Preparation is key when you are looking to take up carp fishing.  The price of the equipment will vary depending on the carp fishing rods, carp reels  and accessories that you want to purchase.  You can pick up a basic set for around £50-£60 or you can go more upmarket and spend hundreds if not thousands.  For someone just starting out it is advisable to study as many reviews and fishing magazines to guage what carp fishing gear is out there.  Again you’ll want to think about the waters that you’re going to be fishing before making any purchases.

Where you decide that you are going to fish is one of the factors that you need to think about before you purchase any carp fishing equipment.  If you are looking to fish thickly weeded areas where you might have to bully a fish to land it  then you need to take a look at a heavier sort of tackle.  If however you are fishing a gravel pit or a large lake free of weed then you can get away with lighter tackle as you can give the fish a lot more slack.

Another great idea is to visit the waters and talk to the anglers that already fish there, by doing this you will probably get a good idea of the kind of tackle that is used.  These people will have no financial interest in the carp fishing equipment for sale in the tackle shops which means you ought to be able to get an unbiased review on what is required for each fishery.
When you have decided what type of tackle you are looking for then it is time to visit the tackle shops.  You should physically visit the tackle shops so you can get an actual feel of different rods and reels.  Once you have got a feel for the rod and reel hold off from making a purchase and begin to shop around.  You will almost certainly manage to get a better deal on the internet and as you will have physically handled the products you are not buying blind.

In addition to a rod and reel there are two other items that you will need to purchase. One of them is a landing net which needs to be at least 42″.  You also need to ensure that it has a fine mesh so that the carp’s fins cannot get caught.  You also must have an unhooking mat as this is a requirement on every fishery which you visit.

What you must not do when buying your carp fishing equipment is try to do things on the cheap. There may be a lot of temptation to buy a basic kit when you are first starting out, but could wind up cursing your luck when that 30 pounder gets away due to your inferior equipment.