How to safely sack a carp for photographing

The act of sacking a carp after capture is not something that many carp anglers consider. The sacking a fish is banned on many waters in the UK and abroad, so many anglers do not consider it until the time arises. Below are a few tips to makes sure that you sack a fish safely and release it safely after capture. Preparation and the correct equipment are the key to success.

A successful catch and release after been sacked up for 5 hours

Only sack a fish if necessary

You should only sack up a fish if absolutely necessary and allowed by the rules of the fishery. The only times I consider sacking a fish are if it is caught during the hours of darkness and it is of sufficient size for me to want to photograph.

What equipment do I need?

• A pair of chest waders - Depending on the venue you are fishing and the depth of the margin. You may need to place your stake retention pole out of the margin as deep as you can. A good pair of chest waders will allow you to complete this and stay warm and dry.
• A large zip sack - I recommend using sacks by Solar or Fox, they have an excellent range of zip sacks that last well and ensure the fish is safe
• A strong retention pole - A large storm pole with a screw bottom is a good option, this allows you to stake the fish in deep water very securely and the cord an be securely fixed to the top with a screw in clip.
• Cord extension - Not an essential piece of equipment but can help where you would like the fish to have the freedom to move into deeper water.
• A marking buoy - Again this is not essential but a good tip. Attach a small marine buoy to a 2 metre length of cord and tie or clip this to the carrying handles of the carp sack. Now if the worst was to happen and the fish became untethered is not possible for the fish to dive and it can be located and rescued easily.

Choose your retention point carefully

Make sure you have a place in mind when considering sacking a fish on a swim. The fish should be placed in water at minimum 1 meter deep, in a shaded area away from your main swim so it does not get disturbed by other captures.

Retain the fish for a minimum period

If you choose to sack a fish during the night, make sure you are ready to photograph and release at first light. This ensures the fish is kept for the minimum time. Also the hour after first light is often the best light for taking your trophy shots anyway.