Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Beginning Carper's Guide to Carp 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.

Next is the reel. A good reel for carp fishing is one that is open faced. You don't want tangles inside a closed face reel screwing up everything. The reel should also be able to hold 150 yards or more of 12 pound test line.

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.

There is also the matter of "pods." A pod is a set up that holds three rods at once for the carp angler, allowing the fisherman to be hands free during the wait for a trophy carp to take the bait. These are optional pieces of fishing gear that are often used by more seasoned carpers.

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.

A beginning carp fisher can get all the tackle and gear needed for a fairly inexpensive price. Between rod, reel, line, and bait you can start out for well under $100 in most areas. This is a fantastic fresh water fish to pursue, and one that lives up to its reputation as a fighter.

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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