As we step into 2024, the world of carp fishing continues to evolve with new technologies and innovations, offering anglers a plethora of options when it comes to choosing the best carp rods. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice looking to upgrade your gear, this comprehensive guide will explore the top carp rods in 2024 to help you make an informed decision and enhance your fishing experience.
Shimano is a well-respected brand in the fishing industry, and they offer a range of fishing tackle, including rods designed specifically for carp fishing. Shimano’s Tribal TX2 carp rods are known for their quality materials, advanced technology, and performance features. They often incorporate high-modulus carbon blanks for strength and sensitivity, Fuji guides for smooth line management, and ergonomic reel seats for comfortable use.
Daiwa has consistently delivered top-notch fishing gear, and the Black Widow G50 is no exception. This rod boasts a powerful and responsive blank made from high modulus carbon. The anti-tangle guides and ergonomic handle design make it a joy to use. Whether you’re casting long distances or battling a feisty carp, the Black Widow G50 is up to the challenge.
The Fox Horizon X3 is a well-regarded carp rod that strikes a balance between performance and affordability. With a high modulus carbon blank, this rod offers excellent power for long-range casting and accurate bait placement. The lightweight design ensures fatigue-free fishing, and the anti-frap guides minimize tangles. The Horizon X3 is a reliable choice for anglers seeking quality at a reasonable price.
For anglers who prefer a compact and travel-friendly option, the Nash Scope Carp Rods are worth considering. Despite their shorter length, these rods deliver impressive casting distances and feature a progressive action for playing carp effectively. The retractable design makes them easy to transport, making them ideal for anglers on the move.
The Greys Prodigy GT4 is celebrated for its versatility, making it suitable for a variety of carp fishing situations. The multi-modulus carbon blank provides a perfect blend of power and sensitivity. The rod’s sleek aesthetics are complemented by high-quality components, including Fuji guides and a custom Greys reel seat. Whether you’re targeting big carp in open waters or fishing in confined spaces, the Prodigy GT4 is a reliable choice.
Conclusion:
Choosing the right carp rod is crucial for a successful fishing experience, and the options available in 2024 offer a range of features to cater to different preferences. Whether you prioritize power, sensitivity, or portability, the Shimano Tribal TX-9, Daiwa Black Widow G50, Fox Horizon X3, Nash Scope Carp Rods, and Greys Prodigy GT4 are among the best carp rods worth considering for 2024. Make an informed decision based on your fishing style, preferences, and budget to elevate your carp fishing adventures in the coming year.
When looking for a set of new carp rods, they do not have to cost the earth. Carp rods have improved greatly in the last few years which means there is no huge gap between a budget rod and a high end rod. The advancements in rod materials and technology means that this gap has closed and you can now pick up a decent rod without breaking your pocket!
Most well known brands are now bringing out budget rods which are performing exceptionally well in all areas of fishing including casting, strength and bend.
Arguably one of the most talked about carp rods in the market due to the exceptional performance at such a low price. Daiwa are known for producing high end rods so it’s nice to see they have this budget option.
Sonik are a underated carp fishing rod brand producing excellent quality rods at afordable prices. I actually have some Sonik S4’s myself which I have had now for over 8 years and still perform with excellent fish playing qualities. Sonik broke the market when these Vader X Rods were realeased as they are known as one of the best budget carp rods giving you performance, power and reliability!
The Exodus range is renowned for outstanding performance, superb quality and exceptional value for money. Recent advancements in technology have allowed for the next generation of budget carp rod to be produced. Quality doesn’t always have to come at a price!
This awesome riot range of carp rods offer exceptional value for money whilst giving you performance, power and reliability. Covering a range of lengths and test curves they have alll been tested to suit the majority of modern day carp angling styles.
For my last option I have selected something which may not be everyone’s cup of tea! These Leeda Rogue carp rods are 10ft and 3lb test curve. I actually bought a set of 3 myself due to the price being exceptionally reasonable and I cannot fault them! Very reliable, strong and give great fishing playing properties!
