Best barrow bags, luggage and accessories for your Carp Porter barrow

Once you have a carp barrow, you can then set about adding all the extras to it that best suit your own fishing and make it as easy as possible to organise all the gear that you typically take with you.

You can of course just use any barrow, such as those from the Carp Porter range, as they come, and simply load them up with the Korda Compac rucksacks, holdalls and other bags that you normally use anyway.

But to really get the best from any barrow, and to make your fishing as easy and efficient as possible, in terms of being able to quickly access whatever item you need, whilst at the same time also being in a position to move very quickly if you need to, or even fish off of the barrow if you need to remain mobile, there is a purpose designed range of bags, and other accessories, to fit whichever model of Carp Porter you choose.

The more organised you can be when it comes to loading and unloading your barrow the easier it will make things for you, and that includes using things such as extra brackets specifically designed for transporting buckets, rather than trying to fit them around your other gear and trying to secure them so they can’t fall off the barrow, as well as making sure that they don’t unbalance it when they are full of bait.

The Carp Porter and Power Porter range of barrow bags

With any type of barrow frame, once you load your carp fishing gear onto it, there is often a lot of ‘dead’ space that isn’t actually being utilised – at the front and rear, the sides, and even on the underside of the main flat bed that the frame creates and where most of your gear is piled onto.

How much extra luggage and accessories you are able to practically add will depend a lot on the type of barrow that you have, and where its centre of gravity is, as all of these extras not only give you more space, but are adding additional weight as well.

You need to consider the balance of the barrow and ensure that it isn’t going to suddenly become very difficult to steer, or will potentially tip over as soon as you stop and park it. If you were to add a load of extra weight to just one side of it, such as a big bag of bait, then that will of course unbalance it, even when using the most stable of barrows such as the Carp Porter or Power Porter tri-wheel designs, which feel very balanced even when piled up with all your gear.

As long as you consider this extra weight though, and how you distribute it, there is loads of extra space you can not only make use of for additional storage and load capacity, but also for making essential items of tackle and kit immediately accessible without the need to unload everything from the barrow to access them – that could be something as simple as having your tea gear to hand, so that when walking round the lake looking for fish you can stop and make a cuppa whilst sitting and scanning the water.

The Carp Porter luggage range includes a wide variety of different sizes and types of bags, that are purpose designed to fit onto specific parts of your barrow, whilst at the same time not taking up any of the main load space.

These bags easily attach and detach, via Velcro, and where necessary – in the case of larger bags that will be heavier – they also come supplied with a support bracket that is simple to attach to your barrow frame and can be left in place inbetween sessions.

The bags themselves can be left attached to the barrow, but also feature carry handles to make it easy to use them in place of conventional carryalls and rucksacks, so that once you get to your swim they are taken inside your bivvy and used like any other piece of luggage.

They are made from a military grade, durable water resistant material that has been built to last, and like any other bag, feature various pockets and zipped compartments to allow you to organise the contents.

If you do decide to leave them attached to your barrow once you reach your swim – as some anglers do if using them for items that are pretty much weatherproof anyway – and they do end up being left out in heavy rain, there are drainage holes in the base to stop water build up inside. Whilst they are water resistant, they will eventually let water through if it pools on the lid, plus it can get through the zips.

Most anglers choose to use these extra barrow bags though as an alternative to standard luggage, or for keeping certain items altogether in the same place – such as having all your cooking kits in one barrow bag that can be easily detached and brought into your bivvy when you set up; then once you finish your session and are back at your vehicle can simply be detached so you can take everything into your house to wash it up and then store it in the bag ready for your next trip.

What bags are part of the Carp Porter luggage range?

There are two different types of Drop In Barrow Bag – a Standard and a Deluxe – which make full use of the space underneath the frame and inbetween the front wheel and the rear legs or wheel (depending on what type of Carp porter you have), and which has been designed to replace the open top drop-in bags that come as standard with all the non-powered barrows (Power Porters are supplied with a zip top bag of this type).

Both types of Drop In Barrow Bag have a zipped top for easy access, but also feature access through the sides of the bags as well – via a zipped flap – so that you don’t have to unload the barrow to get at the contents of these bags.

They have loads of storage space, and the Deluxe also has two zipped external side pockets to make certain items even easier to access when needed. Both are attached securely to your barrow via adjustable Velcro straps. There is also an open topped Stealth version specifically for that model of barrow.

You can make further use of the spare space at the rear of your barrow via thew Barrow Tidy Bag, which fits between the handles and has a zipped top. All sorts of things can be stored in it – including a Barrow Cover, so that if it doesn’t suddenly start to rain you can access that pretty much instantly and prevent your gear from getting wet.

