Long-Term Review: Cotswold Aquarius Cradle
If you’re heading for the Continent in search of monster carp, Cotswold Aquarius have just the thing, and it comes with a ringing endorsement from none other than Bill Cottam…
REVIEWED BY: Bill Cottam
PRODUCT: Les Graviers Cradle Mat by Cotswold Aquarius
PREVIOUSLY USED: Big beanie mat
USED SINCE: 2008
PAID FOR? Yes
RRP: From £144.99
To his eternal credit, Luke Moffatt is somewhat obsessive when it comes to fish care, so when the idea of a joint project between him and Cotswold Aquarius to produce a no-expense-spared carp cradle eventually saw the light of day, it came as no surprise to anybody, that the end result was a little bit special. The Les Graviers Cradle Mat was designed when the Scarred Fish was still swimming around in Luke’s lake, so be warned, the larger of the two sizes in the range is a seriously big bit of kit, as it needed to be able to cradle a fish then approaching the dizzy heights of 100lb!
Cotswold Aquarius have a great name for producing high-quality products, and this is certainly no exception. The foam-filled cradle walls are 30mm thick, 255mm high, and have an Plastazote outer to add rigidity. The mat is lined with Cotswold’s fish-friendly rubberised material, and the removable internal base incorporates yet more padding in the shape of a 50mm thick bottom layer that attaches with Velcro. The whole thing is unbelievably strong, thanks in no small part to the handles and supporting straps; made from unbreakable webbing, these go right around the cradle. A heavy-duty, Velcroed top cover completes the construction.
I have used a Les Graviers Cradle Mat for all my overseas sessions for over ten years, and I find it hard to imagine any cradle could offer better support and protection for a big fish. When I began this series of reviews for CARPology however, I made it clear that I would always give totally honest appraisals. It is only fair to mention at this point, then, that the Les Graviers Cradle Mat is heavy, and when wet, very heavy, and so not the quickest bit of kit to dry out. The overall quality, though, is superb. I guess it is horses for courses, and so if you are the type of angler who likes to throw stuff on a barrow and move swims every time the wind gusts from the opposite direction, there are lots of cradles out there that will undoubtedly be better suited to you. But if you are on the hunt for some of the world’s biggest fish and want to ensure that you offer them maximum protection, the Les Graviers Cradle Mat certainly ticks all the boxes with aplomb.
The Les Graviers Cradle Mat is worth every penny in my view, but there is no getting away from the fact that, with an RRP of £144.99, it represents a considerable investment (£164.99 for the 60” XL version). Both sizes are available in Olive Green or Camo. cotswoldaquarius.co.uk
