Carp fishing, a popular sport in England since the 1940’s, has only recently caught on with American outdoorsmen as a worthy endeavor. Owing in part to their indistinct taste when cooked, carp have long been domestically lauded as “trash fish.” The British writer Izakk Walton disagreed; however, calling them “queen of rivers” because of their stateliness and size. Indeed, some of the largest carp can weigh in the neighborhood of 70 or 80 pounds, imposing quite a challenge for even the most seasoned fishermen. Imagine reeling in a fish that weighs more than most dogs, fighting against you all the while with all its might. Such fishing requires heavy duty and specialized gear, so it’s important to get acquainted with the specifics of carp fishing equipment before embarking on your first outing.
Unquestionably, the most critical component to acquiring quality carp equipment is the selection of a fishing rod. Which rod to choose, of course, depends on the breed of carp you are after. You won’t require the same caliber rod to fish a 5 pound carp as you would to fish a giant 50 pounder. But whatever you’re after, you’ll want a rod that is thick but flexible. This is because carp in general is a strong fish that will always test the strength of its catcher and his rod. Carp fishing rods tend to cost more than others because of their need for extra durability. Resistance Tackle, an online fishing outfitter, offer a variety of carp rods, ranging from $40 for their BFS Long Distance Rod to almost $400 for their Grey’s Torison Rod.
While fishing rods might be expensive and hard to come by, bait is not. Carp fishing is unlike fly fishing in that the bait is more about odor than aesthetics. Carp are attracted not by vivid colors or swift motion, but by strong scents. Most fishermen attach boilies or pellets to hooks and let them set still to attract the carp. Boilies are small, round, and quite odorous, and are available in such flavors as blackberry, apricot, and corn. Pellets resemble small rodent feed, and often smell like soybean or sugar. These baits are available for little cost at online carp fishing outfitters such as Royal Carp, Ruby’s Bait, and Cabela’s. In lieu of store-bought bait, you can try various sorts of oily nuts.
Because carp fishing is a relatively new American phenomenon, finding carp fishing equipment can be difficult. Your best bet will be to scour internet sites, such as the ones listed below, for the best quality gear. It might help to keep in mind that many sportsmen substitute catfish equipment – notably rods and bait – when fishing for carp. Catfish and carp are similar in weight and strength, and so is the equipment you’ll need to fish for them. Whatever rod and bait you choose, be ready to tussle with one of the world’s most challenging fish!
You can get more carp fishing equipment information and ideas from these websites…
Fishing Magic | Wyoming Flyfishing | Carp USA