7 guides
Carp fishing kit, explained
What you actually need on the bank and what the features do: rods, reels, line, hooks, bite alarms and night gear, judged on specification, not sponsorship.
Your first carp session: the kit list
Everything you need for a first day or night on the bank, what fisheries insist on, and where to spend and where to save.
Choosing bite alarms
What the features on a bite alarm actually do, which ones matter, and what you get as you spend more.
Night fishing for carp: a safety and set-up checklist
What to sort out before dark, the lights and power you need, and how to land and look after a carp safely at night.
Your first overnight carp session
What you need on top of day kit for a first night on the bank: shelter, a bed, staying warm, cooking safely, light and power. Plus how to plan the night.
Carp hook sizes and patterns
Which hook size suits which bait, what each hook pattern is for, and when barbless is the rule.
Carp mainline: mono, braid or fluorocarbon?
Which mainline to spool up with, what breaking strain to use, and why many fisheries ban braid.
Choosing your first carp rods and reels
Test curve, length and reel type explained, and what you get from budget, mid-range and premium set-ups.