From Carp to bigger Carp...

[WesJones1984]

Hi,

Myself and a friend have been catching good sized carp between 5lb - 10lb quite regularly since starting fishing around 6 months ago. So now weve found a new place with bigger carp upto 20lb (then another lake with only carp over 20lb which we'll move onto once confident enough). I currently use 8lb line on my match rod and 10lb line on my carp rod with size 10 hooks. I was wondering what sort of tackle I would need for this new lake i'm moving on to?

I've bought some new tackle, 15lb and 20lb line. I've also bought some hair rigs with size 6,8,10 hooks. I was thinking of putting 15lb line on my match rod which is around 2.5lb breaking strain, then 20lb line on my carp rod which is 3.5lb breaking strain. I really don't want to be under-gunned.

So I guess my questions are:

- What weight lead do you recommend?
- What line do you recommend?
- What size hook do you recommend?

Thanks everyone.

[HEWY]

Originally Posted by WesJones1984

So I guess my questions are:

- What weight lead do you recommend?
- What line do you recommend?
- What size hook do you recommend?

Thanks everyone.

Hi

I think its down to what works on the lake you are fishing...I think you should talk to some of the regulars who fish the lakes you are thinking about.

I fish lakes with 40lb+ carp which seem to evade me lol...and I use 15lb or Nash bullet braid.

The lead weight is dependent on what surface I'm fishing on and what distance I am fishing at. The hook size also depends on what type of bait I'm using...If you can give me a bit more information on bait and whether you're fishing on silt or gravel...I'll see if I can help you out.

Hewy

[NICK R]

if fishing in snag free waters 12 max , if snaggy 15, if distance fishing i use 6or 8lb.

a 3,5 tc rod is one hell of a beast , i only use those when fishing 170 yds plus

I would only use 20lb line in this country for sharks

[WesJones1984]

Sure, my hookbait will be 10mm boilie. I'm unsure of the surface to be honest, i've taken a look on the website for the lakes and it doesn't give any information. Could you advise on both if possible?

I was told by the owner of my local tackle shop that you should halve the weight of fish your going to catch for the weight of line you should use. So if you were planning to catch 30lb carp you should use at least 15lb line. Is this right? In the big carp lake it has fish upto 40lb so I bought 20lb line.

[NICK R]

Originally Posted by WesJones1984

Sure, my hookbait will be 10mm boilie. I'm unsure of the surface to be honest, i've taken a look on the website for the lakes and it doesn't give any information. Could you advise on both if possible?

I was told by the owner of my local tackle shop that you should halve the weight of fish your going to catch for the weight of line you should use. So if you were planning to catch 30lb carp you should use at least 15lb line. Is this right? In the big carp lake it has fish upto 40lb so I bought 20lb line.

i think the owner of the shop is a cock telling you that ,
FFs ive had fish up to nearly 70lb on 15lb and fish over 40 on 6/8.
its more about playing the fish than anything mate ,
what shop was it as i live nr to you

for a 10 mm bait i would use esp size 7

[WesJones1984]

That was Shotton Tackle, I thought that was wrong cos I watch Matt Hayes bring in fish on stupid size line. When I first started fishing I had 2lb line on my match rod and I used to catch carp of around 10lb fine. Then one day I was just about to net a carp and had it's head out of the water an it had given up the fight, the fish hadn't made a run or anything but the line snapped. I left the hook in the carps' mouth so it was definitely time to get stronger line and seek advice.
So is there any sort of guide to what size line you should use to the size of fish?

Haha size 7 hook... nooooooo! However I needed an excuse to buy more tackle.

[NICK R]

Originally Posted by WesJones1984

That was Shotton Tackle, I thought that was wrong cos I watch Matt Hayes bring in fish on stupid size line. When I first started fishing I had 2lb line on my match rod and I used to catch carp of around 10lb fine. Then one day I was just about to net a carp and had it's head out of the water an it had given up the fight, the fish hadn't made a run or anything but the line snapped. I left the hook in the carps' mouth so it was definitely time to get stronger line and seek advice.
So is there any sort of guide to what size line you should use to the size of fish?

Haha size 7 hook... nooooooo! However I needed an excuse to buy more tackle.

when you go in again tell him what i think of him

just because the line snapped it dos not mean your line was to fine ,

it may of been too much pressure on the hook , the idea is to let the rod do the work not the line , also let the reel clutch do some work

[WesJones1984]

Ow yeah I totally get that like, an i've got pretty good at playing fish. It was abit of a freak one to be honest cos there wasn't much stress on the line, like I say the fish had given up.

Is there any sort of guide of what size to use cos i'm pretty confused now?? Sounds like i'm over-gunned...

[NICK R]

4/5 lb for fish up to 10 , fish over 10 lb use 12/15lb depending on the lake ,,ie weed /snags etc,

like i said big carp can be caught on finer line

[WesJones1984]

Ok good to know, thanks all.