Carp tackle

Many of you will already know most of this. This information on carp fishing tackle is intended to help new carp anglers.

When beginning along the long and fruitful road of carp fishing it can seem like there is so much to learn. Tackle manufacturers are bombarding us with the latest wonder kit which, they try to convince us, we cannot do without. Things aren't really so complicated and it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

If you are new to carping then it is important to learn some basics first, such as learning to tie reliable knots, finding a carp rig with which you are happy etc. Some anglers move on to fishing for carp after having spent years fishing for other species and this is certainly a good idea as it will teach you the basic information needed. Just buying the latest tackle without having spent time learning water craft and the different approaches required will hamper you in the long term. Of course you will still catch carp that way but you will find it hard to remain consistent.

If you intend to fish during the night as well as the daytime, then an item you should not be without is a bite alarm or alarms.

Before came along carp anglers would spend the night staring bleary eyed at a their bobbins or a starlight on top of a float rig. Bite alarms create an audible signal when line is pulled through a sensor or over a roller. They are not just useful at night however, they also leave you free to observe the water, wildlife and environment around you, making the whole experience a more relaxing and enjoyable one.

While bite alarms make life allot easier they are not essential. Some carp anglers prefer to travel light and spend their fishing time stalking. Stalking carp takes some practice and the ability to remain quite and to blend in with your surroundings is essential. While stalking you will need just a few items of tackle. An un-hooking mat on which to lay any captured carp is necessary to avoid any potential harm coming to the fish. A rod, reel, landing net, small tackle bag for bait, camera, scales etc, and maybe a small chair, that's about it. Oh I almost forgot a very important item. Polaroid sunglasses, absolutely essential for a carp stalker because they allow you to see through the upper layers and spot fish or signs of fish where otherwise you will not. I like this kind of fishing because I don't have to worry about packing up a mountain of tackle! It also costs alot less to buy.

For more on stalking carp click here

If its a full blown session then you will need to make sure that you have all you need for 24, 48 or how ever many hours you intend to spend fishing. I have a list of essential items that I check before any 1 or 2 night trip. There is nothing worse than setting up all your gear only to realise that you've forgotten your landing net!

Here is my checklist which I check before any overnighter.

Bedchair
Milk
Water
Bait (Believe it or not I once arrived at the lake and my bait was sitting at home in the freezer!)
Landing net
Un-hooking mat
Cooking gas
Stove
Kettle
Tea bags/coffee
Mug
Lighter
Sunglasses
Sleeping bag
Mozcoils (Mosquito repellents)
Camera

This is my list and as time goes on you can add your own fishing tackle.