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Carp Rods

Ian Crook said:
My post earlier was working under the assumption that there is a possibility of hooking 20lb plus catfish and also that there are other people also fishing the water. As such you need to gear up for it, you need to be able to stop and hold that fish reasonably within the swim you are fishing. All those advising lighter rods need to ask themselves would they advise less than 1lb TC for barbel fishing.
If any of you Noddy's turn up on waters I'm fishing with your undergunned Noddy gear and wipe out my rods as a result of not being able to handle what you have hooked you'll be going for a swim! ;)
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Ian assuming you actually get out fishing. Lets for arguments sake say, you were fishing for Roach, on a river that was/ is known to contain Barbel would you do so using a 1.75lb plus rod? My assumption is your answer would be no. The reality is that you could hook a Barbel after all. As far as you saying people would be going for a swim, well that all depends on the angler in question, as far as I am concerned people who make threats over the Internet are the ones who would be least likely to carry them out. The rods mentioned in the first place are more than capable of landing the fish the op mentioned, balanced tackle and competent angling are very useful tools. Just ask Keith Speer!
 
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Tom Marshall said:
Having said all of that, if your post was that over flavoured pink pop up i suspect it was, you have just nailed me!
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Thanks Tom,

The latter part of my post was of coarse an irresistible baited hook, hence the winking smiley.

Most of my fishing these days is for carp, cats and pike I'm afraid, the barbel bug will be back one day I'm sure.
The scenario you detail regards Roach and Barbel is very different to Carping on a water with cats where you will invariably hook the cats just as easily as the carp using carp tactics and you will invariably seriously annoy others fishing if you wipe their carefully placed gear out as a result of not being able to hold your quarry, much in the same manner you would annoy most on here by spending an hour playing a barbel on very light roach tackle. Keith, for the record will fish considerably heavier float gear if there is a chance of barbel than he would if just targeting roach.

The advice given by others regards Carp is fine but in no way considers the fact that the OP clearly pointed out in his question the very good chance of hooking a 20 plus cat in an enclosed stillwater.

Regards my reaction to being dragged in Grizzly Bear state from my cozy sleep in the middle of the night for nothing, who knows, give it a try!
 
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He's a mug fish Ian, slip him back without a photo :D

Seriously though, even if the cats run to over 20 I would still no way go in with a rod with a test curve higher than 2.75.... As I said in my post, you can actually exert more pressure with a softer rod that bends to the butt, which is why most experienced big carp anglers would choose to use a softer rod when fishing for very big fish (50+) in heavy weed. I believe I am right in saying that the trend for stiffer rods has only come about to enable people to cast 5oz leads to the horizon, NOT because they are fishing for bigger or more powerful fish....

I would be more than happy to angle for the fish mentioned with my 2lb 9oz Hearns, and would be more than confident of landing them. And by your argument, none of us would ever fish for chub using 6lb line in case we hooked a barbel, or fished for tench on a float rod and centre pin in case we hooked a carp...

I go fishing geared up for my intended species and if I'm lucky enough to hook anything else I enjoy the fight and rely on my experience (or lack of it) to land the fish. Surely fishing would be very boring if we all followed your advice?

Anyway must dash, I'm off fishing for Thames chub on 6lb line.... Toms using 4lb ;)
 
Nick Franklin said:
"Soft rods bend more they are therefore shorter under pressure. Measured between angler and tip eye.

Stiff casting rods retain their length.

Rods act like a lever, but unfortunately for the angler, one that works in the favour of the fish.

Would you give the fish a long or a short lever to use against you given the choice?"

Simple physics methinks.....
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Nice idea that Nick. Never thought about it like that. The water I am fishing thankfully doesnt get over crowded there is a lot of space between pegs. To be honest there aint that many cats in there of 20lb most being kittens, my biggest stands at 3lb so I cant say I understand how they fight, but, I will be getting some 2.5lb rods for the carp, got a couple in eBay, I'll let you guys know which I get in the end. Those ESP rods seem like crackers, but the ones I have found are quite expensive, more than I can afford at the present.

Thanks.
 
esp

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Vincent Coulson said:
Nice idea that Nick. Never thought about it like that. The water I am fishing thankfully doesnt get over crowded there is a lot of space between pegs. To be honthere aint that many cats in there of 20lb most being kittens, my biggest stands at 3lb so I cant say I understand how they fight, but, I will be getting some 2.5lb rods for the carp, got a couple in eBay, I'll let you guys know which I get in the end. Those ESP rods seem like crackers, but the ones I have found are quite expensive, more than I can afford at the present.

