Tag Archives: Carp

Carp Fishing Basics

Carp Fishing – Right Equipment For It

It is a misconception of the majority of fishermen that any kind of fishing gear will haul in the carp they wish to catch. However, though thought to be the rubbish of the lake, the carp are devious creatures and not easy to bait at all. In case you are planning on angling for carp, it is wise to spend that little extra amount and get the correct gear for fishing for carp. Though a few people feel that the gear will not make much of a difference, in reality it will and the amount that you will be able to catch with the right equipment is truly much larger than without.

The right gear for carp fishing
Different fishing rods are required for various sizes of carp fish. The carp weigh around 15 pounds in the smaller lakes and up to 30 pounds in the larger lakes. So for you to be able to grapple with a larger fish you would need a stringer and bigger rod. The 15 pound fish will need a one and a half pound to two pound test curve rod and a three pound test curve would be required to handle anything above 15 pounds. The size of the rod also depends on the distance of fishing, as the rod will have to handle both the weight of the carp and the fishing distance.

The reel would also have to be considered according to the kind of rod you are using and also depends on the type of rod and distance that you will be casting. The reel must be well-matched to the rod also. It is better to buy both things together so that you do not mix up the issues. All proficient fishermen advise a bait runner kind of reel. This will prevent you from getting dragged into the lake.

The fishing line is another part that has to be considered carefully. The reel and the rod would give you a hint as to the size of the fishing line you have to get. Once again the line should be able to bring in the carp that you are baiting and this depends on the weight of the fish. A rough guess is the most suitable way to determine this is by the size of your rod.

The hooks are also available in various shapes, sizes, colors etc. Most anglers will put together an assortment of carp fishing gear that has a range of weights, hooks, and tools. Another must do that is advised by expert an angler is that you purchase a carp hook. You may have to spend a little more, but will benefit in the long run. Here you will have to take care that you buy the kind of hook that is permitted by the fishery laws of that county. Barbed hooks are banned in some places and if you do not observe these regulations in the law you could land up in trouble.

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Carp Fishing Basics

The Carp Fishing Record – Will The Next One Count?

The emergence of Carp fishing as an expanding specialist sport during the seventies has grown ever more popular, one of the pioneers of carp fishing was the great Richard Walker who was a renowned Carp specialist in the forties and fifties. His record Carp Clarissa lived her days out in captivity after being caught at Redmire Pool, she weighed in at 44lbs and is possibly the most famous fish in the angling world.


But why was she so famous and why has Carp fishing continued to be so popular?


Well Clarissa was special, she not only broke the British record she smashed it, almost doubling the previous record of 26lb and this type of record breaking in fishing is unheard of in modern times. In addition to this apart from the Salmon caught in 1922 by Mrs Ballantyne it was the biggest freshwater fish ever caught.


She was possibly the most inspirational fish that a single generation has ever experienced and lived to the age of 34 before her death in Regents Park Zoo in 1971. It is probable that the death was premature and if left in the wild Clarissa may well have reached an age of 50 or 60 years. The tragedy here is that after her capture and transfer to the Zoo she never grew any bigger, contrast this to other fish in Redmire including the fish caught by Chris Yates at 51lb then a conclusion could be made that Clarissa never reached her true potential.


There is a train of thought that Clarissa could have eventually weighed 60lb had she been left in her natural home and imagine what that would have done for Carp fishing!


Add all this to this the fact that Richard Walker was a prolific writer as well as a prolific angler then the two combined factors would be the inspiration for countless young people to get into Carp Fishing. The next ingredient is the “air of superiority” and the atmosphere of secrecy that surrounds the carp world when you add this to the technical innovation and development of techniques and tackle then there is truly a magical draw for many people.


As time went by the growth of publicity for successful specialist carp anglers started to drive the potential to earn real money from the sport. Sponsorship, tackle design, bait evolution and syndicate waters started to provide anglers with the potential to earn serious money and many anglers either partnered or setup business around their success. Magazines and advertising then came on the scene and now there are many television programmes on SKY television and other subscription based media.


Tackle development has continued at an amazing rate and the industry continues to grow, its now more than 35 years since Clarissa died, there have been a string of new pretenders to her crown, bigger fish of course but none with the same aura and esteem.


Now as we move through 2007 we now see a new direction, the imported monsters that are coming into the country are being stocked at weights in excess of Clarissa when she broke the record!


These fast grown bloated fish are about to break and break again the Carp record but not one of these fish will ever match Clarissa no matter how big they are caught at. Of course the original strains of Carp were brought to the UK by the Romans, monks also farmed them and many stately homes were stocked with a new strain of Carp in between 1930 and 1940, it is known that some of these fish reached ages of 60+ which is amazing.


I liken this latest crop of imports to comparing a true diamond with Cubic Zirconia, you can have the biggest rock in the world on display on your finger but if its not a true diamond it is worthless!


Where will this end? Well the first issue will be whether to accept these new fish as true records (a dilemma already faced in the trout fishing world), secondly identifying the fish as a true contender or not, these are two very difficult questions which will now rock and divide the Carp fishing world over the next months and years.

Shaun Parker has been a Carp fisherman since 1970 the year before the world famous British carp record Clarissa died. The modern era enables him to get his Carp bait and Fishing Tackle online.

Carp Fishing Basics

Basic Carp Fishing Tips

Carp fishing can be a frustrating yet exciting type of fishing. This is because carp fish are adept at blow sucking and blowing. Carp usually stay eating on the surface of the water as long as food such as bread, peas and corn are present.

