I will cover Tackle, Baits, Methods, River Carp and Stillwater Carp

There is a school of thought that says this is a shame, especially for youngsters, but I will sit on the fence and accept the fact that carp angling is big business and throughout January I will describe some of the essentials needed to move down the carp fishing road. I will cover Tackle, Baits, Methods, River Carp and Stillwater Carp.

Tackle

Carp can be caught on the simplest of tackle but they are powerful fish so strong tackle is needed, even a carp of just a few pounds can fight very hard and will try and find every available snag to escape in. However, the most expensive tackle is not necessary, nor is it sometimes the best, there is no need to have the latest makes and models, cheaper tackle is just as good for general carp fishing. Looking ‘the part’ on the bank will not catch any carp.A rod of 12 foot is ideal with a test curve of 2lb. A rod of this sort will cover virtually every eventually in general carp fishing and I will explain the various methods next week. All rods now are made of carbon but I used glassfibre rods for many years and caught many large carp on them, so if money is short then a second hand glassfibre rod is just as good. Reels are the same. These days many types of hi-tech reels are available with price tags to match. Whilst a free spool, or baitrunner, facility is very useful, some of the top carp anglers still use old Garcia Mitchell reels, such as the 300 model and rely on the reel spinning backwards. I too used Mitchell 300 reels for many years. Having said that, reels with a free spool facility are available with very modest price tags so if you can afford them, they are a better option.Electronic bite indicators are very useful, especially if night fishing and most models available are very reliable against wet and cold. Some high profile manufacturers make some modestly priced models now that are 100% reliable. As long as a buzzer bleeps when the line moves, that is all I ask, a volume control is very useful as well but apart from that, the various lights and quirks are not necessary for the average carp angler. Rodpods were all the rage in the early 1990s but they have limitations so now single rod rests are in vogue again. Simple banksticks with screw tops are all that are needed, adjustable ones for the front rest to cover various terrains. Obviously if the swim is concrete or wooden staging, or the bank is solid gravel, then a rodpod is very useful but generally they are not needed and single rod rests in fact give more versatility.A landing net is obviously required and, as carp grow large, one with at least 36-inch arms will be required. At night a 40inch model will make netting the carp easier and a six-foot handle will also make life less stressful. Good nets are available at very reasonable prices these days. Ones with small mesh, especially in the bottom part are friendlier to the carp.If night fishing is to be undertaken then a bedchair will make it more comfortable and, fortunately, cheaper models are now available than the very expensive varieties that were the only ones available a few years ago. If daytime fishing is all that is to be undertaken, a normal fishing chair is fine. Bivvies have followed the same course as bedchairs and very good cheaper ones are available. For the majority of summer fishing, a brolly will suffice but if you want the comfort, or the session is over a couple of days, then a bivvy will make life more enjoyable.These are the main, and more expensive, items of tackle required. Obviously two rods, reels and buzzers may be required but I would suggest no more than two for general carp fishing. A bedchair or chair will make the waiting more comfortable, and to keep off the elements a bivvy or brolly.There are a few more essential pieces of tackle required that are thankfully cheaper to purchase. First of all, some line. Most reels come with two spools so they can be loaded with two different breaking strains to cover various situations. I would suggest one loaded with 12lb bs for general session fishing and one loaded with 8lb bs for stalking would cover 95% of all situations and venues. The spools should be loaded right to the lip to enable better casting – to help on cost, the spools can be backed with old line. Most spools take around 200 yards of line so a split of 100 yards of backing and 100 yards of mainline is a good guide. An abrasion resistant line is wise and one of the cheaper, but good quality, lines is Berkley Big Game line.There are many makes of hook available but for general carp angling, or the beginner, then Drennan hooks are both reliable and versatile. The super specialist is available in all sizes and is a good strong hook. For the majority of situations and rigs, sizes 6 or 8 will be fine. Hooklinks have advanced over the years and most anglers use some sort of supple braided material for hooklinks, but this is not essential; nylon hooklinks catch just as many carp up and down the country so do not become blinkered. For the rig, a weight is required; simple Arseley bombs do the job fine, in weights ranging from a quarter of an ounce up to 2 ozs. Using the above, the simplest but very efficient rigs can be made up and put into action. I will talk a bit more about rigs when discussing methods.Finally a few more useful items of tackle. A thick large unhooking mat is essential to lay your catch on and stop it being damaged whilst on the bank, these are mandatory on most carp fisheries. A large weigh sling to weigh the carp in and of course a set of scales are useful. There is no need for a set of scales that go up to 50lb and beyond though for general carp fishing. The Avon company make scales that go up to 40lb in one ounce divisions and are quite cheap, but accurate. A camera to record your catch on and some warm clothes make up these necessary items of tackle. Lastly of course a bag or rucksack to keep all your tackle in, again some cheap ones are available.So there you have it, the necessary items of tackle to get out there and catch a carp. Next week Iíll have a look at the various methods required.

Have fun!