Reference charts

These are conventional starting points, not rules. Hook patterns vary in size between makers, and your fishery's rules always come first: many set a minimum line strength, ban braid mainline or insist on a particular net or mat.

Bait size → hook size

hookbait	hook size	notes
Single grain of corn, small pellet, 8 mm wafter	10–12	Method feeder and small-fish waters. Use a light hooklink to match.
10–12 mm boilie or pop-up	8	A good spring and winter size, and for wary fish.
12–15 mm boilie or pop-up	6	The all-round standard for most carp fishing.
15–18 mm boilie, or a snowman	4–6	Bigger baits, bigger fish, or waters with nuisance fish.
20 mm+ boilie, or a double	2–4	Big-bait fishing, and waters with crayfish or lots of small fish.
Floating bait (biscuit, dog biscuit, foam)	8–12	Light, strong, wide-gape surface hooks.
Zig foam	8–10	Small, light hooks so the foam stays near the surface.

More on patterns and gape in hook sizes and patterns.

Venue → mainline and hooklink

venue	mainline	hooklink	notes
Small commercial, open water, fish to 20 lb	10–12 lb mono	8–15 lb	Lighter gear suits smaller fish and shorter casts.
Typical club lake, some weed	12–15 lb mono or fluorocarbon	15–25 lb	The all-round choice for most UK carp waters.
Heavy weed or snags	15–18 lb mono, or braid where it's allowed	20–25 lb	Strength and abrasion resistance over everything. Check the rules on braid.
Long range, 100 yd+	Thin 12 lb mono, or braid with a shock leader	15–25 lb	Always use a shock leader of at least 10 lb per ounce of lead when you cast hard.
Gravel and mussel beds	15 lb+ abrasion-resistant mono or fluorocarbon	20–25 lb coated braid	Add tubing or leadcore where it's allowed to protect the line near the lead.
Surface and zigs	12–15 lb mono, or floating braid for surface	8–12 lb	Thin hooklinks get more bites up in the water.

Bottom-bait hooklinks are often as strong as the mainline or stronger, because they take the most wear from the lake bed and the fish's mouth. What matters most is that the lead can come free if the mainline breaks. More in mono, braid or fluorocarbon.

Casting range → lead weight

range	lead	notes
Margins, under 20 yd	1–2 oz	Lower it in gently. A heavy lead is only needed to set the hook.
20–60 yd	2.5–3 oz	The everyday range on most lakes.
60–100 yd	3–4 oz	A streamlined distance lead. Use a shock leader.
100 yd+	4–5 oz	Distance leads, a shock leader and a rod built for it.

Whatever the weight, make sure the lead can come off if the line breaks. See lead clip, helicopter or inline.

Fish size → landing net and mat

expected fish	landing net	mat or cradle
Up to 15 lb (commercials)	36 in, or a 42 in carp net	Padded mat. Many commercials supply or insist on one.
15–30 lb	42 in	Large padded mat or cradle.
30 lb+	42–50 in	Raised cradle. Many big-fish waters make one compulsory.

How to use it all safely is in carp care on the bank.