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Is it really necessary to have the most expensive and latest tackle if you want to start carp fishing? This is a question I am often asked and the answer I will always give is a very firm “no”. In fact to catch a carp, I suppose all you really need is a rod, reel, line, hook and bait. However you will always need some extra bits and pieces. For example if you catch that carp, you will need a landing net, an un-hooking mat, maybe some scales and a weigh sling, and what about a camera. If you want to be comfortable while you are carp fishing then a chair, rod rests or pod, maybe a bivvy. The array of carp tackle in fishing sores is huge and so I decided to try to put together a list of what I would want if I were to start out all over again.

Like most pass-times, if you start out with the cheapest gear available, then it won’t be long before you want to upgrade to something bigger and better. I should know, my other hobbies include PCs and Koi keeping. Also, very cheap tackle can often lead to disappointing results and cause you to give up your new found hobby. On the other hand, if you buy the best carp rods on the market now then you may not be able to afford any other essentials to go with them. If like most people, your budget is limited, then you need to compromise a little, but get carp tackle that will be fun to use and catch you some fish while you are learning. Part of the fun of fishing is looking in the tackle dealers and deciding what you would like next and what you can afford to upgrade to.

Carp Rods

So, starting out with carp rods; the first question is one or two. Well, most carp anglers these days use at least two, three if their waters allow it and they have the gear. Why? Simply because they can. Tell a carp angler that he can use five rods and he probably would. Carp angling is often a waiting game. It involves a lot of patience and it also helps if you can cover as large an area of water as possible. If more than one or two carp rods means that you can increase that area covered and decrease the waiting time and double the chances of a run, then why not?

Do remember however, if you intend buying two carp rods to start off with, then you are going to need two carp reels, two lots of line if not more, two sets of rod rests or a rod pod, maybe two or more bite alarms and twice as much terminal tackle and bait. Also if you are buying a rod holdall then a bigger one will be needed to accommodate them.

So, if you can afford all of this, great. If not, then why not just start with one carp rod and build up to more when your budget allows. You must remember as well that if you use three rods, you will need an extra fishing license, as each one only covers two rods.

OK so you have decided how many carp rods you would like. Now you need to decide what type of carp rods you want? The answer to this question will depend a lot on the venues you are going to fish. If you are fishing small estate lakes and your quarry are carp of up to about 10 – 12lbs say, then a fairly light rod of say 1½ to 2 lb test curve will suffice. However, for larger venues, where distance casting may be required, then maybe a heavier test curve would be advisable, up to 3 lb. As well as the test curve, you need to think about the action of the carp rod. Carp rods come in three types, fast taper tip action, medium tip action and all through action. For close to the bank short range work, an all through action is best, as it will take all of the power a carp has to offer and distribute it throughout the rod; the more the fish pulls, the more the rod bends. For further distance fishing, a medium action rod is better suited as it will still bend at the tip fairly easily, but has more power as the action transfers towards the handle or butt. For really long distance work, where heavy weights need to be cast a long way then a fast tip action rod is best. This will have plenty of play at the tip, but have the power for casting and playing a fish at range.

Carp Reels

Carp reels will need to be matched to the carp rod. Depending on the distance you are going to be casting and the line strength and diameter you will be using, you need a reel that can hold the amount of line required. Your choice of carp reel is very much a personal thing and you need to be comfortable with whatever you choose. I would recommend trying a carp reel on the rod you will be using it with. A good fitting is essential as is good balance. I would certainly try to buy a carp reel of the bait runner type. If you are going to be using two rods and maybe waiting for a long time for a run, you can’t always watch it the whole time, and a carp needs to be able to pull line free from the reel before you can strike. If it can’t then a big carp can pull the whole rod and reel into the lake; believe me, I have seen it happen more than once! OK, so you could open the bail arm, but try this on a windy day and you will wish you hadn’t. It can also produce disastrous messes on a strike if you forget you have done it. A bait runner is simply a mechanism whereby a switch is set that allows line to be pulled from the spool under very slight (adjustable) tension whilst the bail arm is still closed. Resetting the switch or commencing reeling both have the effect of stopping line from being pulled through and the reel is then back to its normal state. Therefore, when a carp moves off with your bait, it takes line from the reel, you hear the bite, lift the rod and start reeling and hopefully the fish is on.

