Keeping fish still

[hammer_jamie]

This seems like such a silly question to ask but I wondered if there is anything that can be done to keep a fish still when it's on the unhooking matt ?

 

[greenie62]

Keep the camera hidden! mg:

 

[mightyboosh]

Joke

 

[Alan Tyler]

Blow on it, or "fan it wiv yer 'at"*.
Helps if you have a collaborator, because the fish will be quiet for about as long as it takes to stand up again and aim the camera.


* Can anyone identify that? I think it was a music hall thing about what to do at a posh dinner if your 'erring was too 'ot - something along the lines of " ...don't (something) or swing it round yer 'ead; do like the big nobs do and fan it wiv yer 'at!"
Mum used to mutter it, but I can't ask her without a ouija board.

 

[greenie62]

... * Can anyone identify that? I think it was a music hall thing about what to do at a posh dinner if your 'erring was too 'ot - something along the lines of " ...don't (something) or swing it round yer 'ead; do like the big nobs do and fan it wiv yer 'at!"...

Might be worth a call on the V&A Music Hall & Variety Theatre - Victoria and Albert Museum
I'm sure one of their researchers would love to spend a morning looking that one up Al

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Similar to blowing / fanning the fish - use a sprayer - the one for keeping your groundbait moist could be handy - or a cup of water dribbled over the fish might quieten it a bit.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

I would agree with Alan above; simply blow on the fish (or fan lightly with your cap) as that works very well when calming fish on the scales in a match weigh-in . . . . .

 

[tigger]

Usually they keep still for a moment or two if lifted and put down, just take the pic as soon as you've placed the fish down.

 

[nogoodboyo]

Gently covering its eyes helps.
And remember that you don't have to photograph every single fish that you catch.

 

[laguna]

or give it a good talking to!

 

[peter crabtree]

This seems like such a silly question to ask but I wondered if there is anything that can be done to keep a fish still when it's on the unhooking matt ?

I'd rather see a lifelike picture like this TBH.