Catching and handling your koi

Before any attempt is made to catch a fish you must have the right equipment:

• a pan net suitable to accommodate the largest fish in the pond.

• A viewing bowl.

• A sock net

A pan net is very shallow, as this reduces the risk of the fish becoming entangled in the netting. In fact this net should only be used as a guide and under no circumstances should you ever lift the net out of the water with the fish in it. When actually trying to catch a fish, there are a few simple rules which should be followed. These will make it easier for you to catch the koi and reduce the risk of damage being caused to it.

1. Turn off all air pumps and water features, this will let you see what you are doing.

2. Move the net so that its edge slices through the water. This reduces drag and allows you to move the net much more quickly.

3. When bringing a captured fish to the surface avoid any underwater returns. The pressure of the water returning to the pond from these could force the koi into the net and cause it physical damage.

4. If you are trying to catch small koi or the pond is very large, you may find it hard to catch the fish with one net. Rather than chasing around your pond and risking accidentally bumping the fish with the net, try one or two tactics. Either ask someone for help and give them another net so that they can keep the fish at one end while you try and catch it. If this is not possible, try lowering the water level to reduce the area in which the fish can swim.

5. If the pond is very large, netting a particular koi may prove too stressful to both yourself and the fish. If such a case it may be advisable to get a custom made seine net for your pond which allows all the koi to be caught easily without undue stress.

Sock net

This is a net which is shaped very much like a table tennis bat with a long, open-ended, sock-like net trailing behind it. They are available in numerous sizes, and it is important to ensure that the one you are using has a large enough diameter for the fish in question, and that it will hold the full length of the fish in the sock. Before moving the fish, ensure that the whole of the sock net is wet. Then hold the sock net in one hand under the water in the bowl and use your other hand to persuade the fish gently into the sick head first. Once fully in the sock, use one hand to hold the end of the sock while the other hand holds the handle. The sock net can then be lifted out of the water. Make sure that the net is kept as straight as possible. To release the fish from the sock simply immerse it in the water and let go of the end of the sock. Then lift the sock from the water by the handle, and if done correctly the fish will swim out.

Plastic Bag

If a sock net is not available, a plastic bag can be used in much the same way. The only difference is that as the bag is sealed at one end, you will have to tip the fish from the bag.

Moving the bowl

If neither a plastic bag or sock net are available you can quite simply carrying the viewing bowl to where you wish to move the fish. This may sound simple, but normally the bowl is heavy due to the volume of water it holds, and it may need two or more people to lift it. There is also a risk of the fish jumping in the bowl and damaging itself. This method of moving fish is better suited to smaller koi less than 30cm (12in) in length.

Carrying the fish

This method should not be attempted unless you are confident at handling fish, and really it should not be considered if a sock net or plastic bag is available. The fish is quite simply picked up from the water and carried to its new location. When carrying a fish, one hand is normally placed under the pectoral fins while the other goes just behind the anal fin. The hard part is to know just how tight to hold the fish, and not to be nervous as this causes the fish yo struggle. Really you should not grasp the fish but just let it rest in your hands.