Carp Rods
The carp rods I've personally used are Daiwa, Shimano, Chub, Harrison and Century rods and I'd recommend any of them they've all been great rods. If I had to choose it would be my old faithful Century carp rods but I love the new Chub rods even if they are a bit tarty. If you're having trouble choosing and it's a hard job nowadays with each manufacturer saying they're using the latest carbon and kevlar technology and the lightest blanks then ask around and see what the dudes on the banks are fishing with, most carp anglers will be more than happy to talk about their rods!
Choosing the right Carp Rod
First off lets look at the carp rod manufacturers as there are many to choose from:
Daiwa | E.S.P. | Fox | Greys | Grauvell |
Normark | Prologic | Rod Hutchinson | Ron Thompson | Shakespeare |
Shimano | TFG (Matt Hayes) | Masterline | Fladen | John Wilson |
Abu Garcia | JRC | Wychwood | Chub | Harrison |
Drennan |
Test Curve of the Carp Rod
The test curve of the rod is another important factor. The higher the test curve i.e. 3lb then the stiffer the rod will be and the more weight it will be able to cast. On the other hand the rod will be stiff and more likely to bump the fish off the hook when playing it in the margin. So a good balance is needed which depends on the type of fishing that you are doing. If you are fishing at medium to close range then choose a rod between 2.25lb (2 1/4lb) test curve and 2.75lb (2 3/4lb) test curve. Rods in this range of test curve are softer when playing fish but take into consideration that you won't be able to cast as far.
Carp Rod Length
Generally a 12ft carp rod will handle most situations but if you need to cast extreme long range then you can go for a 13 foot rod. A 11 foot rod is great for margin and floater fishing. If you are stalking then a 10 foot rod is a good choice for creeping around with.
Carp Rod Action
Fast action or tip action rods bend mainly at the tip of the rod they're good for casting long range but not so good when playing the fish. If you don't have to cast long range then a through action rod is recommended, the rod will bend throughout the length of the rod and will make playing the fish a nicer experience and less chance of bumping it off the hook.
Carp Rod Materials
Carp rods are generally made from carbon fibre. The more money you spend the higher quality the carbon fibre will be. Some of the more expensive carp rods also employ a carbon kevlar material which strengthens the rod. My Daiwa whisker kevlar rods are great rods but a bit on the stiff side for my liking, awesome at casting long range though. I lost a beautiful golden koi in the margins because of one of these rods! Although it could have been my fault but it's easy to blame the rod.
If you're after a nice set of reels to go with your carp rods check out our other site dedicated to carp reels.