As you have seen above there are plenty of budget carp rods on the market that won’t break the bank especially during this cost of living crisis. Expensive rods will not catch you more carp and now budget rods are being built to last it is a now brainer to have a look into these! As I said previously I have actually owned 2 of these rods myself and couldn’t fault them in any way, shape or form!
Happy Wednesday Everyone! Hope you are having a brilliant week and are getting out on the bank amongst this lovely weather! Although it’s that time of year for spawning and mostly all my waters have decided to kick it off this week, so a week off for me! Last week I spoke about a topic very close to my heart; the death of my brother Tom which consequently lead to me suffering with health Anxiety. If you haven’t read that blog then you can do so here!
Now onto this week. Spending a few days fishing last week where I was roaming the bank searching for signs of feeding carp (and to see if they had started spawning) I was thinking about how invaluable my polarized sunglasses are for spotting carp especially whilst surface fishing. When surface fishing I normally spend the first hour searching for carp feeding on the surface and start to introduce a few floaters. This can be made very difficult because of the glare! I have spent many hours squinting at the waterside to know my polarized sunglasses were probably my best buy and most used bit of fishing tackle!
In this blog I am going to run you through why you should be wearing polarized sunglasses whilst fishing and my recomendation on the brands and glasses to look for!
Why do I Use Polarized Sunglasses?
My Polarized Glasses
As a fishing tool polarized sunglasses are the most underated item that should be in everyones carp gear! This is because they give you the ability to see more clearly below the surface of the water as they take the glare from the surface allowing your eyesight to penetrate the water! On the average overcast British day it is difficult to spot the dark shape of a carp moving along the water. On a sunny day, this task becomes even more difficult, infact it is nearly impossible without the help of the polarized sunglasses.
A polarized lens removes the surface glare many anglers battle with when visiting the bankside on a sunny day. With a good pair of fishing sunglasses, you can see clearly, spot fish under the water, see the carp moving amongst the weeds and even keep a better eye on your rodtips and floats that are in direct sunlight.
Not only do they provide much needed help in spotting the fish they also provide eye protection when the sun is beaming off the surface of the water, which protect your eyes from the harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays.
And now I bet you wonder why you have never invested in a pair!
What are the Best Sunglasses for Fishing?
The best polarising sunglasses for anglers are made from one of two materials; glass or plastic. The lens colour depends on the lighting conditions and varies from browns, yellows and greys.
There are a variety of lens types and frames, so you can be sure that there will be a pair of glasses that will suit you. When shopping for a new pair of specs for the bank, the lens of the sunglasses, the nose grips, as well as the frame shape could be the deciding factor between your choice of glasses. The frame style is also a big deal as you have wrapped glasses to cover side glare to aviator style glasses that can be worn for more than fishing.
I know what your thinking. Where do I start? Well here is my buying guide to the best polarized glasses on the market!
Buyers Guide
Below is a mini buyers guide that goes over prices, different types of lenses and other features to look out for when buying a pair of fishing sunglasses.
Material Of The Lenses The lenses are the most important part and these could be made from either glass or polycarbonate. Which material you pick for your lenses will affect the price. I recommend trying both if you can, as what works for one person’s eyes might not work for another. Some lenses might also work well in certain light conditions such as low light that other lenses don’t work in.
Frames If everyone wore the same glasses frames it would be a boring world. With polarised glasses, you can go really funky and get something that’s camouflaged that you wouldn’t wear on the street as an everyday pair of glasses.
Any Extras? Are your fishing glasses staying in your fishing bag all the time? If they are, then you might want to check that they come with a handy case to keep them safe. A hard-shelled case is always best as there’s likely to be heavy stuff in your bag, or if its like mine, it will be full to the bursting with all your gear.
A lanyard is another handy extra that some of these come with. This can go around your neck which means that your glasses won’t fall off and go into the lake. Believe me, I have lost 2 brilliant pairs over the years!
Price Ahh yes, the product price! There are a lot of cheap glasses out there but I would recommend just spending that bit more to get a really decent pair that you will be happy with and that might help you land a few more fish each session.
Based on this info here are my suggestions into the best polarized sunglasses on the market in 2022
Choosing the right glasses for you majorly depends on what you are looking for. The glasses must suit you and feel comfortable so as much as the style is a factor in what you will purchase you MUST have comfort in mind!
