Wychwood Walled Unhooking Mat

How well is it built?

For me, the Wychwood is a solid, no-nonsense walled mat. It's made from fish-friendly materials with 60mm foam, so the base and the walls are both properly padded, and the surface is wipe-clean, which makes it easy to keep on top of after a muddy bank.

It's an oval shape with carry handles at each end, and the fish cover is a mesh panel that fastens down with Velcro. The removable inner mat is the clever bit, as it gives you a second mat in the same package rather than something extra to buy.

It doesn't have the extras of the RidgeMonkey ProCare, such as a replaceable tube or a foot pump, but it also has no inflatable parts to puncture. Overall, I think it's well made for the money, and I'd expect it to last if you wipe it down and let it dry after each trip.

Protection

Protection is the Wychwood's strong point, and that's reflected in the score. The walls stand 250mm high, the same as the Gardner Asylum's 25cm sides and higher than the 200mm walls on the RidgeMonkey ProCare, so a big carp that kicks has very little chance of sliding off.

The 60mm foam cushions the fish on the base and against the walls, and the Velcro-down cover helps keep it dark and calm while you sort out the forceps, scales or camera. For me, a cover like this is one of the most useful features on a walled mat, especially on a bright day.

The listed open size is 750 x 1150mm, which I think is roomy enough for most UK carp. As with any walled mat, I'd still wet it before the fish goes in and set it down on level ground.

Ease of Setup & Portability

Is it easy to get to the bank? It's straightforward to set up, because there's no pump or valve, but it's not the most compact mat around. The closed size is 350 x 350 x 700mm, so it packs into a fairly bulky shape that takes up a good bit of room on the barrow or in the car.

That's why it scores a little lower here, because the Nash Scope Ops, for example, rolls to 65 x 18 x 18cm and clips to a rucksack, so the Wychwood is clearly one for barrow anglers rather than roving.

The removable inner helps, though. On short sessions or tight pegs, you can take just the inner and use it as a lighter stalking mat, and leave the walls in the car.

For me, that flexibility goes a long way to making up for the pack size, and it means one mat covers both styles of fishing.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it good value? I think it is. It costs less than the Gardner Asylum and the Nash Scope Ops, and a long way less than the RidgeMonkey ProCare, yet you still get 250mm walls, 60mm foam, a fish cover and a removable inner that works as a second mat.

The Catfish Pro mat costs a little less, but it's a flat mat with a flap rather than a walled one, so for carp anglers who want sides, the Wychwood is the better buy of the two. The main trade-off is the bulky pack size.

Overall, I'd recommend the Wychwood Walled to carp and specimen anglers who want high sides and a cover on a sensible budget, and who like the idea of a stalking mat for short sessions. If you carry everything on your back, a roll-up mat like the Nash will suit you better.