in this Country.

A properly designed keepnet, properly employed and staked out correctly cannot be that difficult to achieve in today's modern age of manufacture and education.
Or can it?

[matt]

Surely nets could be made that open at the bottom thereby making it much easier to remove the fish.

[Fred Blake]

Years ago they were - velcro being used to hold the bottom closed. They were sold in the tackle shop where I worked.

Not having been involved in the 'match' scene for fifteen years or more I don't know if this feature is still available.

[Paul Ashby 4]

Although I have never seen Fred's velcro fastening nets I did own a net that had a zip opening in the bottom section of the net to release fish easily a pretty good idea that does not appear to have taken off it was a round net with a spiral continuous hoop in a 3.5 m length, still in use sold it to a friend if the company that made it has gone out of business maybe another manufacturer could look at the technology an adapt it to the larger rectangular nets