The Complete setup Pod, alarms, swingers, rods & reels,
Carp sack and unhooking mat. Doesn't it look Great!?
Line
For better casting use a leader.
Use a leader of Braid (FIRELINE or GORILLA BRAID) about two rod lengths or more.
This will give you a greater range and protect you from snags.
NB!! If you do not have FUJI or other GOOD eyes the braid will cut through them!
Invest in good line you don't want your 50 pounder breaking off do you!? Good lines
we have used are Double X Chameleon and Berkly BIG Game(They are well worth the money)
Check your end line after bringing it in, and especially after a fight. Feel it for rough
patches and cut it off.
White line doesn't scare the fish away but I would not recommend a bright colour like
yellow, orange or bright green.
Hooks & Swivels
Invest in good hooks. Some are expensive but worth it. Some good hooks are Daihitchi,
VMC and of course the FOX series. There are many different kinds for different uses.
Most swivels are good but the kind with a block type inner piece (Kingfisher Power Swivels)
are the best.
Rods
GRAPHITE rods are NOT NESSESARY but are useful (though expensive).
Graphite has a better test curve. They are much more responsive and less hook pulls
will occur.
I do not have Graphite rods, but my friend (Barney) does, and they are very nice.
When purchasing a new rod make sure the eyes are FUJI or a type that will not be cut by braid.
Also make sure about the rod's test curve. That is the weight needed to bend the rod 90 degrees.
A two and a half to three pound test curve is good.
Do not buy a rod with a tip section of Graphite and but section of glass fiber. The rods seem to bend and break.
I (Julian) use Purglas (Not Graphite) and Barney uses Terminator Dream Makers (Graphite) other good
rods are Shimano AERO Specimen's and AGCS TERMINATORS(Dream Maker Blanks).
Reels
Look for a good retrieve rate. 4.8 or higher is good.
Graphite spools or Aluminum are good.
Line capacity is your choice. Big Dam, Big Capacity.
Bait runners are almost essential, but I (Julian) only have one. Barney had three
Michel Predators, but they broke and he bought 8010's.
Also look at things like handle balancing, smooth drag and of course what the reel looks like.
Pod or bank sticks & Buzz bars
I use a FOX eco Pod and Barney has a stainless steel pod and they are very versatile.
Look at your conditions and see if you can do with just bank sticks (Bank stick won't work on solid rock).
You can use buzz bars or bank sticks, just what suits you (A buzz bar in front and bank sticks at the back look very nice).
Landing essentials
A proper net that wont hurt the fish is essential. You will kill a fish if it is not landed properly.
We prefer the kind with the V shape frame and a soft net.
An unhooking mat protects the fish against piercing by sticks and
glass and it also protects its vital organs on the hard ground.
If you want to keep the fish for a while (NOT take it home and eat it) you would have to buy a Carp Bag (Not a keep net. Not even for small fish. The keep net damages the fish scales and fins and the fish could die).
Indicators and Alarms
The Optonic Bite Alarm
Bite indicators are very important and you have two choices: Singers or Hangers. Hangers are
good for tight lines and swingers for slack lines, although weight can be added to a swinger and then be
used in tight line situations.
Bite Alarms are very important at night, and nice to have in the daytime. They are very sensitive and will
alert you of a run. They may be expensive, but they are worth the money.
I use Optonic alarms and Barney uses FOX M alarms.