If you have any questions about anything I have mentioned in this blog or in previous blogs then please use the contact form below, email me or DM me on Insta, Twitter or Facebook!
Welcome to this weeks blog on the basics of Carp Fishing; The Rods, Reels and Alarms. Last week I reviewed alot of different types of Bivvies on the market and gave you my opinion on what the best bivvies are on the market at the moment! If you haven’t seen this yet then check it out here!
Now onto this weeks blog. Rods, Reels and Alarms are your most important bits of kit when it comes to carp fishing, your not going to catch without them! Selecting the right equipment for you is important to be fishing effectively and feel comfortable.
I’m going to start with my set up and what I use as I have 2 different set up depending on what water I am fishing.
These reason I have 2 different set ups is because my main Syndicate set up is too overkill for little intimate day ticket and club waters. I like to travel with light gear to day ticket waters to allow me to move but to fish effectively in different situations.
I will go into a little more details about what I would advise to look for when selecting your equipment.
Rods
Your rods as i previously mentioned need to match the sort of fishing you are looking to do. A good start is rods that have a 2.75lb test curve and something between 10ft and 12ft in length. These will suit most venues and types of fishing in the UK!
For young anglers, or for those who are vertically challenged then a shorter rod of 10ft would be alot easier to handle without affecting your carp fishing.
Your reels are the most important as these will control your fight and stoore your line. They need to hold the right amount of line for your venue. 90% of carp fishing venues in the UK you will not be casting over 50-60 yards so a 6000 or 8000 baitrunner or a mini pit reel will be plenty!
In my opinion, baitrunner reels are very good for beginner anglers as you can just flip the back lever and the line can run freely when a fish picks up your rig. To kick in the reel just simply lift your rod, half turn the reel and the baitrunner disengages. How simple is that!?
For these sorts of reels I would recommend the Shimano Baitrunner range. Shimano have been around for years and provide very good baitrunner reels at affordable prices.
Alarms are not such a necessity and only need to make a noise when a fish picks up your rig. For me you don’t need anything fancy or with loads of features, just an alarm that is realiable and can withstand the elements.
Some alarms come with a reciever but you don’t really need one. However they are a nice addition when it comes to fishing nights as you can have it in your bivvy with you!
As you can see from my set up you do not need to break the bank to start carp fishing. Just select a reliable rod, reel and alarm set up and you’re off!
What I have advised is just a tiny percentage of what is available in the carp fishing world and you must suit your set up to you! But I will briefly recap the key features i believe you should be looking for when purchasing these items:
Rods: Test Curve: 2.75lb Length: 10ft – 12ft
Reels Type: Baitrunner Spool: 6000-8000 Line: Must hold atleast 100 yards of line
Alarms Tone: Make sure they are not annoying! Volume: Changing the volume helps
Hope you enjoyed this blog and if you have any further questions about anything I have spoke about in this blog then please let me know via the contact form below or alternatively email me at info@callyscarpycustoms.co.uk!
Happy Wednesday, I hope everyone is well! Last weeks blog was talking about why I chose the brands I use for my PVA Pellet Balls, if you haven’t read that yet then click here! I go into each brand in detail so you know what you can expect from my products.
In this weeks blog I am going to talk about something a bit different. We are now coming into prime carp fishing season where 24hr + sessions are common when you will require a shelter of some sort. What bivvy you require largely depends on the type of angler you are. Whether your looking for a lightweight shelter so you can move between swims and onto the fish or a ‘home-like’ shelter where you can set up like home then this guide will run you through EVERYTHING!
What to look for when buying a bivvy
When you look at the market for bivvies there are never ending options from a huge range of brands which can make deciding a difficult decision. Most people ask what to look for in a bivvy and now I am going to run you through what I look for when deciding on a bivvy.
Set Up Speed
When carp fishing you do not want to spend hours on the bank setting up your bivvy, you want to get fishing effectively as soon as possible especially on short overnight sessions. I prefer something that is quick to set up and is lightweight so I can move onto the fish when I see signs of fish feeding. Nowadays most bivvies on the market are designed for quick erection and the times of threading poles is long gone! The trend now seems to be the brolly style bivvies as they are extremely fast to erect.
