The Fox Camo Unhooking Mat With Sides is a compact, lightweight mat designed for anglers who like to stay mobile.
The mat features low-profile sides that are folded up and secured with Velcro flaps, which help keep the fish safely on the mat.
The mat rolls up neatly and stays compact with elasticated loops.
A dual-layer mattress gives extra padding, making it ideal for hard or uneven ground use.
The mat is made from tough, lightweight polyester and finished in the signature Fox camo pattern, blending beautifully with natural surroundings.
Features:
- Lightweight and easy to carry (just 1.2kg)
- Roll-up design with secure elasticated straps
- Dual-layer padding for added fish protection
- Fold-up sides held in place with Velcro
- Stylish Fox camo finish
- Great for roving anglers, those who want to lighten their gear and those venues where a barrow is not an option.
Dimensions:
Open with sides up: 90cm (L) x 54cm (W) x 17cm (H)
Rolled Up: 86cm x 40cm x 8cm
Personal Experience Using The Fox Camo Unhooking Mat With Sides
I use a Trakker Sanctuary Crib for most of my fishing, or mats provided by fisheries.
Recently, I fished a venue with limited access. The lake was a bit of a walk from the car, and the path to the lake was narrow, surrounded by bushes and downhill.
Access to the swims was also tight. A barrow and a big mattress are not an option. I needed a light mat that could be clipped to my 60-litre rucksack.
The Fox Camo Unhooking Mat With Sides has done the job, it’s light, rolled up easily and clipped to my rucksack (I used small carabiner clips attached to the mat’s elasticated loops). The mat was also reasonably priced at around the £50 mark.
Downsides Of The Fox Camo Unhooking Mat With Sides
While the mat is lightweight and did the job for the venue, I was fishing, it’s not as safe as the big-sided mats like the Fox Carpmaster Deluxe. Big, padded, sided unhooking mats are required on many waters these days, and this mat won’t suit those waters. I wouldn’t be comfortable using this mat alone for fish bigger than 35lbs.
The mat also lacks a flap, which would add an extra layer of safety or give the angler something to kneel on and wouldn’t add much more size and weight to the mat. Also, there are no pegging loops, which would be handy as the weight is so lightweight it can be moved easily in strong winds.
Conclusion
If you need a reasonably priced, lightweight, easy-to-carry mat that can accommodate carp up to 35lbs, then the Fox Camo Unhooking Mat is a good choice. If you can use a proper mat that’s bigger with thicker padding and a flap, then by all means, get one instead. When unhooking mats, the more padding and safety features, the better.