large carp lake

[slimeofsnail]

hi to everyone

just a quick one i am going to fish for a big carp in april ....in a lake

i was wondering from rod to bait would be the best thing to use

the carp are up to 31lb

rod test curve?
line strength ?
rig ?

things like this would be very helpful

cheers

[Cyprinus Carpio]

what sort of lake is it?

- size
- snags
- weed etc.

This should help determine the rods/line etc. as i have cought 20+ fish on small 1.75 TC rods. very good fun but wouldn't be appropriate for a snagy or weedy venue.

[asoftuk]

On a personal note after getting snapped or snagged so many times I use the following on big lakes.

1. Rod of 3lb test curve
2. 25lb mainline linked to 16 foot of 35lb shockleader linked to 7 foot of 45lb leadcore which is heli rigged and weighted with a korda Big Grippa 4oz lead.
3.Rigs I would use are snakeskin or flouracarbon line aligned to a size 10 up to size 6 longshank hook. Bait = boilies on hair rig (fruit flavoured popups in winter) hooklink length depending on place or style I decide on fishing varies from 3 inches to 2 foot. Reason for 2 foot length is it enables me to set the popup to the required height if it is weedy so popup sits just above the weed.

Yes this sounds heavy and is heavier than normal but on a bright note I've caught a 34lb mirror carp and many doubles using this setup. Just make sure its all pinned down with flying backleads and a backlead at the rod end. Not pinning it down reveals a hell of a line to the fish your after which spooks the hell out of them (learned from experience on that one).

[slimeofsnail]

size about 2 acres
was going to use 2.5 lb test curve rod
not many snags
usual low trees but they are close to bank
no islands
i was going to ledger or use a skud float to get the bait further out
thanks for help asoftuk so far for the help
i dont want anything too expensive or difficult to tie up
its going to be too cold for knots lol

[madcaravanner]

Originally Posted by asoftuk

On a personal note after getting snapped or snagged so many times I use the following on big lakes.

1. Rod of 3lb test curve
2. 25lb mainline linked to 16 foot of 35lb shockleader linked to 7 foot of 45lb leadcore which is heli rigged and weighted with a korda Big Grippa 4oz lead.

Korda weights YUP
shockleader YUP

the actual weigh of line

The max I use is 18lb main with 36lb shock (not sea fishing so I double instead of quadruple strength) not sure about the leadcore as I don't use it use a sinking line instead

In fact to show the didderence the tackle I hired for the carp fishing in Gran Canaria only used 18lb mainline and there were fish in the lake of 40lb plus

Btw just got some Korda stye rigs bits off Ebay (20 sets of swivel clip and tubing) at a price I couldn't refuse -- equivalent to 5 snaps in the big shop near me

[asoftuk]

Originally Posted by madcaravanner

the actual weigh of line

Yup 25lb, reason I use that heavy a line is because my casting is that fast I always ended up cracking off the leads. Other benefit of 25lb line is weeds and reeds etc dont come into the equation as the line is thick enough to pull thru with steady pressure. I say steady pressure not forced pressure so that it could harm the fish.

A mate always quesstioned why I cast to the distance on a big lake. Simple I said to him. If I'm the only one that can cast that distance here, then that means no others will be fishing in my spot. If i bait the area up with spods then nobody will be there to poach any of the fish feeding on the bait I have already out there. By the way the distances I cast are well over 100 to 130+ yards.

[CARPER UK]

i would fish it the same as i would fish any where in the margins or not far from them not cuz i cant cast but for the simple reason is i do very well here while every body aims for the the horizen.

2.75 rods 15lb line duz me

this link as a rig for hard waters plus other info not sure anygood




Special Weed Rig by Kevin Maddocks

[madcaravanner]

Originally Posted by asoftuk

Yup 25lb, reason I use that heavy a line is because my casting is that fast I always ended up cracking off the leads. Other benefit of 25lb line is weeds and reeds etc dont come into the equation as the line is thick enough to pull thru with steady pressure. I say steady pressure not forced pressure so that it could harm the fish.

A mate always quesstioned why I cast to the distance on a big lake. Simple I said to him. If I'm the only one that can cast that distance here, then that means no others will be fishing in my spot. If i bait the area up with spods then nobody will be there to poach any of the fish feeding on the bait I have already out there. By the way the distances I cast are well over 100 to 130+ yards.

but then again so do I with the line I use
but I fish each lake differently it all depends where the bait holding areas are and if there's any features that attract the fish

sometimes I use my margin pole sometimes one of my rods

[slimeofsnail]

ok this really helps thanks a lot ....i better get to tackle shop to get myself a better rod & line

[slimeofsnail]

if i am float fishing say & had the drag set just right am i right in thinking i could get away with 10 lb mono.& play the fish more
there are no snags just a big island in the middle

i can see myself running around the lake with a rod in one hand waiting for the fish swimming around the island until its tired out

i was going to use a size 10 hook or is this too small