Line for carp fishing

Line. This again depends on the type of fishing and on the chosen carp reel. Multiplying the test curve of your carp rod by five is a good rough guide to breaking strains, so a 2 lb test curve carp rod would warrant a 10 lb line. This is only a guide though. Don’t be tempted to go too light, it may produce more runs, but may also cause more lost fish and tackle, a nuisance to you, but maybe discomfort or damage to the fish, a situation that should be avoided at all costs. Different types of line are now becoming available and popular, such as braids, but for the purpose of this article, I will not go into their merits, and standard monofilament lines would be fine for the newcomer.

Hook length

Hook lengths are next on the agenda, and again there is a huge variety available, too many to discuss in this short piece. Suffice to say that there are many types of braids all with their own merits in different situations, and of course you can use monofilament as a hook length. To start with, maybe try buying one braided type and see if you get on with it and whether it catches you fish. You can build up a collection of different types as your skills and knowledge increase. If your tackle dealer knows the water you will be fishing, ask his advice.

Carp Hooks

Hooks are an area where I would recommend investing a bit of money. A cheap hook can mean a lost fish, and that is the last thing you want. Compared with the rest of the gear such as carp rods and carp reels that you will be buying, they are inexpensive anyway. Cheap hooks will bend, break or not be sharp enough to hook the fish in the first place. Invest in a selection of sizes say from a number 12 up to a 4 to start with and make sure that you buy barbless if your water insists on them. I don’t think I have ever lost a fish due to using barbless hooks, although there are many arguments for and against them, and I don’t intend to get involved in them here. Just abide by the fishery rules and you will be OK.

Weights

Weights come in a huge variety of types, shapes, colours, patterns and sizes. For carp fishing, the main two are the in-line and the bomb type. In-line leads have a hole drilled through their length, through which the line is threaded and bombs have either a wire loop of swivel fixed into one end through which the line is passed. They are available in their natural grey colour or can be coated to camouflage with the lake bottom. Different types will be needed for different rigs. Weight wise, a selection should be bought to start you off between say 1 and 3 ounces, of varying types. Remember though that you need to carry round what you buy, so don’t go too mad or try to leave some at home.

Carrying it all about

What else? Well, you are going to need something to put your gear in. To start off with, an old rucksack will do but if you want to buy something especially for the job, then there are a whole host of different rucksacks and bags to choose from. Carp carryalls are available which hold a large amount of gear, but you will have to carry that in your hands and there will be plenty else to carry. A rod holdall will protect your new acquisitions and they also come in all shapes and sizes. If you can afford this now, then don’t get something too big that you won’t be able to lift, but too small, and you won’t have room for expansion when you want to buy something else. Make sure it is made of a fairly strong waterproof material that won’t rip when walking through tree-lined footpaths. Some holdalls have built in reel pouches that enable you to put your rods away with reels still attached. These are excellent and save a lot of time on arrival at the water, but do tend to be fairly bulky. If you intend to buy an umbrella, then make sure there is room for this as well along with bank sticks landing net handles and pods.

Tackle box

A good tackle box is invaluable. An old sandwich box will do to start you off, but as your collection of bits and pieces grows, you will want a box with partitions to keep everything tidy and separate. Try to pick one that has a lid that touches the top of the partitions so that you don’t end up with everything all mixed up when you arrive at the swim. Some DIY shops sell some good ones, which are robust and sometimes a lot cheaper.

Additional tackle items

Most waters these days insist on unhooking mats, and this is an essential piece of kit to help protect the carp. A good landing net is needed and a weigh sling and scales if you want to weigh your fish.

You will want somewhere to place your carp rods whilst fishing. Either a pair of rod rests and tops for each rod, or a pod. Pods are the most convenient, but can be pricey, and can always be added later. If you want to go all the way to start with, then a bite alarm for each rod will make your fishing much easier, but again are a bit pricey, and not essential to begin with. There are some good budget versions around these days, and they are worth the money if you can afford it.

Just a few more bits which will be needed to start you off, a baiting needle, boilie stops, swivels, and I wouldn’t go fishing without some floats and shot. This should be ample to get you started, but beware – this hobby is addictive. You will soon want more bits and pieces and there is always something new on the market that is the best thing ever since sliced bread. If you think this is all too expensive, then take a look around at some of the second hand tackle available. This is often of very good quality and can save you a fortune. Often complete carp fishing set-ups are for sale on sites such as e-bay. Most of the fishing weeklies have a good for sale column, so take a look around. You may find just what you are looking for at a fraction of the price.

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