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The guide book notes for certain venues requires the use of 'conservation' keepnets only. What exactly does conservation mean in this context? Is it material related?
Cheers
i think so although it could be size related as well.
cheers
sam
I think there is an accepted minium length and width opening, Im not sure what the exact size is though, but i got one from Bennets claiming it was of the right size.They also I belive have to be carp friendly, that is friendly for small carp,as no one would put big carp in a keepnet?
Sorry cant help any more than that,
[cool /images/forum/icons/cool.gif
paulh
Hi Andy,
You'll need to seek advice from Ian, but I'd say that any keepnet you used nowadays is OK. I think this refers to the keepnets of old with knots, metal poles (rather than plasctic covered ones), etc...
It might also mean that they should have carp scak material towards the bottom end though, but as I say, you'll need to seek advice from Ian or the bailiffs's on the waters you intend to fish.
ATB,
Bill.
Cheers guys. As you say Bill it might be one for Ian to answer, particularly as it is only mentioned in the special notes for Westfield Farm and Burghfield Match Lake/Blue Pool venues suggesting a unique style or type. I already have nets of modern material (one being 16' long!) but I suspect I will need something different.
Arghh ! Westfield, Blue Pool and Match lake are all capr venues, so it means you need a net with carp sacking - this one I'm sure of !
Bill
I am not certain but I think the use off Keepnets on RMC waters is limited to matches only, I am sure Ian will confirm this.
Tony
I think this only applies to Burghfield Match Lake and Blue Pool. Rule 7 in the Guide Book (season 1999-2000) states that "neither barbel, catfish or carp (other than crucians) will be put into keepnets. Keepnets must be of the standard laid down in the bye-laws of the E.A. in the area of which the venue falls......". This would suggest that nets are allowed providing they meet the required standard for the venue, which brings us back to 'conservation' nets for (say) Westfield Farm.
Andy
Another point has just occured to me. Rule 7 states that carp (other than crucians) must not be put into a keepnet, without any qualification whatsoever, i.e. no size or weight limitation. Is there a reason why an 8lb tench can be retained in a keepnet but an 8lb carp cannot? Obviously common sense will always prevail and nobody (hopefully) would put a large fish of any species in a keepnet, but a bag of small carp (up to say 6lb) is surely no different to a bag of tench or bream of similar size. Any views?
Andy
I think it is that a carp has a spine on the leading edge of it's dorsal fin which can catch in the net and damage it where a Tench does not. Also this goes for a Barbel too.
Tony
That's a fair point, but also probably applies to the majority of coarse fish, perch being the most obvious example. Tench finning seems to be fairly unique, but I only used tench as an example (replace with chub if it helps the point). Barbel retention has always been frowned upon because of the high level of exhaustion, and resulting oxygen requirements after capture, perhaps this also applies to carp.
I also note in the rule book that keepnets are banned across all venues during the spring season, for obvious reasons.
Andy
Thanks Ian. Just to be sure I get the correct type, does the dark sack type have to be 100% of the nets length? I think I have seen nets advertised which are partially sacking, say the bottom four feet, are these ok? There seem to be a lot of nets which are called 'carp' nets.
Also can you confirm that rule 7 includes all carp, irrespective of size or weight.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by loki on 27/03/01 06:36 PM (server time).</FONT></P>
Ian,
Do you think it is necessary to keep fish in keepnets at all, any fish I mean... maybe a limit of half an our and then release them? I have never seen the point of keeping fish in a net, I have not owned a keep net for over 20 years now.
I know it is practical in a match but just for pleasure fishing I can't see how it is beneficial to the fish.
Tony
I know what you mean Scorpio, the desire to see the results of my fishing at the end of a session diminished as I got older, to the point where I no longer use a keepnet. However, I am trying to get (and then keep) my 12 year old son interested in the sport, and I know that a few tench and roach in a keepnet is an important part of the attraction. The welfare of the fish is paramount though, hence the questions and the desire to get the fish-friendliest type available.
I can understand that Loki..... I let my boy release them, he is 10 at the moment, I let him wear the polaroids and watch them swim back to their home, a personal choice for me.
Tony
Understand your point of view but don't agree with the educate bit Ian. A flick through recent issues of Anglers Mail and other mainstream mags show keepnets as an integral part of the sport. I can see how specimen hunters have no need for a keepnet, but for the majority of weekend pleasure anglers it is the size of the bag, not individual fish, which is the measure of their success.
What is the objection? Actual physical harm to the fish, or stress due to prolonged confinement? Modern materials and designs should prevent physical harm, and we need to think carefully before going down the stress road.
Would be interesting to get other peoples views, I can only play devil's advocate for so long!
Andy
What I used to do Loki was keep a fishing log of what I caught and added up the weight at the end to see what weight of catch I had caught. I must admit it is nice to see your whole catch at the end of the session but personally I don't agree with keepnets in any form...... I don't dissagree with other people using them, that is their choice but on a personal not I wouldn't use one.
Tony
Loki,
I don't use keepnets anymore, apart from when I'm Perch fishing. Most of my angling is fairly mobile, and using a keepnet would be a bit of a pointless exercise. As long as a keepnet is made of the right material, and is as big as possible, then I don't see a problem with fish damage. I would suggest that most damage is caused by anglers not knowing how to correctly empty the fish out of a net at the end of a session. This and overcrowding, I reckon are the main problems.
Paul
I think as with so many questions "it all depends". I do not see that shoal fish up to the size of medium size chub and tench will come to a lot of harm by being retained in a keep net for up to 3-4 hours. There are one or two exceptions, no barbel should be put in a keepnet because of the danger of damage to the dorsal fin ray and no grayling because they don't seem to be particularly robust fish...get them back fast. Anything larger than say a 5lb tench or chub ought really to go straight back. And as ever there is potential for abuse. I was horrified by John Bailey's article in a recent IYCF about how years ago folks used to keep fish in a keepnet for up to a week of fishing a swim to give the impression they'd caught a really huge bag.
Personally I agree with Scorpio and just don't bother with a keepnet any more, I know what I have caught and that's what matters.
You guys have basically said it all. I know what I've caught throughout a session and don't need to look smug at the end of the day putting back a net full of fish (a net full!)... I've not owned a keepnet for years.
Clive
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