Carp rod For float fishing

[badchild1664]

Hi

Ive just got back into fishing and have found a nice pond to fish but you can only float fish on it. all my carp rods are for ledgering. im using 8lb line and a size 14/16 hook but am struggling to hit the fish. im thinking this may be due to the rod being to thick and not having the whip effect of a much rod. any tips on what rods might be good for me. the pond holds a range of carp from 6lb to late teens.

[pingu]

there are plenty of powerfull carp float rods on the market that will take 6-8lb line
i have one by map that handles anything thrown at it, got it 2nd hand in local tackle shop for about £20

dave

[badchild1664]

what test curve should i be looking at?

[peakoverload]

Like you I only got back into fishing a couple of years ago but I never got rid of all my gear. However I only had light match gear or heavy Carp ledger gear but the Carp in one of my club lakes responded very well to float fishing tactics far better than on the ledger. Initially I just used my match rod and was able to bring out Carp around the 7lb mark without too many problems but anything larger was proving to be much more of a hit and (usually) miss affair.

Because I also fancied trying my hand on one of my clubs rivers for Chub and Barbel I bought myself the John Wilson Avon Quiver rod which also has an Avon float top section. The Avon top has a 1.25lb test curve and I now use this all the time when float fishing for Carp using either 6 or 8lb line and it's never really failed me except one time when I hooked something that felt like it was in the 15-20lb range and I just couldn't stop it. To be honest though that was as much down to the line, perhaps more so, than the rod.

I would say therefore that a rod with a t/c of 1.25-1.5lb would be absolutely fine for your Carp fishing.

HTH