Adders27 Posted Friday at 16:46 Report Posted Friday at 16:46 Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size ! I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) Ideally less than £100 ! Quote
greekskii Posted Saturday at 11:09 Report Posted Saturday at 11:09 A lot of places are now banning these type of cradles due to fish being damaged by them. Just a heads up as in all honestly there’s some great packaway mats out there now, sonik just released a zip up one. yonny and elmoputney 2 Quote
Adders27 Posted Saturday at 12:00 Author Report Posted Saturday at 12:00 Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better kevtaylor and elmoputney 2 Quote
elmoputney Posted Saturday at 16:24 Report Posted Saturday at 16:24 4 hours ago, Adders27 said: Yeah I’m thinking my Avid Compact cradle mat is better If it ain't broke, just save space somewhere else, my mat is pretty massive but tbh I quite like having a big mat as I know it protects the fish I occasionally catch lol. kevtaylor 1 Quote
kevtaylor Posted Sunday at 16:08 Report Posted Sunday at 16:08 Sorry but I've disliked these raised-frame ones from the beginning, seem dangerous, stuff stabbing through from underneath or just the fish flipping out your hands and missing the thing or bashing itself on the frame. I ordered an Avid mat with sides but was out of stock so they sent me a Tracker one instead, it is bulky packed down to be honest but great for the fish. Might look for something smaller packed down - suggestions anyone? yonny 1 Quote
Adders27 Posted Sunday at 17:12 Author Report Posted Sunday at 17:12 Fox Easy Mat or the NGT copy kevtaylor 1 Quote
salokcinnodrog Posted Sunday at 17:27 Report Posted Sunday at 17:27 On 06/06/2025 at 17:46, Adders27 said: Recommend me a sensibly priced carp cradle ( metal framed one ) Ideally packs away flat and isn’t huge in size ! I have the Avid Compact Cradle Mat and it’s nice but packs away a bit bulky. Thinking of a frame style with legs but I’m confused on what size to get ( UK waters only ) Ideally less than £100 ! I must admit I really don't like metal framed cradles, fish thrash and damage themselves, or thrash and get dropped onto metal. I have 2 unhooking mats, a big Rod Hutchinson Cabrio Unhooking Mat, and a Chub Xtra Protection Mat. I do struggle with a mat with deep sides due to a screwed back, lifting a fish can be painful, and having to bend over a walled cradle is a killer, so the majority of the time I use the Chub Mat. If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag. The Chub mat folds in half and stores my pod bag and centre bar, my weigh sling and sack, and a spare pair of storm poles which double as distance sticks and camera phone mount. Adders27 1 Quote
kevtaylor Posted yesterday at 07:58 Report Posted yesterday at 07:58 14 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said: If I need to use the barrow to transport my gear I take the Cabrio mat as it makes a really handy barrow bag. I'd like a mat that's also a sling and can carry rods and net inside for stalking, trouble is this then doesn't have sides like a cradle. I don't want yet another mat, but one doesn't seem to do everything 🤷♂️ salokcinnodrog 1 Quote
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