NGT Deluxe Cat Fish Unhooking Mat
5 Things To Know
- A large padded mat designed for handling big catfish, with padding running throughout the surface.
- The protective flap opens out to give a working area of 210 x 135cm.
- Heavy-duty pegging points hold the mat secure on the bank during a specimen session.
- It folds down to 55 x 70cm for transport and storage, and it has a carry handle.
- The padding helps protect specimen fish from hard or uneven ground while you unhook and weigh them.
Featured in our Best Unhooking Mats guide.
NGT Deluxe Cat Fish Unhooking Mat Review
The NGT Deluxe Cat Fish Unhooking Mat is a big, flat padded mat built for catfish, and size is the whole point of it. Padding runs throughout, and when you open out the protective flap the working area grows to 210 x 135cm, which gives a long fish plenty of room.
So, what's the catch? It's flat, with no walls, and even folded down to 55 x 70cm it's a large thing to carry. To be fair, heavy-duty pegging points keep it secure on the bank, there's a carry handle for the walk to the swim, and it costs a fair bit less than the Catfish Pro with Flap. Overall, I think it's very good value for anyone who needs a lot of padded area without spending a lot.
How well is it built?
So, the Deluxe Cat Fish mat is a straightforward design, and I think that's no bad thing on a mat this size. In the photos, the padded side is made up of stitched panels so it folds along the seams, and the flap opens out alongside it to give you the extra working space.
The pegging points are heavy duty, which matters on a mat this big, as they keep it secure on the bank. The carry handle and the webbing straps that hold it folded look simple and practical too.
For me, the build is solid rather than special, and it isn't as heavily specced as the Catfish Pro with Flap, which uses high-density foam and comes with a stink bag.
That's why it scores a little lower here, but overall it looks well put together for what it costs, and there isn't much on it to go wrong.
Protection
Protection comes down to size and padding. Padding runs throughout the mat to keep a big fish off hard or uneven ground, and with the flap open you've got 210 x 135cm to work on, so even a long catfish can lie flat without its head or tail hanging off onto the bank.
What it doesn't have is walls, and while a walled mat like the Wychwood Walled keeps a lively fish contained, on a flat mat you're relying on space and your own hands. Does that matter for catfish?
I think it matters less than it would with a smaller mat, because there's so much room, but you still need to keep the fish low and keep the mat wet.
The padding also earns its place on stony or root-covered banks, where a thin roll-up mat wouldn't do much for a heavy fish. All in all, it's good, honest protection for big fish, and that's what the score reflects.
Ease of Setup & Portability
Portability is fine, but a mat this size was never going to be light. It folds down to 55 x 70cm and has a carry handle, and the photos show webbing straps holding it closed, but that's still a large package to add to the barrow or carry over your shoulder.
Setting up is quick enough, because you just unfold it, open the flap and peg it down, and the pegging points mean it stays where you put it.
To be fair, pegging out a big mat is a bit of a faff compared with throwing down a small roll-up mat, but on a catfish session I think it's worth the extra minute.
If you rove a lot, I'd look elsewhere, as it's simply too big to carry from swim to swim all day. Overall, though, for static sessions where you set up once and stay put, the NGT is pretty easy to live with.
Is it good value for money?
So, where does it stand on value? I think it's very strong, because it costs a fair bit less than the Catfish Pro with Flap and you still get a large padded area, a flap that extends the working space to 210 x 135cm, heavy-duty pegging points and a carry handle.
The Catfish Pro uses high-density foam and comes with a stink bag, so if you fish for catfish regularly, the extra spend makes sense.
But if you only target cats now and then, or you want a really big flat mat for large carp as well, the NGT covers pretty much everything you need for a lot less money.
Overall, I'd recommend it to catfish anglers on a budget, and to anyone who fishes venues with very big fish and wants a large padded mat rather than a cradle. If you need something light for roving, a smaller roll-up mat will suit you better.
Pros
- Flap extends the working area to a roomy 210 x 135cm
- Padding runs throughout to protect fish from hard, uneven ground
- Heavy-duty pegging points keep the large mat secure on the bank
- Folds down to 55 x 70cm with a carry handle
- Strong value for such a large padded catfish mat
Cons
- Flat design with no walls to contain a lively fish
- Still a bulky package to carry, even when folded down
Features and Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Catfish unhooking mat |
| Working size | 210 x 135 cm, including flap |
| Folded size | 55 x 70 cm |
| Padding | Padded throughout |
| Pegging points | Heavy-duty pegging points |
| Transport | Folding design with carry handle |
How It Compares
See how the NGT Deluxe Cat Fish Unhooking Mat compares with other unhooking mats on overall score and current price.
| Name | Price | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| NGT Deluxe Cat Fish Unhooking Mat | £39.95 | |
| Ridgemonkey ProCare Inflatable Unhooking Mat | £159.99 | |
| Gardner Asylum Unhooking Mat | £99.99 | |
| Nash Scope Ops Auto Inflate Unhooking Mat | £99.99 | |
| Catfish Pro Unhooking Mat With Flap | £69.99 | |
| ESP Quickdraw Unhooking Mat | £59.95 | |
| Greys Prodigy Klip On Unhooking Mat Medium | £26.99 | |
| Preston Fold Away Unhooking Mat | £19.99 | |
| Shakespeare SKP Roll Unhooking Mat | £15.99 |
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