Essential Carp fishing kit checklist [Top 7 equipment]

In this article, we’re going to look at all the equipment we use for our carp fishing. From rods and reels to looking inside a tackle box will show you everything we use.

Let’s start by looking at our carp fishing rods.

Top 7 equipment for carp fishing

1. Carp fishing rods

Firstly we have a set of ten-foot carp rods. We love shorter rods for most of our fishing, especially when big casts aren’t needed to reach the fish.

The Dyer Cross cast 3-pound tests curb rods, we use these when casting distances up to 70 yards. They are perfect for smaller waters and underarm casts in tight swims. They are also a great option for traveling abroad as they fit easily inside travel rod tubes.

We also have a 3.5lb test curved version which we use for our marker work and spawning out baits.

We’ve also always had a set of 12-foot rods. These aren’t used as much in our fishing but they definitely play an important role when fishing on larger waters.

But we use 12-foot rods anywhere which requires a bigger cast. The extra 2-foot in length really helps to reach the fish on big lakes.

The only other time would use these rods is when fishing on larger fast-flowing rivers where it’s important to keep your rod tips high to avoid pressure building up on your mainline which can potentially move your lead.

We recently upgraded to a set of dialer 12-foot, 3-pound tests curved longbows. In addition to our fishing rods, we also have a longbow spot and marker rod.

So there are the two sets of rods we use. To put it simply we use 10-foot rods for smaller waters and 12-foot rods for larger waters.

2. Rod tip protectors

When transporting our rods we use tip protectors. They avoid any chance of your rod tip snapping and hold the rods together nicely in transport. They are also a lot lighter than your normal rod holders. So using them is a great way to cut down on the weight of your kit.

3. Lightweight reel

On our ten-foot rods, we use a lightweight reel to balance nicely with a shorter rod. These are Daiwa GS 4000 and they are loaded up with a 12-pound carp line which is a strong durable monofilament main line.

On our 12-foot rod, we use these Daiwa tournament-S 5000 T big pits. On these, we use the same 12-pound carp line as on our other reels and for both sets of reels, we also have a spare spool loaded with a 20-pound sub-braid which is what we use when fishing towards snags.

4. Braids

Because braids have little elasticity, it is less likely that fish will hit any snags when using them. You will become more familiar with it as you play more fish on the braid.

Fishing in weedy waters has another advantage. The braid will actually cut through weed roots more readily than a smooth monofilament does because of the nature of the braid. When trying to remove carp from the heavy material, this is quite helpful.

Now let’s take a look at bite indication.

5. Bite alarm

We’ve been using the DelKim Txi-D alarms for the last nine months in conjunction with the cord of black and white bobbins. The neat thing with these is the isotopes that fix inside which are really handy during the night.

Also, you can detach the bobbin and change it during transport as it’s a magnetic attachment which means there’s no chance of damaging your bobbins.

We use our alarms on 16-inch bank sticks and they extend to double the length so they are ideal for having even the rod tips high or low. Most of the time we don’t use backrests.

When fishing without a backrest it’s important to place the large eye of the rod in front of the bite alarm. This way there’s no chance of the fish pulling the rod into the water.

6. Landing net and a large unhooking mat

When it comes to carp care a couple of important equipment is their landing net and a large unhooking mat.

A 36-inch specimen carp net is ideal for carp of all sizes and when choosing a mat look for a large well-padded one that will ensure that the carp does not get damaged.

7. Rucksack

Now let’s take a look at what I keep inside my rucksack.

Firstly and probably most importantly I’ve got a well-organized tackle box. But pretty much all the terminal tackle I’ll ever need. This includes baiting needles, hooks, bait stops, leg flips, and braid and I also have a small box that fits inside with all my swivels and smaller rig bits.

Also, there’s a little rig board in there for any pre-type rigs that I’ve tied up before a fishing session.

Larger items such as spawns are placed in one of the medium-sized Corded Compac and my leads are kept in the smaller variety.

When storing my bait for a session if I’m using boilies they are poured into an air-dry bag. Any other bait is stored in a bucket or these smaller guru bait boxes which are ideal for PVA bag mixes.

So that is all the equipment we use for carp fishing. Thanks for reading.

FAQ on carp fishing equipment

Do you need weights for carp fishing?

Every angler is unique and has their own preferred leads and weights for fishing for carp. Most people employ a variety of weights depending on the circumstances.

What’s the best bait for carp?

The two finest baits for carp are sweet corn and bread, but nightcrawlers (earthworms) are also quite effective.

Are 10ft carp rods good?

For fishing in rivers and small lakes, many fishermen like 10-foot carp rods.

What’s in a carp care kit?

At the very least, the best carp care kits ought to include an antiseptic spray to treat the health and welfare of the fish you’ve just captured. Additional items in certain carp care kits could be antiseptic, frequently in a spray form. Checking for ulcers with swabs.