[quote="Bobby"]Hi Gav,
Please don't give our athletic twins any reason to hijack this thread
I will have you instigators know that there are no highjackers in this country, only decent anglers and atheletes
Yes doc thanks for the pix, certainly threw some light on the two species in question. Cirhanna Mirgala and Labeo Rohita.
Pretty stylish names for the small mouth fellows.
Gavin has been threatning to send us some shots, but looks like you beat him to it.
Bobby is right, we guys need to wake up other anglers to the ways of handling fish and the procedures for capture and release of fish.
I had the privelage of watching an entire episode made by Dirk (who is on this forum) from Germany on carp fishing. I hope he will not mind me discussing it on this forum.
I have seen many carp videos, but have rarely seen such fish handling skills.
The fish are carefully coaxed into a net and then brought out of the water, ensuring that no part of the fish touches the ground.
A beautiful padded mat is wet thoroughly before the fish is placed on it, and the person handling the fish also thoroughly wets his hands before touching the fish.
I would fall instantly asleep on such a device
Water is continously poured on the fish to keep it fresh.
The fish is quickly and carefully transfered to a weighing bag with side zips and weighed.
The fish is removed from the bag and more water poured over it.
The photographs taken are always in a kneeling position (never standing) to ensure that if ever the fish slips out from the anglers fingers, the fall will do as little damage to the fish as possible.
The fish is always held in the right way during the quich photo session, with the forefinger and index finger of one hand around the pectoral fins, and similarly the fingers of the other hand cradling the fish around the anal fins so that the fish is properly supported, and as little fo the fish comes in contact with the anglers clothing. This helps in ensuring that very little slime and natural secretions of the the fish come off during the handling of the fish.
Then the fish is carefully put back into the water, causing it as little trauma as possible, and thereby setting it free to delight the soul of another angler.
Perhaps Dirk will want to add or correct some of my observations.
Regards
Owen