Cradles

How to Choose a Carp Cradle

Floor cradles rest on the ground like a deep walled mat and are the lightest type to carry. Framed cradles stand on legs, while inflatable designs use air chambers for walls and pack into a bag about 60cm square.

Framed models suit steep or rocky swims, and several have legs with around 50mm of adjustment to level them. Some fisheries ban cradles with a rigid frame, so a floor or inflatable model is the safer buy if you fish several waters.

Check the internal space rather than the outer size, as thick walls eat into the room. One XL crib, for example, measures 115 x 62cm inside against 122 x 72cm outside.

Choose an XL if your fish would touch both ends of a standard size. Catfish and pike anglers need the longest designs, with one roll up cradle mat laying out at 148cm flat.

Most cradles listed use a 50mm foam base, and the deepest has a 90mm padded floor. A few add an inflatable centre cushion over the foam for extra give.

The walls matter as much as the base, as they stop a kicking fish rolling over the edge. Cradle depths listed run from about 14cm to 27cm.

Framed cradles hold the fish roughly 28cm to 43cm up, clear of stones, roots and mud. Floor cradles sit at around 15cm to 25cm, so a fish never has far to drop.

Kneel beside a framed cradle when handling the fish rather than standing over it. A cradle with a cover lets you keep the fish shaded and wet while you sort the scales and camera.

The cradles listed weigh from under 2kg up to about 4.6kg. Pop up and roll up designs fold into a slim bag, while welded and framed cribs take more room in the car.

Walking anglers should study the packed size as closely as the open size. One compact crib packs to 94 x 24 x 24cm, while some framed models fold to around 16cm to 18cm deep.

Welded PVC and coated fabrics wipe clean and do not soak up slime, so the cradle stays fresh between trips. Drainage holes or mesh panels let water run out, so the fish is not left lying in a puddle.

Rinse and dry the cradle fully after each session. That matters most before you take it to a different water.

A flat unhooking mat needs level ground, while a cradle can stand on a slope and still hold the fish flat. Walled mats sit between the two, giving raised sides with no legs or frame.

Plenty of anglers start with a mat and move up to a cradle as their target fish get bigger. Combination designs open flat as a mat and clip up into a cradle shape.

Many carp waters name a cradle or a large mat in their rules, sometimes with a minimum foam thickness of around 40mm. At least one fishery bans cradles with any rigid structure, so read the rules before you pick a framed design.

How Much to Spend on a Carp Cradle

The dearest cradles cost about six times the cheapest, with simple pop up and floor cradles at the low end and welded and inflatable cribs at the top. Mid priced cradles usually add a carry bag, thicker foam and adjustable legs.

Spending more buys welded seams, deeper padded floors, more internal space and frames that level on rough ground. The inflatable cradle at the top of the range still packs into a bag about 60cm square.

Cradles listed here number 29, with 9 scored in a full eTackle review. Our top cradles for every size of fish are in the best carp cradles guide.