Lifetime fisherman, newbie to carp fishing.
Rod Diawa Black Widow, 12ft 3lb
Reel Shimano Baitrunner ST 10000
In early September i will fish a lake that is full of specimen carp. 10kg+ fish are plentiful. 20kg+ fish are also caught often. The peg i will fish from, the fishery owner told me this year over 10 carp over 20kg have been taken from my peg. I doubt i will get one that big on this trip, but you never know.
When i bought my rod and reel from my local carp store, they recomended me to put this line to my reel: Shimano Tribal Carp, 12lb, 0.320mm. They told me there is no real need to go with 0.40mm. It is now fresh and loaded on my brand new reel.
Maybe they did not consider i would visit lakes with specimen carp. I would like to ask others what they think, is this setup, with this 12lb line, sufficient for playing large specimen carp, or do i need to take my brand new line of my reel, and put on a new line of higher breaking strain. If yes, what strain/diameter do you advise?
Obviously the skill of the fisherman plays a big roll here. I will note i have been catching fish, mainly trout, all my life on fly and bait rods, but never played anything over a few kilo.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Rod Diawa Black Widow, 12ft 3lb
Reel Shimano Baitrunner ST 10000
In early September i will fish a lake that is full of specimen carp. 10kg+ fish are plentiful. 20kg+ fish are also caught often. The peg i will fish from, the fishery owner told me this year over 10 carp over 20kg have been taken from my peg. I doubt i will get one that big on this trip, but you never know.
When i bought my rod and reel from my local carp store, they recomended me to put this line to my reel: Shimano Tribal Carp, 12lb, 0.320mm. They told me there is no real need to go with 0.40mm. It is now fresh and loaded on my brand new reel.
Maybe they did not consider i would visit lakes with specimen carp. I would like to ask others what they think, is this setup, with this 12lb line, sufficient for playing large specimen carp, or do i need to take my brand new line of my reel, and put on a new line of higher breaking strain. If yes, what strain/diameter do you advise?
Obviously the skill of the fisherman plays a big roll here. I will note i have been catching fish, mainly trout, all my life on fly and bait rods, but never played anything over a few kilo.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
In reply to Post #1
It should be fine, the rod would break before the line in a straigbt pull.
However if the lake has a lot of snags or weed you may need thicker/stronger line for abraison resistance (rather than outright strength)
It should be fine, the rod would break before the line in a straigbt pull.
However if the lake has a lot of snags or weed you may need thicker/stronger line for abraison resistance (rather than outright strength)
In reply to Post #1
I notice you are going with line diameters rather than just breaking strain of your line.
With the 10000 size reels and 0.35mm line I don't think you will cast much above 90metres, the spool capacity and line depth on the reel simply won't cast much further. The line you are using will be suitable for playing big fish to the weights you mention, and give you the maximum distance you can cast.
If you are using a boat or bait boat to put your end tackle out, you can get it out further anyway.
If you do need to cast further, then I would be going to bigger 'Big Pit' reels.
I notice you are going with line diameters rather than just breaking strain of your line.
With the 10000 size reels and 0.35mm line I don't think you will cast much above 90metres, the spool capacity and line depth on the reel simply won't cast much further. The line you are using will be suitable for playing big fish to the weights you mention, and give you the maximum distance you can cast.
If you are using a boat or bait boat to put your end tackle out, you can get it out further anyway.
If you do need to cast further, then I would be going to bigger 'Big Pit' reels.
In reply to Post #1
My local specimen lake specifies a minimum breaking strain of 15 lb amongst other things so it might be worth checking the rules beforehand. The decision might be out of your hands.
I normally use 10 lb or 15lb if specified.and wouldn't have any worries about larger fish on either providing there is enough room to turn them from any snags.
My local specimen lake specifies a minimum breaking strain of 15 lb amongst other things so it might be worth checking the rules beforehand. The decision might be out of your hands.
I normally use 10 lb or 15lb if specified.and wouldn't have any worries about larger fish on either providing there is enough room to turn them from any snags.
In reply to Post #3
OK, thanks for this, it puts me at ease, and very pleased I don't need to chuck out my brand new line 😂
Not too bothered at this stage about casting distance, though the lake is a reasonable size, around 100 acres.
I have a couple of other newbie questions I'd not want to clutter up the forum creating new topics on. Will ask here and would appreciate feedback.
Baiting a swim: so let's say I have my bait buckets ready, and a boat at my peg. Do I simply row the boat out to the spot I want to fish, chuck in X amount of bait at that spot? And for the hook bait, do i fasten the rod to the bank, loosen the drag on the reel, and row out with my baited hook bait in tow, and simply drop it right where I drop the rest of the bait?
