Nash Scope Ops Auto Inflate Unhooking Mat

How well is it built?

So, the Scope Ops is built more like a self-inflating camping mat than a traditional unhooking mat. Inside, there's a dual-density foam filling with a valve, and the outer is polyester with a PVC coating, with Hypalon used for the reinforcement and detailing.

For me, that's a sensible mix for something that's going to be rolled up tight and clipped to a bag.

The seams are 100% welded, which Nash say lets you wet the mat and do release shots without it soaking up water and then leaking it over the barrow or the inside of the car. I think that's a really practical point, as a soggy mat is a pain on the drive home.

It's simpler than an inflatable walled mat, with no separate tubes to worry about, so I think there's not much to go wrong apart from the valve. Overall, I'd keep it away from sharp sticks, as Nash advise, and wipe it down and dry it before storing.

Protection

How well does it look after a fish? Pretty well, but it's a mat rather than a cradle. The dual-density foam gives a cushioned base, and the extra air drawn in through the valve firms it up to support a heavy carp.

Opened out, the standard mat is 100 x 65cm and 10cm high, and the XL is 120 x 80cm.

The raised perimeter is there to stop a carp sliding off on uneven ground, but it isn't a wall.

A fish that really kicks has far less around it than it would in the 25cm sides of the Gardner Asylum or the inflatable walls of the RidgeMonkey ProCare, which is why it scores a little lower here.

Nash also warn that the surface can get slippery when wet, so on a sloping bank I'd take care to set it down level. For me, the XL makes more sense if you target big carp, as the standard size doesn't leave a lot of spare room around a large fish.

Ease of Setup & Portability

This is where the Scope Ops really shines. There's nothing to pump, because the foam draws air in on its own as you unroll the mat, and when you pack up you let the air out, compress it and roll it away. That's about as quick as fish care gets.

The standard mat rolls to just 65 x 18 x 18cm, and the XL rolls to 80 x 18 x 18cm. The buckles clip it straight onto the Scope Ops rucksack range, or you can fold it and carry it with the supplied shoulder strap instead.

For me, that's ideal for short sessions, stalking and anyone who walks to their swim with everything on their back. Compared with the Gardner Asylum, which packs to 96 x 58 x 15cm, it takes up a fraction of the space, and I think that's the whole point of it.

Is it good value for money?

So, is it worth the money? It costs about the same as the Gardner Asylum and a fair bit less than the RidgeMonkey ProCare, so it's not a budget mat. What you're paying for is the auto-inflate foam, the welded seams and that tiny pack size, rather than walls or extra accessories.

If you mainly fish from a barrow and don't mind a bigger pack, the Asylum or the Wychwood Walled will contain a fish better for similar or less money.

If you carry everything on your back, though, the Scope Ops makes a lot of sense, especially if you already use the Scope Ops rucksacks.

Overall, I'd recommend it to mobile carp anglers, short-session anglers and anyone who wants padded fish care without the bulk. If you want the most containment for a big fish, I'd go for a walled mat instead.