[daverd]

Posts in another thread on fish handling brought these to mind.  Anyone use them  when fishing catch and release or photographing fish? It’s preferable to unhook fish in the water of course though not always possible. I’m not sure lying fish on the grass for photographic purposes is good  for their protective mucous layer. Pike fishers and ferox trollers use them all the time. What do you think?

[Rob Brownfield]

Funny you should say that...if fishing from a boat (except Mikes..I always forget to take one) I lay an unhooking mat in the bottom of the boat. I always unhook fish whilst still in the water, but like you say, sometimes you need to bring a fish in. In this case, the mat needs to be wet.

I think they are a great idea...if used wet..if dry, they do more damage than if the fish was laying on the grass.

Good post!