John Bailey – The Kingfisher Diaries
April 24th 2010
Caught with Care
I've really grown to admire the Kingfisher syndicate members over the past couple of years. Thoughtful anglers. Dedicated anglers. Anglers that love the fishery. And, quite evidently, anglers that love the big carp resident. Jus the other day, I was really privileged to witness one of the top men here, Chris Burman, land a sparkling twenty-five pound mirror. From start to finish this was an object lesson in how to treat carp with the love and concern that they deserve.
First off, Chris played the fish calmly, persistently, maintaining pressure but not bullying the fish or traumatising it with heavy-handed tactics. In fact, I'd say that Chris persuaded the fish into the net, expertly wielded by
his companion.
The fish was then kept enmeshed in the waters by the margins whilst Chris dunked an unhooking mat, wetted the weigh-sling and zeroed the scales. Everything was prepared, even the camera had its lens cap removed and settings adjusted. The exact place for a quick photograph was established whilst the fish was still in the water.
The next stage went like clockwork. Within seconds the fish was on the unhooking mat, the hook slipped free and in the weigh-sling. After ten seconds or so we settled on a figure of twenty-five and a quarter and the fish was being photographed.
I guesstimate that carp was released by Chris a mere minute and a half / minute and three quarters after being removed from the water. Unhooking, weighing and photography were three processes that took little if anything more than thirty seconds each. That carp simply surged away which, 
by the look on Chris's face, was the best part of the entire experience.