Most brands now have YouTube channels where they show how quick you can put up their shelters. I tend to watch CARPologyTV on youtube as they give you a detailed in depth review on all product carp fishing! If you haven’t checked them out then I suggest you do! Honest Reviews!
Bivvy Size
When selecting the right bivvy for you it is really important to take into account the size of the bivvy to give you plenty of space and a comfortable night on the bank. I would suggest if you are looking for space or there could be 2 of you then a two man bivvy would be ideal. If you travel with minimum gear then a one man bivvy would be your best option. This option is the one i tend to go for as these are normally more leightweight which means I can move easily.
REMEMBER take into consideration the size of your bedchair if you already have one. Nothing worse than buying a bivvy to small for your bed!
Height of Bivvy
The height of a bivvy can make your night stay on the bank more comfortable. The standard height for bivvies on the market is 125cm which for most people takes a bit of bending to get in and out. For those less able in movement I would suggest a higher bivvy, this just makes for easier entrance and exit from those long nights on the bank.
Overwrap / Skin
Some bivvies come with a overwrap and others come as an additional extra. If you are looking to continue fishing throughout the coldest days in winter I would suggest checking if an overwrap is available. Overwraps work in two ways, they keep you warmer and prevent condensation. It’s sort of like wearing more clothes by improving insulation and warmth within.
Vents
Most of the newer bivvies on the market contains meshed vents, but some don’t, so make sure you check before buying. The vents provide air circulation which is vital both in summer and winter. In the summer it provides needed circulation to keep cool and in the winter it prevents condensation.
Types of Bivvy
In simple terms there are really only three types of bivvy, Central Block, Pram Hood and Brolly Systems. Below I will go into a little more detail on each one and when and where you would use them so you can make the right decision for you!
Bivvies that are built around a central block are the most popular in the market right now! This is because they have a quick set up time and can be packed down easily whilst remaining very stable. The central block has the rods pre attached that fan out to create a dome like structure which are easy to use and time effective.
These Bivvies are perfect for 365 day use and come with all the attributes you need to fish in the different months comfortably. They suit different types of angling from day sessions with the front zip off to the longer sessions where you need more space.
Sometimes these bivvies are free standing which means you can pitch up on the hardest of grounds!
These are the longest serving bivvies in the market. They remain a popular choice for anglers who are looking for a comfortable and spacious bivvy for nights on the bank. These bivvies are simple to put up but do take a little more time than the central block bivvies which I talked about above.
To erect these bivvies you simply connect all the poles then pull from the front putting tension poles in between to fan the sections.
Like most other bivvies on the market, almost all of the pram hoods come with optional overwraps too. Like the others this helps insulate the bivvy and provides an extra layer to prevent condensation.
These systems are very popular with carp anglers who fish shorter sessions. As these are more open they offer less protection than the other 2 types but they are very adaptable to various fishing situations. For example a quick overnighter or day sessions.
As you can gather by the name they are based on a umbrella design which features rods that open up through the use of a simple pole. The traditional size of these are 60 inches which gives you more than enough rooom to fit your kit and bedchair in. These sometimes come with storm sides which gives you a little more protection from the elements.
1 man tent: the carp fishing tent is very spacious and also holds king size beds and offers an internal height of 137 cm.
Waterproof: the 10,000 mm hydrostatic head provides absolute protection against water even in heavy rain and keeps you completely dry.
Lightweight: only 9.2 kg transport weight make this lightweight fishing bivvy stand out. The weight has been achieved by the intelligent construction and the use of aluminium.
Quick to set up: in under a minute, the bivvy stands without any problems and then only requires installation of the groundsheet and the front.
Full features: groundsheet, mosquito net and lockable front are also included, as the side storm poles, transport bag and ground spikes.
I hope this advice and buying guide helps you select the PERFECT bivvy for you! There are many factors you should take into consideration when selecting your bivvy to make it perfect for yourself! If you do require anymore advice then you can contact me through the form below! Or simply email me!
