Fishing Wales: Tackle - Fishing Visit Wales

There is a huge selection of tackle designed for Carp fishing - and most can be ignored by the beginner, except for the following basics. A proper Carp rod needn’t be expensive, all are capable of doing the job, and the longer ones will give you extra reach when using floating baits. A reel with a “free-run” ability and a line distance stop is useful, though not essential.

A minimum line strength of 8lb and a maximum of 16lb will suit most venues - just remember that the thinner the line, the longer it takes to net the fish, causing both fish and angler unnecessary stress. Some anglers use an end trace of slightly thinner line to minimise loss in the event of breakage by a powerful fish.

A large extending landing net is vital, as are a pair of rod-rests, one of which should also extend to take account of sloping banks. An unhooking mat is mandatory at some fisheries and is worth using everywhere to avoid damaging the fish.

Get a selection of barbless hooks, sizes 12-16, in both plain and hair-rigged varieties. Add a few small floats, split shot and an assortment of running legers or “bombs” in various weights and you’ll be ready to go. Later on, you can browse the tackle shops for all the other special Carp accessories.