What's the best way to retain a carp?

1 Landing net

In what situation is it suitable to just retain the fish in the landing net?

In some cases the most stress-free way of retaining a carp for a short period of time is to leave it in the landing net. This is fine for up to 15 minutes and means you are not transferring fish into slings and sacks. This is done while getting camera equipment, scales and unhooking mats prepared and ready. The preparation of this equipment should always be done while the fish is in the water to ensure it is out of the water for the minimum time possible.

If retaining carp in a landing net it is important the net is deep enough for the fish to sit upright and that the water in front of the swim is at least 2-3ft deep. To retain the fish, hang the net over the front of the swim so that the spreader block is sat just back from the edge. To prevent the fish from escaping and pulling the net in, you can either push a peg or bankstick through the spreader block or sit a heavy-weight such as a bait bucket or rock on the handle of the net. If the carp is looking like it may jump out of the net then I sometimes lay a sling or mat over the top to keep it calm and prevent any acrobatics. This method is not suitable for retaining fish for any length of time but is mainly a method to prevent leaving the fish laying on the unhooking mat while you are in the bivvy searching for your camera. It is also a good opportunity to allow the carp to recover from the fight before weighing and taking pictures.

Best for… Retaining a carp for a short period of time whilst you get the mat, camera and weighing equipment organised.
Max time limit… 15 minutes

2 Retainer Sling

How long can I keep a carp in a retaining sling?

When retainer slings were first brought onto the market a few years back they struck me as being a brilliant idea and after using one for a couple of seasons now I don’t know how I ever managed without one! Retainers are ideal for keeping fish in for up to about 45 minutes if you need to wait for someone to come and take a photo of a big fish or for the light to improve slightly at dawn. They don’t have a lot of the risks associated with sacking fish due to their buoyant nature. If the retainer is not tied to the bank properly and breaks free the worst case scenario is that it will float away but will always be visible making rescuing the fish with a boat relatively straight forward.

Because of this buoyancy however, the fish is always kept in the upper layers of water which tend to be warmer, especially in the summer months when the sun is beaming down onto the retainer. This exposure to temperature change is why retainers are not suitable for keeping fish in for as long as a sack. If possible, position the retainer in a shaded area to reduce stress from direct sunlight.

Another key point to consider when using a retainer sling is the wind strength and direction, this is also very important when keeping fish in a net or sack. If there is a strong headwind blowing into your bank it is not always possible to retain fish as you risk the fish getting knocked about in the waves and being blown into very shallow water. In this situation try to find a sheltered area or alternatively a sack with a long cord will enable the carp to sink into deeper, calmer water. Whatever the situation, check any retained fish regularly to ensure they are not in distress.

Best for… When you’re waiting for someone to come and take the pictures or you’re waiting for the light levels to improve.
Max time limit… 45 minutes

3 Sacks

When would I use a carp sack?

If used incorrectly, sacks can be very dangerous and subsequently have been banned at many fisheries. Fish can be retained in sacks for up to four or five hours safely without causing undue stress. I have seen carp retained for much longer but this is something I would advise strongly against.

In the past, sacks have been generally used when fish are captured at night and the light isn’t good enough to get a decent photo. What I would say is with the improvement of cameras there is very little need to sack fish for anything more than 45 minute and in this situation the retainer sling is more appropriate anyway. It is much more important to make sure you have a good quality camera with a remote or timer combined with a tripod to hold it steady. With this set-up and a bit of practise you are equipped to take a good shot of that special carp day or night without having to retain it for any length of time.

If for whatever reason you may need to retain a carp in a sack it is important to ensure that the margins in front of the swim have a good depth of water. Ideally over 5ft so that the fish isn’t subject to rapid temperature changes that occur in shallow water. You must also ensure the sack is big enough for the fish you are sacking with plenty of space. Any sack should have a 12ft long nylon cord attached so the fish can access the deeper water in front of the swim. Once the fish has been placed into the sack it is important to check it regularly to ensure it is sitting upright and is not in any kind of distress.

It is vitally important to ensure any sack or retainer is secured to the bank properly to prevent the fish escaping whilst trapped inside. If a fish does escape while in a sack its chances of survival are low and it will face a slow death unless it is found and released.

Best for… When a retaining sling isn’t an option and you require photos but don’t have the necessary equipment to do them on a self-timer.
Max time limit… Up to five hours.

Conclusion

In summary, if you need to retain a carp, do it for the shortest time possible. The more you can reduce this period and keep handling to a minimum, the more you will reduce the stress the fish is subject to. Always check the carp regularly and if the fish shows any signs of distress such as loss of balance or laying on the surface return it immediately, a good photo is not worth the life of a fish.