Fish care starts before it’s up on the bank!
Ensure that you have all the right gear in the right place at the right time. It’s NO good if your landing net is still in your bag and the unhooking mat is in the car. You should always ensure that your landing net is set up and near to your rods. Make sure that the net is the correct size for the type of fish you are fishing for. All our fisheries contain specimen Carp and you should be prepared for the eventuality of actually catching one!

Ensure you have the right equipment for the job
Once the Carp is in the net, if you do not have everything in place don’t be in too much of a rush to pull your prize straight out. Leave it in the landing net and make sure that the net is well secured, while you get what you need. Then lay your Carp on your unhooking mat for protection while it is out of the water, make sure this is ready and positioned away from the waters edge and if possible, on a flat surface. If you intend weighing your fish you will need a weigh sling and scales, these should be ready in advance. You will also need to have a pair of forceps to hand in case your fish is deeply hooked. A pair of long-nosed forceps clipped to your unhooking mat is handy in the event that the Carp is deep hooked. Also, to minimise time on the bank, it helps to wet your sling and have scales zeroed before you lift the fish.
Be very careful when lifting the net ready to place it on the WET unhooking mat, the Carp is still hooked and you could cause damage to its mouth if not careful. Ensure that the fish is positioned neatly in the centre and bottom of the net before you lift, this way it won’t suddenly get trapped in an awkward position or tumble to the bottom of the net when you gather the mesh and lift it. You should never lift a fish by using the net pole or handle as either could easily give way under the weight of a specimen fish. You should always gather the mesh in your hands just above the fish and the lift carefully with the fish in one hand and your rod and net pole in the other.

Always treat fish with the care and respect they deserve
Once you have carefully transferred the fish from the water to your unhooking mat, keep the fish out of the water for the minimum amount of time necessary. Be careful when unhooking the fish, and if there is any damage from the hook hold it is a good idea to have some antiseptic treatment handy (Klinik is a good one, as is the Nash Tackle Medi Carp). Just apply a small amount to the effected area.
On transferring the fish from net to sling to be weighed, make sure you are not wearing anything that could damage the fish, like a ring with sharp edges or a watch with a sharp strap. Also make sure your hands are wet and that the sling you are using is already wet before handling as the body of a fish has a mucus covering which protects the fish from infection so it's important not to damage this membrane when handling. When you transfer the fish to a sling, again make sure that the fish is in the bottom centre of the sling and that its pectoral fins are tucked into the body so that it won’t damage itself when you lift it up.

Taking the photograph to capture the moment
The camera gear should have been set up prior to lifting the fish from the water. You need to be very competent at handling both fish and camera to take the picture by yourself, so if possible get somebody to take the picture for you. Firstly, ensure the photographer is ready with the camera before you attempt to lift the fish. When lifting you should try not to hold the fish against your body as clothing can damage the skin of the fish and remove its protective membrane. Also you should try not to lift the fish from under its belly. Many of the delicate organs including the heart are located on the underside of the body. The best way to lift a carp is to have one hand under its head, just in front of the pectoral fins, and one hand under its body, just past the stomach by its anal fin. With the photographer in front of you, you want to have the fish on its side with back towards you and belly towards camera. Then, carefully scoop your hands under the fish from behind and bring them round to the front of the body. Scoop one hand under the head and slide the pectoral fin between your fingers. Then scoop the other hand under the rear section around to the anal fin area. Then, slowly lift and level the fish. Be prepared for the fish to kick and be ready to cushion it when it does. Keep the fish low to the mat and hold it steady. Big fish can be hard to hold still so it helps to brace the fish by keeping your elbows on your knees which gives a more rigid frame. Get he photographer to be at the same level as you are, which should be low to the ground. This gives a better perspective rather than if you are on the floor and the photographer is standing up directly in front of you. 

Putting the Carp back into the Water
Once you have the shot it’s time to get the fish back in the water. Place it back in the centre and bottom of the sling as before and again make sure the pectoral fins are tucked into the body, and then carefully lift the fish and place back into the water. Once back in the water remove the sling and gently support the fish upright by loosely holding around the wrist of its tail. The fish should be returned with great care, keep the body position upright and allow the fish to gain its composure before letting it swim off. This allows the fish to waft all its fins, get some water moving through its gills again and after a short time it will regain its composure,  give a kick of the tail and swim off.

Ready for the next one
After the fish has been returned you need to spend a few minutes getting everything sorted and ready for the next one! Give your landing net a quick rinse and place back by your rods, make sure the sling and mat are back where they should be and any implements used during unhooking, weighing and photographing are back in there rightful positions, that way, when the next fish comes along you are ready to repeat the process all over again with the minimum amount of fuss.