Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Beginning Carper's Guide to Carp Gear

By Tony G. Stevenson

There are many different types of freshwater fish that are very popular with anglers. Once that receives great attention in Europe, but hasn't caught on so much in the States, is carp. Carp fishing is still a very popular hobby, and one that is even growing in the U.S. There is one thing that carp anglers have in common regardless of where they are from: the need for good carp fishing tackle and equipment.

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.

And of course there's the all important fishing line. Kevlar fishing line is a popular choice among any anglers, although in the end the main concern is getting fishing line that is 12 pound test or better.

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.

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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