Here are some of the important carp fishing tips. First of all, have any food such as cookies softened. You can do this by soaking them with water for a few minutes. Afterwards put the wet piece inside a sealed plastic bag for one hour. It all depends on the kind of food – as long as you see that it is already firm for casting, then you can now hook it as bait. Another tip in hooking bait is by attaching the pellet to the shank by gluing it.

Get the carp into feeding – this allows them to become at ease with the bait. And as they become more comfortable, this is a good indication for the angler as the fish becomes less picky. These carp fishing tips are actually useful when employing the method of zig rigs.

As soon as they become quite at ease with feeding, you now can cast your bait. However, it is a must that the fishing bait does not fall directly into the area where the carp are eating. Ideally, you must cast and position your bait away from the location of the feeding carp. Slowly, pull the bait gently, drawing it to the feeding position.  As the bait hangs, you have to be patient and continue supplying the area with food in order to attract further the fish and make it stay and feed with your food. 

It is advisable for fishers to utilize hair rig – such will increase the changes of catching carp fish. Carp initially taste the food, they tend to be very picky. And if it so happens that they do not like how the food tastes, they would avoid it. So it is advisable to choose the food items that are good to the carp’s taste.

Simply put it is not just the bait that effectively catches the fish – it is actually the fishing method which is used to introduce the bait. One of the most effective carp fishing tips is to do pre baiting regularly on a single spot. Carp will think that this spot is a good place for them to feed. Soon enough many carp will visit the area. And you have an excellent place to fish for carp.

  

For more about carp fishing, angling advices and other fishing articles, do visit our Game Fishing Thrills blog.

Writer, Abstractor and Blogger.

Carp Fishing Basics

Carp Fishing, What Do I Need?

There are so many bits of equipment available that will make the carp fishermans dream come true. But make sure that you have the basics for your carp fishing expeditions to begin with. Before going out on a fishing gear spending spree, make sure that you are familiar with the types of places that you are fishing in, and what size of carp are being caught in the area.

Important Tackle
A good landing net that is fairly large in size is needed when carp fishing. Reliable forceps are needed to detangle hooks. To take the hook out of a carps mouth, you will need an unhooking mat. Fish like carp should never be placed on hard surfaces while the hooks are being removed.

Carp Rods
Depending on where you are fishing, Carp rods for small lakes and carp around the size of 15lbs need 1 ½ to 2 lb test curve. For distance, casting 3lb is ideal. There are other types of carp rods such as fast taper tip action, medium tip action and all through action. The conditions you are fishing in will have a lot to do with your choice.
For close work, the all through action rod is perfect, while distance will require a medium action rod as this will bend easily at the tip. For really long distance work when heavy weights need to be cast long distances, the fast tip action rod is the best.

Carp Reels
Reels need to be matched to your carp rod, so depending on the type of fishing that you are doing, you will want to choose something that feels comfortable and balanced on your rod as well as does the job that you need it to do. If you are not sure of the sizes needed, speak to someone in your local tackle shop, they will provide you with advice and choices in carp reels.

Line for your reel
Again, the line has a lot to do with your rod and reel. Keep in mind, though, not to use line that is too light, this will result in more lost fish and tackle. There are lines available called braids that seem to be popular, or using a standard monofilament line is just as good.

Hooks
Carp hooks should never be cheap. A cheap hook means a lost fish in most cases. Buy the better quality hooks. Compared to the cost of other equipment discussed here carp hooks are relatively inexpensive anyway. Make sure that the hooks that you buy are barb-less if that is the requirement in your area by the fishery department. A selection of hooks from a number 4 to 12 hook sizes will give you a good variety.

Weights
Look for in-line and bomb weights. These are the two best weights for carp fishing. In line and bomb weights are easy to thread and are a pale gray color so they will blend in with the bottom of the lake. There are many different sizes of weights. You will need a selection of these. Around 1-3-lbs will provide you with plenty to choose from. But keep in mind that what you buy, you will need to carry along with you, so dont go overboard with your weights.

Carry Alls
Carp carry alls are great for carrying around a heap of gear, although a carry all must be carried in your hands. A plain rucksack is also another way to effectively carry around your gear. Make sure that any bags or rucksacks that you do choose are made from a good waterproof anti-rip material. Rod carriers are ideal for protecting your rods and with the pouch included in some carriers, you can leave the reels on your rods. If you have the room in your carrier, put an umbrella in there to provide protection from adverse weather conditions.

Tackle Box
Your choice in a tackle box is really a personal thing. There is a style available for almost any taste, size, or budget. What you choose really doesnt matter, an old lunch box is good enough. Ideally, you may want to choose something that has partitions that will keep all of your gear neatly in the right places for easy reference. Make sure that if you invest in a fancy tackle box, it is made of quality robust materials so it will stand the test of time.

More goodies
Pods can be useful while fishing for carp and a weigh sling and scales are a must if you want to weigh those massive carp you catch. The Rolls Royce of all extra bits you can get is a bite alarm. It is costly, but what a convenience.
A few other bits that will complete any carp fishermans list of tackle is a baiting needle, bollies stops, swivels and some floats and stops. There are new things coming on the market every day that will add to your fun while carp fishing. So keep looking, you never know what you may find.

James Johnson, carp fisherman that has caught the big one, the little one and sometimes none at all. Just like most fisherman, the one that got away is always the biggest. Carp Fishing from Trevs Tackle