A Novice's Guide to Carp Fishing Equipment

By Tony G. Stevenson

Carp fishing is a popular hobby that has a long tradition in Europe, and is growing in the States, as well. Carp are known to thrive in almost any type of water, making them an easy to find and attractive fish to angle for. All fishermen know that no matter what you're chasing, good angling gear is needed.

One of the most important parts of getting good gear is obviously the fishing rod. A good carp rod will be medium action, and long - generally at least six feet long, although longer can be better. This gives the strength and flexibility needed for carp fishing.

Right after the rod you need to consider the reel. All good reels are open faced, not closed faced, and can hold a great deal of line. At a very minimum, you should be able to spool 150 yards of 12 lb test. More is better, but 150 should be your minimum standard.

Obviously you'll want to know what kind of bait to use. While carp will hit about anything, the preferred bait seems to be sticky smelly stuff. Think of the kind of bait that catfish would like, and you're on the right track.

If you're a beginning carp angler, you may have heard of pods. Pods are basically rod holders that many carpers use to get more than one line out there while waiting for the carp to bite. This isn't a tool that beginning anglers need to worry about, but if carping becomes an obsession, it's something to look at down the line.

Don't forget about the fishing line, either. Good fishing line for carp is a minimum of 12 pound test line, and higher can be better. Many carp fishermen prefer line made from Kevlar.

While advanced fishing tackle and gear is going to cost more, the good news is that beginners can get started for pretty cheap. While fishing might not be the least expensive of hobbies, learning to carp fish is a deeply rewarding hobby that provides hours more entertainment than a movie or night out to an expensive bar.

These are some of the basic things you will want to look at when looking at some beginner's gear for carp fishing. Follow the guidelines in this article and you will be looking at some serious success carping in no time. - 31510

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