Sport fishing has developed considerably in recent years. Carp fishing was a pioneer in this field. The younger generation flirts a little with all types of fishing (often too quickly) to specialize in one in particular. I meet a lot of young people who want to start carp fishing, but it's not easy for them to choose the right tackle, accessories or bait. The modern fishing world can quickly become a jungle. In a series of articles, I'll be reviewing the big tackle, small tackle and baits that are essential for getting started in this exciting fishery.
I'll try to give my opinion and make a choice, just one. Of course, one person's choice is not the same as another's. But when you're starting out, you expect a clear and precise answer. But when you're starting out, you expect a clear and precise answer. That's what I'm going to do. What's more, beginners are often on a tight budget, and are looking for a certain versatility with a quality product. These will be my main criteria for advising novices. Let's start with the choice of rod model.
Rod length
The aim, when starting out, is to have a versatile type of rod. Beginners will be fishing from the shore first and foremost. A 12-footer seems to me to be the right choice. With such a length, it will be easy to progress with casting and to use different types of rigs (small soluble net, small soluble bag, paste, medium-weight sinkers...). Similarly, this rod length won't be a big handicap if you want to use a boat to land or fight fish. So, for me, it's clear: choose a 12-footer for greater versatility and a good evolution in your practice.
The action of the cane
It's the way the rod bends when fighting and the way it reacts when casting. Numerous actions exist, but I advise beginners to favor a progressive action that will be more versatile, favoring learning to throw, but also better mastery of fighting.
The power of the rod
There are many different power ratings available on the market. The most common are the 3.5 lbs. These are very powerful. They're mainly used for long-range fishing and their reserve of power when you need to fish obstacles and leave hardly an inch for your fellow anglers. But all this is inevitably to the detriment of combat sensations, and I think that's a shame, especially when you're just starting out. Pleasure must be the basis of our passion. For this reason, I strongly advise beginners to choose a 3 lbs power rating. For me, it's the best power-to-pleasure ratio. This power allows versatility without neglecting combat sensations.
Number of rods
Let me be clear: having too many rods to manage is a negative factor when you're just starting out, and not the only one... Also, buying a large number of rods means spending just as much, which can lead to concessions on other essential purchases. For me, the ideal number of rods is two. Once again, this will allow you to implement diversified fishing strategies without any problem.
In order to meet all the given criteria, I would advise a beginner in carp fishing to choose two progressive 12ft 3lb power rods such as the M4 T-SPEC from Starbaits.
