By: Erik Parker
Submitted: 2009-04-21 13:33:41 | Word Count: 770
Carp Rods
Carp fishing
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rods that I have personal experience with are Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Shimano, JRC, TFG (Matt Hayes) , Prologic, E.S.P. and Wychwood. Any one of these rods will hold it's own in the heat of battle. When asked which one is my favorite though, I have to admit that the Wychwood has been the best carp fishing rod for me. The John Wilson's aren't bad either, but can be a bit pricey. If it is a difficult decision for you, you're not alone with everyone claiming to use Carbon Fiber and Kevlar along with the lightest Blanks. If help is what you need then check out your local lakes and/or streams so you can ask the people fishing them,, most carp fisherman will be more than happy to talk what they are using.
Your Carp Fishing Rod's Action
Carp rods come in two categories of rod action. Fast action rods or sometimes referred to as tip action rods will bend at the tip of the rod. Fast action are better for casting over long distances. The down side is that they are not so good for playing the fish. When it isn't going to be necessary to cast very far, through action rods are highly recommened. Through action rods actually bend over the entire length of the rod. This makes playing the fish quite a bit easier. This will give you a better chance of successfully setting the hook on the carp. If you are like the majority of the carp fishing population, your fishing will take you into different territories.
The right Carp Rod Length?
The everyday carp fisherman usually gets a 12ft carp rod. It will perform in most situations and as a do-it-all rod it is a good choice. If casting long distances is on your agenda, then you should get a 13 footer. An 11 foot rod is great for margin and floater fishing. Although, if you will be stalking, then I would advise you to use a 10 footer. These are the best for skulking through the brush. Just like the other categories, rod length is really dependant on the type of fishing that you think you'll be doing. If you stick within the parameters that we just set out though, you should be able to get the right length for yourself.
Carp Rod Materials
Carbon fiber is the standard material for manufacturing carp fishing rods. Usually the more money you spend for the rod the higher the quality of the carbon fiber it is made from. Some of the more expensive carp rods also employ a carbon Kevlar material which strengthens the rod and makes it more resistant to breaking. The potential negative to the Kevlar rods though is that they are stiffer and can make it more difficult to play the fish. When using Kevlar rods like this, there have been several times when I lost the carp because there was no finesse in the hook set. I don’t recommend taking the Kevlar route unless you know that you are going to be dealing with some really big carp.
Determining the Carp Rod's Test Curve
A carp fishing rod's test curve is an important factor that you need to take into consideration when choosing your dream carp rod. The amount of weight you will be able to cast is in direct proportion to the test curve of the rod. Rods that have a very high test curve can make it difficult to finesse a fish on to the hook though. To understand where a good balance may lie, you need to figure out what type of fishing you will be doing. Medium to close range fishing is best done with a 2.25lb (2 1/4lb) test curve and 2.75lb (2 3/4lb) test curve. This range of test curve is usually the best bet for the average carp fisherman.
Picking the Right Carp Rod
Fladen, Drennan, Normark, Rod Hutchinson, Wychwood, Daiwa, Shimano, JRC, Shakespeare, TFG (Matt Hayes) , Prologic, Abu Garcia, Masterline, Fox, Chub, Ron Thompson, Greys, Harrison, John Wilson, Grauvell, E.S.P.
So which one should you get? In my opinion all of the above carp fishing rod manufacturers are solid and produce a good product. First determine what type of fishing you are going to be doing, and then understand your budget. Once you've done this, any of the above choices that matches your needs will be a winner.