Thanks.
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Vincent, you should be able to get the ESPs for around £70-80 mate, they were never bloody £250 new! Mine cost me 80 each and they were mint.
 
Maybe we're just good at sniffing out deals Lushy :D

Having said all that about test curves Vincent, I really guess the most important thing is the action of a rod rather than it's stated TC.... Either way I think you'll be fine with whatever rods you choose. Good luck :)
 
Surprised you haven't mentioned the need for a 'Players rod' yet Nick :) Anyway whats with all the threats ? If you do decide to chuck Crooky in can i watch ?:) On another thread it was pointed out that use of a sack would result in an escort to the gate for your own protection ! All very scary :D
 
Oooooo errr what have I got myself into..... These barbel anglers are a friendly bunch aren't they! Anyway it's the internet we're on so we're all allowed to make wild threats and outlandish statements aren't we!? At least that's what I thought the internet was for.....;)

And oh yes I should've said, it's important to use a players rod when fishing for the old originals.... You love both those expressions don't you!?:D
 
No ! As for the Cat thing, i am in full agreement with the need for sensible gear if cats are around, one year in Spain i saw a grossly irresponsible Carper hook a cat on his 3 and a halfs, he landed it with the aid of a boat about half a mile from his swim having gone right through the town of Mequinenza, pellet alley and all! it did weigh nearly 200lbs though, but still very irresponsible, he should have been using uptiders and 150lb braid ;) Don't recall anyone chucking him in or any other unpleasantness though, maybe Cat anglers are more chilled out than the average Barbeller !!
 
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Indeed he should! I hope he was chucked in the river by all the other anglers present?

Also I don't know if I've told you this, but early last spring I saw a fair sized terrapin/turtle in the syndicate lake... What sort of gear should I be using in case I hook this monster? A wire trace? I don't think that will do my carp fishing any favours.
 
I've caught Terrapins in France before, lovely little creatures, Nick, if you are fortunate enough to get him you should extend him all the care you would normally save for your quarry, to unhook him VERY gently hold his bottom jaw open with your index finger and with the finger and thumb of the other hand gently tease the hook out so as not to cause him undue distress, finally make sure he is fully recovered and let him swim gently from your hands and away.

Oh, and kitchen towel is far and away the best thing to clean blood up with ;)
 
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Nick Franklin said:
Can I leave it in a recovery sling for as long as it takes you to drive up and photograph it for me?
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Not really sure mate, i would suggest you consult the Terrapin fanciers code of conduct for handling/retaining them, it will have been put in place by people with far more experience and common sense than you and i so should be adhered to without question ;)
 
The lake I fish is at least 4 km long by 600 metres wide. It has everything from roach and bream to carp to zander and of course the silure that can grow on to over 150lb. After reading this thread I intend to sell my 15 foot float rod that I use for bream, my swing tip rod, quiver rod and all the assorted carbel rods and small to medium baitrunners and invest in two or three uptiders with beefy reels just in case my maize hookbait to 14 hook on 3lb line is taken by one of the big cats. The nearest anglers to me are usually at least 300 metres away, but you can't be too careful. :D
 
Bunch of muppets :D:D:D

Should I keep my opinion to myself in future??

As far as throwing me in, I would wish that on anyone!! The word hernia springs to mind..... :eek:

Can't be closed season blues setting in already.......... :rolleyes:
 
Ian Crook said:
Vincent, personally I would be gearing up for the cats, they really can pull, I would not go on a water with cats armed with less than a 3 1/4 TC carp rod, preferably heavier. If you look for a tip action rather than a through action you will still feel everything very well and not feel like you are using a poker.
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ian , a 3.25 tip action WONT feel like a poker ??

surely the through action would be the one to go for if 'feel' was needed ?
 
Stuart Prescott said:
ian , a 3.25 tip action WONT feel like a poker ??

surely the through action would be the one to go for if 'feel' was needed ?
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Indeed. And for pure stopping power alone, I would also rather have a through actioned rod that can cushion a heavy fish, rather than a stiff tip-action rod that you can't bend or put any real welly into for fear of pulling the hook....

And don't worry Ian I don't tend to get the close season blues, we are just starting to reach the time when my angling really tends to step up a gear so I probably won't be posting on here again till November at the earliest!:D

Anyway this is boring, I need to know how to gear myself up for this bloody terrapin! Anyone?
 
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