Fishing Rods

When I started fishing for carp earlier this year I didn't have an appropriate rod for the task. I had an inexpensive light action rod similar to one used for blue gill and crappie fishing. Then I loaded it up with a 2 1/2 ounce weight and topped it off with another 1/2 or 3/4 ounces of method mix. Next I headed out to Belleville Lake and fished with it for a few hours. I casted it out as far as I could - 40 to 50 yards each time. I didn't know any better.

It's really a wonder I didn't hurt myself, my wife who was with me, or any of the other anglers in the nearby vicinity. Hopefully by posting this I can save you the potential risk involved in making these same mistakes based on a lack of knowledge and information.

Here's an article about test curve for fishing rods that I wish I'd seen before I started fishing for carp. The article explains a lot of the considerations and even touches on the affordability factor.

I have a medium heavy action rod that I purchased for $29.99 from Cabela's that actually works quite well if that's all you have available. I have a couple of real carp rods too that were donated to me to use while learning. I didn't know it when I purchased the King Kat rod at Cabela's, but I could have spent roughly the same at BankFishingSystems.com on a rod purpose built for heavier fish like this Black Phantom.

You can spend hundreds of dollars on fishing rods for carp fishing, but you can catch carp with affordable rods too. I decided to get my feet wet at an affordable price and then purchase better equipment later once my familiarity increases. Some would argue that I should have spent a little more up front to prevent a later expense, but I wanted make sure it was something I'd actually enjoy before sinking big bucks into the carp fishing hobby.

But if you can't already tell...now I'm hooked on fishing for carp!

Here's a picture of the first carp I caught on the King Kat:



First Carp caught in July 2013 at Ford Lake in Ypsilanti, MI

Here's a video from Shimano that addresses test curves to provide some more information for consideration when you are shopping for your first real carp rod.