Want to try the darkside

[luke6661982]

I have never been freshwater fishing before, but I have always fancied trying to catch a carp (doesn’t matter which one) or any other freshwater specie.

I live in Devon, I don’t know any lakes, rivers etc around here where I can go fishing. So basically im a freshwater virgin!!

All that im asking is for any help possible in venues, tactics and what I should have in my tackle box regarding line strength, hook sizes and basically anything.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks Luke

[Norfolkboy]

Anglers Paradise in Devon (not sure which part) holds loads of species, including carp.

Tacklewise, it all depends on how you want too fish for them.

Float fishing:
A wagller rod with a t/c of about 1.5lb should be fine. 8lb line straight through too the hook will be fine. If using biggish baits like cubed luncheon meat, worms, corn etc.. a size 10 hook will be ok. If using maggots etc.. a size 12 or 14 will probaly be better. A fixed spool reel willl suit this type of fishing. A waggler float will be perfect for carp.

Legering:
A carp rod with a t/c of about 2.5lb will be best in my opinion. I use 12lb line on my reels, but 8 or 10 will be fine depending on the size of fish in the lake. I'd then use a 1, 1.5 or 2oz in-line lead too a braided hookling (bs of 8-15lb) with a size 10, 8 or 6 hook with hair rig. Boilies for bait, and you should do fine.

Freelining (Surface fishing):
A float rod will be good for this. Same rig as the float set-up without the float, and the hook should maybe have a hair rig, so you can drill some dog biscuits and hair rig them.

Hope this helps a bit. Any more questions, and I will try and answer them, as will anyone else

[pingu]

luke i have been looking arround and have found loads of leaflets in tackle shops advertising loads of different lakes
or SW water have a good website about their lakes
paul lingham and Tj are in your area and prob know more local venues
will be meeting tj again soon at shillingford. just west of exeter(no date yet), more than welcome to join(just get a licence first(really easy on line, enviroment agency)

[Ben]

go river fishing! not lake, its more fun

[luke6661982]

Thanks for the information, will need to stock up on some lighter gear and i will have to give some of this freshwater fishing a go.

[Ben]

in a river?

[ChaosinDevon]

Anglers Paradise is 4 miles from where I live...... It is outside a village called Halwill in North Devon, but it isnt cheap for a day ticket, and you MUST have a coarse fishing licence to fish any waters in the UK, private or public.
If you want instant results fishing for carp, try a method feeder, if you cant catch one on that I'd give up. !

[Rob M]

I've tried the Darkside, hasn't done me any harm...


Rob

[Norfolkboy]

Rob...LMAO

[devonutopia]

I used to coarse fish when I was younger. The adrenalin rush when you're about 12 years old, having a 20lb carp on the end of a line is immense.

Sadly, the coarse fishing diminished and sea fishing took over when I moved to Devon.