Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Beginner's Introduction to Carp Fishing Gear

By Tony G. Stevenson

One of the most popular freshwater fish for anglers is the carp, which gets a lot of attention in Europe, but is still struggling to catch on in the United States. Carp fishing is a popular outdoor activity, and the large size and good fight of these fish is sure to help the growth of this sport continue. One thing every would be carper needs, however, is good fishing equipment.

There might be no piece of fishing gear more important than the rod. If you want a suitable fishing rod for carp, you will wan to find one that is at least medium action, and also at least six feet in length. For beginners, this is an ideal rod to get into this type of fresh water angling.

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.

Finding the right bait is important with any type of fish. Carp aren't picky eaters, but some bait is going to work better than others. While many bass anglers love rapalas, the best tackle for carp is actually sticky and smelly bait. There are many specialty carp baits available, so test around and see what the carp in your area like best.

More advanced carpers will often use racks with several rods, or "pods," and set them all up with bait and wait for any carp to show. These rod holders can be very expensive, but also free up the hands for anglers who don't mind catching up on a good book while waiting for the trophy carp to show.

Without the right fishing line, the rest is moot. For carp the absolute "lightest" fishing line you want is 12 pound test line. Heavier line isn't a bad idea, either.

While there is big time fishing gear for carp anglers that costs a good deal of money, starting gear can be had for fairly cheap. Carp angling can be a very rewarding hobby that provides many hours of entertainment, making it a cheaper in the long run over many other forms of recreation.

Every angler knows you have to have the right gear to get the job done. If you want to really enjoy carp fishing, get the right tackle and gear early on and you'll be glad you did.

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