

However, if you’re fishing still waters, with lighter terminal tackle, or for smaller carp then a rod with a lower test curve will be better suited to your needs. If you’re fishing fast flowing waters, with a heavy rig, or for large carp, then you’ll want to go for a rod with a heavier test curve. The test curve that you look for will be determined by the kinds of waters that you fish and the size of the carp that you’re targeting. However, this isn’t to say that you won’t be able to find carp rods with test curves outside of these parameters. Test curve refers to the weight required in order to bend the rod tip at a 90-degree angle to the butt and you’ll generally find carp rods offer test curves between 2.75lbs and 3.5lbs. Some luggage, particularly if you’ve owned it for a number of years, won’t be kitted out for the larger butt rings.īoth 12ft and 13ft rods, whether they are fitted with 40mm or 50mm butt rings, will be available in a range of test curve options. When you’re investing in a rod with a 50mm guide, chances are you’ll want to consider the size of your rod sleeve, quiver, or holdall. You will also find the odd 13ft rod fitted with 40mm rings, too. However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule and, thanks to the growing popularity of distance fishing, more and more 12ft rods are being fitted with 50mm butt guides. This is because the larger the butt ring is, the less friction a line with experience as it comes directly off the reel and the longer the cast is that you can achieve. As a general rule of thumb, 12ft rods will be fitted with 40mm butt rings, whereas 13ft rods will be fitted with 50mm rings. One feature which tends to differentiate 12ft carp rods from 13ft carp rods is the size of their butt rings. Longer rods are also preferred when water levels are high, when fishing with a zig rig, or when you’re casting over an especially snaggy spot. This is because they offer the benefit of long distance casting, which is an area of the sport which has been growing in popularity over the last decade. 13ft rods are ideal for tackling the largest carp waters, both here and over on the continent.

However, we do also stock longer 13ft rods, which have been growing in popularity over the years. If you’re fishing on a variety of venues, with standard water heights and snag zones, then a 12ft rod will be ideal for your needs.

It also perfectly complements most l anding nets, which tend to have handles of approximately 6ft. This is generally accepted as the prime length for carp fishing, as it offers you a mix of casting ability and fish playing potential – allowing you to tackle any swim with complete confidence. More often than not, the carp rods you’ll see on our site will be 12ft in length. However, with most rods middling around in the £50 to £250 region, how do you decide which is the perfect for your needs? Using this quick guide can help you refine your search and pick out your dream carp fishing setup.įirst things first, you want to consider the length of your rod.

You’ll find rods for as little as £30 in our carp rod range, as well as rods hitting the £600 mark for the extraordinarily dedicated anglers amongst us. As with our entire tackle range, these are priced so that anglers of all budgets and abilities can enjoy the best that the sport can offer. This is why we, here at Angling Direct, have worked hard to ensure that you have a cornucopia of top end rods to choose from. Whether you prefer a quick overnighter or you enjoy longer session carp fishing, without a top quality rod you might as well pack up and go home. Not only does a carp fishing rod setup allow you to cast out three (or even four) carp rigs into one swim but, by hooking you gear up to bite indicators and bite alarms, you can fish throughout the night whilst resting in your bivvy. Although you can carp fish with a pole, carp fishing with a rod and reel is the overwhelmingly more popular option. The thrill of catching a monster carp, especially one that hasn’t been seen for a number of years, is unparalleled and anglers from around the globe flock to the nation’s best respected carp waters in order to try their hand at this sport. Carp fishing is one of the most popular angling disciplines – and it’s no surprise to see why.
