There’s no shortage of carp rods around today, we’re inundated with them – a far cry from fifty years ago! There’s so many available it’s hard to know where to start, especially if you’re just coming into the sport. In this special article we hope to give you all the information you need to find your perfect match.
So where do we start? First you need to look at the type of fishing you do; there are various types of carp rods with all sorts of test curves, tapers and actions which can make a rod a specialist design suited to one type of fishing in particular. For example, casting heavy weights at extreme distances. Then there are the rods designed more for all round use, which might be suited to short and medium distance fishing with medium weight leads, bags and stringers, etc. Have a look at our special guide to test curves and tapers to see which type of rod would be best suited to the kind of carp fishing you intend to be doing.
When selecting a carp rod it also pays to have one eye on the future. Will this purchase have to last a long time, or may you be in a position to upgrade in a year or two, as it always pays to have one eye on the future? If you are likely to be tackling tougher and more demanding waters, your tackle may need to be uprated accordingly so have a think about whether it’s worth spending a bit more now in order that the rods can serve you well for longer.
It’s probably fair to say that rods and reels are the two main things that get upgraded most in an anglers armoury, so our advise would always be to skin your self as much as possible to get the best quality you can possibly afford, so that you’ll be able to use them for longer before you upgrade again, thus saving yourself money in the long run.
In the same vein, do you have to have a set of three right from the off? If limited on budget this might mean you have to have three rods of lesser quality than if you bought two better rods now and purchased a third at a later point in time when you can better afford it. Again, this would make the tackle go further in the long term.
Second hand tackle is also well worth considering, as you can get a whole lot more for your money when you buy used fishing tackle.
In summary we’d say don’t just rush in any buy what you can afford from your pocket right now. Save that little bit harder – or beg borrow and steal! This way you won’t outgrow your purchase too quickly.
Our final bit of advice would be to take time checking out some of the offers on this site; we’ve tracked down some cracking deals on rods to suit all budgets – some are even buy one get one free! Whatever you decide, stick with the likes of Nash, Fox, Greys, Shimano, TFG, Daiwa and the like, and you won’t go far wrong.