What Do I Need to Buy to Start Carp Fishing Gear?

When you start out Carp fishing you are going to need spend some money as Carp fishing requires some kit. Here is a brief guide on Carp fishing set up for beginners. Start with a light kit using the stalking method, but most will want to start in the most common way by using a two or three static rod system.

You can build a setup from scratch or buy a ready made Carp fishing kit available from suppliers.

Rods You can get very good quality Carp fishing rods these days. As a beginner a 12ft 2.5lb rod is ideal, you don’t want to be starting off with casting rods, an all action Through Rod will be best.

Reels For beginners a free spool reel, better known as bait runner reel, is probably ideal and the easiest to get used to. This will let the fish run off with the bait so you won’t have to go in the water to retrieve your rod.

Bite Alarm You will also need a bite alarm as these are invaluable visual and audible indicators of bites. Look for ones with a volume control so you can turn the volume down.

Rod Supports Stainless steel banksticks will do the job nicely, it is best to avoid aluminium ones as they tend to bend and suffer from oxidization. It is worth considering screw in banksticks, as they are easier to get in to the ground in dry bank conditions.

Line and Rigs You can easily get excellent quality fishing line at low cost; you should be looking for about a 12lb line. This is just about right for a beginner. The size and shape of the hooks will be dependent on the design of the rig you are using. You can make your own Carp rigs or buy Carp fishing rigs off the shelf.

Landing Nets and Unhooking Mats There is a wide range of landing nets to choose from. A good quality one is an essential part of the Carp angler’s kit, not only to make things easier for you but also for the welfare of the fish. Nets with a coarse mesh will damage the fish, lifting scales and damaging the mucus protecting the fish. You should use a fine mesh landing net to reduce the possibility of damaging the fish; you may also find that it is a rule at the fishing venue. For the same reasons a good quality unhooking mat is essential and will also be required by the fishing venue.

Bite Indicators There is mixed opinion on whether a bite indicator is required, but they really can help you as they give an indication on what the fish is doing with the bait. Get one.