Not sure I won't to use spods/spombs, don't have a rod for this, and never set a marker float, so I think boat will be best bet for me.
Also, exactly how much bait should I put in at one time? It seems other anglers at this lake bait their swims quite heavily, with large buckets of boilies and all other sorts of pellets etc.
How often should I re-bait the swim? After every fish maybe? If no fish for several hours, re-bait the swim or not?
OK, thanks for this, it puts me at ease, and very pleased I don't need to chuck out my brand new line 😂
Not too bothered at this stage about casting distance, though the lake is a reasonable size, around 100 acres.
I have a couple of other newbie questions I'd not want to clutter up the forum creating new topics on. Will ask here and would appreciate feedback.
Baiting a swim: so let's say I have my bait buckets ready, and a boat at my peg. Do I simply row the boat out to the spot I want to fish, chuck in X amount of bait at that spot? And for the hook bait, do i fasten the rod to the bank, loosen the drag on the reel, and row out with my baited hook bait in tow, and simply drop it right where I drop the rest of the bait?
Not sure I won't to use spods/spombs, don't have a rod for this, and never set a marker float, so I think boat will be best bet for me.
Also, exactly how much bait should I put in at one time? It seems other anglers at this lake bait their swims quite heavily, with large buckets of boilies and all other sorts of pellets etc.
How often should I re-bait the swim? After every fish maybe? If no fish for several hours, re-bait the swim or not?
In reply to Post #4
Hi Old-Cornishman: the lake specifies minimum line diameter of 0.30, so I just make it at 0.32.
Another newbie question: I plan to have two rod setup eventually, with bank stick setup. If I row the hook baits out, how close together should I drop them? And if a fish takes one, is there not a big risk it will tangle up over the other line s I bring it in? I have always been confused about that with carp anglers, how they can have so many lines out close together, play big fish to the bank, and not tangle the other lines.
Hi Old-Cornishman: the lake specifies minimum line diameter of 0.30, so I just make it at 0.32.
Another newbie question: I plan to have two rod setup eventually, with bank stick setup. If I row the hook baits out, how close together should I drop them? And if a fish takes one, is there not a big risk it will tangle up over the other line s I bring it in? I have always been confused about that with carp anglers, how they can have so many lines out close together, play big fish to the bank, and not tangle the other lines.
In reply to Post #6
Apologies if I have got this wrong but it sounds like you are going to start on this 100 acre lake containing 20 kg carp.
If that's correct then I would strongly advise you to rethink your plans.
Start on an easy commercial well stocked fishery containing smaller carp. Learn fish care, how to play and land one safely, serve your apprenticeship as it were
Apologies if I have got this wrong but it sounds like you are going to start on this 100 acre lake containing 20 kg carp.
If that's correct then I would strongly advise you to rethink your plans.
Start on an easy commercial well stocked fishery containing smaller carp. Learn fish care, how to play and land one safely, serve your apprenticeship as it were
In reply to Post #7
I hear you. I have fished several small commercial lakes this year, and caught plenty of carp around 1kg to 2kg on the method feeder. I am also a life long fisherman, so dont feel i will be out of my depth with these big carp though it is definately a big challenge, and one i am excited to take on.
I hear you. I have fished several small commercial lakes this year, and caught plenty of carp around 1kg to 2kg on the method feeder. I am also a life long fisherman, so dont feel i will be out of my depth with these big carp though it is definately a big challenge, and one i am excited to take on.
In reply to Post #5
Just a quick tip Alistair- you can row your line out and drop the rig over your bait but don't loosen the drag and row out with the bail arm closed or you will get terrible line twist. Open the bail arm, point the rod slightly upward and allow the line to be pulled freely off the spool. There are a couple of clip-on devices available that will keep the line slightly tensioned as you row out or you can put a small bit of sponge in the spigot ring to keep the line under light tension.
Just a quick tip Alistair- you can row your line out and drop the rig over your bait but don't loosen the drag and row out with the bail arm closed or you will get terrible line twist. Open the bail arm, point the rod slightly upward and allow the line to be pulled freely off the spool. There are a couple of clip-on devices available that will keep the line slightly tensioned as you row out or you can put a small bit of sponge in the spigot ring to keep the line under light tension.
In reply to Post #5
Personally I'd take the rod out in the boat and pay line off with an open bail arm in a controlled manner as I headed back to shore.
Otherwise you could have a run as you row back without knowing, as your rod is on the bank, and the fish end up in a snag.
Personally I'd take the rod out in the boat and pay line off with an open bail arm in a controlled manner as I headed back to shore.
Otherwise you could have a run as you row back without knowing, as your rod is on the bank, and the fish end up in a snag.
In reply to Post #2
Good advice there mate.
Good advice there mate.