How to choose a carp rod

 It is very easy to identify a carp rod among others - it immediately stands out from the crowd with its long, powerful and unusual handle arrangement. When the first carp rods appeared on the shelves of fishing stores, buyers immediately had many questions.

Carp fishing imposes mandatory requirements on the range of the rod. Since carp rarely come close to the shore and are known for their shy disposition, the rig often has to be cast 100 meters or more. That is why all carp rods are distinguished by their large length - from 3.3 to 4.2 m, which makes it easy to make long-distance casting. This feature of the rod is also reflected in its folded dimensions, which for a two-piece rod will in most cases be more than 2m. This should be taken into account when preparing for its transportation. Also remember that in sports competitions there is a ban on the use of carp rods longer than 4m.

It is best if the action of the rod is fast or at least close to it. Equipping with high-quality rings is also important, and with the use of an inertial-free reel, successful long-range casting will be ensured with a diameter of the first ring within 40-50mm.

The universal use of a carp rod on various water bodies implies the possibility of casting equipment with different weights. Indeed, for example, for fishing on a fast river, you will need equipment with a much greater weight than with the same fishing on a pond or lake. If a carp rod allows you to cast equipment weighing from 60 to 150g, then it can be considered universal. However, there is also a specific feature here. The indicated weight for carp rods, unlike spinning rods, does not at all mean the weight of the cast bait. The test characteristic of carp rods is indicated in libra, while 1Lbs corresponds approximately to 454g. It means the weight, under the influence of which the tip of the rod will take from a horizontal bent vertical position. For example, a 3.5Lbs rod will bend 90 degrees under a weight of 1589g (3.5x454) applied to the tip. Based on these figures, you can approximately determine the weight of the maximum possible equipment. For estimation, you can use the following values: a carp rod with an indicator of 3Lbs will allow you to cast equipment weighing up to 120g, and with a test of 3x5Lbs - up to 150g.

To determine what weight sinker can be used with a carp rod, you can do the following - place the rod horizontally and hang the intended sinker from the tulip. The tip of the carp rod should not deviate down more than 20-25 degrees. If the angle turns out to be large, then the rod will cast this weight, experiencing a critical load, which is highly undesirable. If with such a "test" the angle turns out to be smaller, then the carp rod is somewhat "dumb", and it will not be able to "shoot" gr