2. Handle a fish with wet hands only, do not use dry towels or cloths as they will strip the fish of its protective layer of mucus. Better still, always use a landing net and never take the fish out of the net to unhook them - use the wet net to hold the fish while you unhook it.
3. Never stand up holding a fish especially when taking photographs, always kneen down ideally over an unhooking map, Failing a mat over thick grass and never walk around carrying a fish. If you must carry them always use a landing net or a weigh sling.
4. Think about where you unhook fish – unhooking/carp mats are a good investment and help to cushion the fish (ensure they are wet when used). Otherwise, lay the fish on soft, wet grass after checking there are no stones underneath. NEVER unhook fish on hard or stoney ground, wooden or wire covered stages.
5. Fish often flap around when they are out of water, to calm them down quickly try covering the fish’s eye with your landing net – fish become much calmer in darkness.
6. Rods and line – including poles and pole elastics - that are too heavy for the size of fish being caught can cause unnecessary damage: match your tackle to the size of the fish you are likely to catch.
7. Use landing nets and keepnets that have the Angling Foundation’s water-lily approval mark as they have been tested to ensure that they are fish safe. Make sure your landing net is large enough for the fish you may hook.
8. In summer the water temperature is warmer in shallower water - do ensure that if you are allowed to use a keepnet, as much as possible of the net is submerged. Use a "key ring" and attach a 4-6oz fishing weight to the bottom of your net - this helps when throwing the net out and in keeping it extended and submerged.
9. Never throw your old line away intact, always wrap it around your hand then with scissors cut through the wrapped line carefully before placing in the nearest bin or taking it home with you. Ensure that all disused line is cut into small lengths (about 10cm long) and dispose of it sensibly. Never leave it lying around where it can ensnare the legs of birds and other small animals. As with all litter, take it home with you if there are no bins nearby.
10. Where possible, never retain more than 50lb of fish in one keepnet at a time, by doing so you carelessly crush the fish in the bottom of the net when lifting it out of the water. Take two or more nets if large catches are expected.
11. Preferably, do not use fixed rigs – make sure that if the line breaks it will not result in the fish swimming around while dragging a ledger weight or a swimfeeder still attached to your hook length?
12. Return fish gently to the water and never, ever ‘throw them back’. If a fish rolls onto its side, hold it gently, upright in the water, until it regains the strength to swim away. Better still always return larger fish with the fish in your landing net. In this way you're less likely to drop the fish, you can ensure the fish has recovered sufficiently before releasing it and you minimise any risk of damaging the fish. With the fish in the net in the water, slowly turn the net inside-out and the fish should just swim away.
13. In Britain it is not our custom to eat coarse fish and any attempt at taking fish away from any commercial coarse fishery will be discouraged by the fishery owners. Removing coarse fish may have undesired consequences.
14. For Trout and Sea fish only, If you intend to take a fish to eat and you are allowed to do so, dispatch it quickly and immediately.
15. In cold weather dont wear wellingtons - they may keep your feet dry but they wont keep them warm, They suck cold out of your feet. Instead wear stout boots and thick comfortable socks or better still obtain neoprene lined farmers wellies or Skee boots.
Remember that you are the eyes and ears of waterside wildlife. If you see fish or other animals in distress, please report it immediately to the fishery owner, manager or bailiff.
