danny c

iTrader: (6)

well i dug out all my old fishing gear at the weekend,me and a mate thought we might give it a go again,buy a day licence and see how i get on! been like 10 years since we last went,got into shooting instead but cost of that now is so expensive!

got all the basic gear for carp fishing and been looking on the internet but their seems to be so much you can get now! what stuff do i really need tackle wise?like i say i have very basic stuff,floats,some hooks,shot and obviously rods and reels,nets,holdalls and seatbox! aslo their is so much bait you can buy to,we used to use hemp,maggots and sweetcorn!

so and tips would be a great help

pslewis

Go Sea Fishing ..... you can eat them

danny c

iTrader: (6)

haha fair point,dont thing my gear is quite up to that though!!

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't call my self an expert but funny enough I too have just got back into it after 8yrs - & stupidly giving all my gear away ...

All you really need is the basics. Yes you can spend thousands and wait days for that 40lb carp or you can be like me.. hook the small stuff and if you catch an 18lb common and have 'fun' playing it in on 8lb line its very rewarding.

Also at times I have found that home made baits are more rewarding - my local lakes the tench prefer tesco value sweet corn n sugar over boilies

classic Subaru Si

I've been fishing for over 20 years mate - no expert, just like to be sat by the bank on a nice day catching - most of my gear is from when I was a kid, got a couple of newish rods and reels for the big stuff, but 9 times out of 10 I'm using my good old quiver tip. don't bother with any of these super baits - load of balz - you don't need anything more than bread! I do take a can of spam, sweetcorn, and maybe half pint of maggots depending where we are going, depends what were hunting for though!

Doobs Scoob

iTrader: (2)

Depends on where your fishing and what for?
Specimen Carp you'll need some more specialist kit (stronger rods 2.25lb tc min, big pit reels if you need to cast further and a load more stuff!)

Bait wise, again very much depends on your target fish. Halibut pellet catches a lot of fish (barbel love them) Boilees are used on big carp waters a lot and are very effective "Cell" are catching a lot at the moment. But as already stated bread is a great bait, on the surface or sunken. Nothing wrong with sweetcorn and a method feeder in match waters aswell.

There is loads to it and I could ramble on for hours!

Leslie

I did a great deal of all sorts of coarse fishing years ago. I bet half that expensive stuff they say you need is not really necessary. Surely with carp its the end tackle that is important, as long as your rod etc can take the hammering from a big fish.

I go mostly fly fishing now for sea trout and sometimes for rainbows in a reservoir. I have got one good rod which I have had for years which will cope with a double figure sea trout and that will give it the sort of strain that you would find hard to believe.

Nothing posh about fly fishing by the way-the anglers come from right across the spectrum.

Les

Coffin Dodger

Some of the best fishing I've ever done is the simplest and that includes carp. Nothing better than a bit of stalking in the margins with a float, hook and a lump of bread. Even caught by just lobbing out a bit of bread paste on a hook, nothing else.

Even the gear doesn't have to be that strong, you can land big carp on 6lb line provided it's not too snaggy.

That said I've also done the week long stints on the side of a gravel pit with several long range rods out on the bite alarms. Gets a bit dull after a while though unless you've got some mates nearby. Haven't got the time for that sort of fishing any more.

Doobs Scoob

iTrader: (2)

It all depends how "into it" you are. Good quality rods improve casting distance and accuracy as well as an increased feel when playing fish. I do a lot of sitting behind bite alarms waiting for that 40lb+ English Carp and the last thing I want to happen (again) is to lose it cause of line that doesn't hold up to the tests (knot strength etc)

Having said that, you can catch big fish on light tackle ( seen a catfish last season of 64lb out on 12lb line ) and its even more fun when you do. And i often in the summer freeline bread.... Its the best way to catch for me.. seeing the carp come up and suck it down is cool.

classic Subaru Si

yeah, I agree totally on the old free lining - just watch out for the ducks, took my eye off the ball for a second last year - next thing I know this bloody duck had taken the bread! A peaceful day on the bank turned into a ******* nightmare - ended up getting the duck in my large landing net and removed the hook out of its throat! It was distressed to say the least!!

Doobs Scoob

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, thats happens to the best of us! Not easy when they try to fly!! Don't half put a bend in the rod though.

danny c

iTrader: (6)

I will be keeping it simple to start with i reckon,go for small carp,tench etc etc, use a simple float rig like i used to with quite good results. Than mayb upgrade to gear for bigger carp and try differant things if i decide to get back into it. I used to love sitting by a nice lake on a nice day waiting for my float to shoot under.

Doobs Scoob

iTrader: (2)

Thats what its all about mate.. Having fun.

classic Subaru Si

All this talks making me wanna pack up work early and go to the pond!!

danny c

iTrader: (6)

Same,since i decided at the weekend to have a go again i cant wait untill this weekend to go.

classic Subaru Si

haha, the bug eh!! It's totally addictive, until you have a 'bad day' and sack it for a few weeks - many a time I've sat at the lake from 4.30 in the morning until it goes dark, without a single bite - not even a line knock! Even so, you still get to see the wildlife going about their business - and a crucial break from the better half

Doobs Scoob

iTrader: (2)

Thats it!! Thanks to this I have now booked next week off and am going fishing.. Couple of rivers and maybe jump on a lake. Leave all the specimen kit at home and go and have some fun like I used to!

danny c

iTrader: (6)

Im used to the slow days when nothing bites. I took up shooting and have done pigeon shooting.you get days with that when you get to the field and see hundreds of them flying about.set up the decoys and hide and nothing comes into them,they take no notice atall and you dont fire one shot all day. Still nice being out and about though,and is indeed a nice break from the other half.

RobsyUK

iTrader: (2)

This time of year is perfect too with the new wild life hatching and growing. on sat I gave the ducks half a tin of spam and they loved it.. Even the babies nearly fed from the hand.