If you have one of the Glider or Trident barrows, the handlebar design of these three-wheeled trollies allows space for a Handle Bar Bag – utilising space you’d never normally be able to make use of with other items of your fishing gear. This bag is great for storing things such as spare clothes, or a Barrow Cover, and also has a zipped compartment for your car keys, wallet, and mobile phone.

At the front of your barrow you can attach either a large or small Front Barrow Bag, which both come with an extra bracket that fits to the frame and adds strength and stability.

Both sizes of bag have a zipped main compartment, along with a large front pocket, and the Large Front Barrow Bag also features two side pockets. They can easily be lifted on and off your barrow via carry handles, and can replace the carryall or rucksack you would normally take with you, or for extra kit.

The sides of the barrow frame can also easily be utilised with a choice of large or small Side Bar Bags – one can be fitted to each side of your Carp Porter to balance everything better.

These Side Bar Bags are ideal for any longer and flatter items of tackle that you are taking like buzz bars and buzzers – especially if using the large version – and which you might want quick access to when you arrive in your swim. Things such as a catapult for instance in case you see some carp on the surface and want to ping out some floaters to them and see if they take them, without the need to unload anything from your barrow. Or similar with some bits for stalking if you see an opportunity on your way around the lake.

Although these bags fit on the side rails of your Carp Porter, they still allow you to secure the load properly thanks to the side rail strap openings - webbing Side Bar Straps for this are sold separately, and can be used with or without the bags.

You can even utilise the space around the wheel of your barrow, via the Pannier, which are sold as a single unit but are great for using as a pair, one each side of the wheel and which securely in place and won’t impede it from turning, or get caught up in it.

These are easily accessible via a zip that runs around three sides of the barrow, and there is enough space inside them for one of the Korda 4 litre Jerry Cans that are used to carry water in.

For any smaller essentials that you want instant access to straight off of the barrow – such as leads, Korda SPF50 Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, bobbins, or anything of a similar size, the H Frame Multi Pocket bags are a great option. These strap securely to the H frame at the front of your barrow, are hard backed and the contents of the three pockets it features can’t accidentally fall out as a flap with two Velcro fastenings securely fasteners over the pockets, but gives quick access.

Often one of the first things you’ll need when you arrive in your swim is access to your bank sticks and buzzers, plus Distance Sticks, and the Basic Front Bank Stick Bag will hold all of this – plus it can be used for storing a compact tripod for photography – and hangs from the front of your Carp Porter barrow.

It comes with two straps that have been designed to secure it and allow it to hang from the thumb screws on the H frame part of the barrow. A double full length zip gives easy access to the contents.

What other accessories are available to make your carp barrow even more functional?

For any smaller items that you aren’t planning to keep in the barrow luggage and which could easily fall down between the gaps in the frame, there are Base Boards, which come in large and small versions.

These Carp Porter Base Boards provide a solid platform at the front of your barrow to stand things on and work perfectly when the front section of your Carp Porter is extended to provide maximum load capacity, without negatively impacting on balance. They are versatile, with magnetic anchor points that attach it to the frame, plus an extended front uplift to prevent anything from sliding off the front of them.

Some of the most popular accessories are the Rear Bucket Bracket and Front Bucket Bracket, which essentially do the same job other than their positioning on your barrow, and you can use one or both. If you are using barrow without rear wheels then you are probably best off going for the front bracket, especially if taking larger amounts of bait, because the weight will be better balanced, rather than you having to lift it whilst pushing, as the rear bracket is part of the handle section.

These brackets will hold either the Korda 17 litre or 10 litre Compac buckets, so that is a lot of bait in total, and especially if using both front and rear brackets. The Front Bucket Bracket folds up neatly flat against the barrow frame and is held by a magnetic fastener when not in use.

There are also various load securing straps that are designed for use with Carp Porter barrows, including Adjustable Bungee Straps, and Side Bar Straps, plus Retainer Sling Straps which have been designed to allow slings, wet nets and similar to be secured so that they hand below the barrow frame and won’t drip onto the rest of your kit.

Other extras to convert your existing Carp Porter

The rear wheels on the top of the range Power Porter Glider barrow have been such a success, with their swivel design which makes steering and tighter maneuvers so much easier, that we are now offering them as a separate kit that can be fitted to many existing models of Carp Porter.

These wheels have industrial bearings, and can also be locked into position, for when you are going in a straight line, plus have individual pinch brakes to prevent your barrow rolling away.

The Rear Swivel Wheel Conversion Kit can also be bought complete with handles as well, and can be fitted to many of the previous popular Carp Porter models, such as the Xtreme, Big Boy Tri Porter, and MK8, or any other barrow with the same width frame.

Our most compact barrow, the Stealth, can also be converted to make it easier to carry more kit, and allow you to use some of the items of luggage that connect to the side of the barrow frames, by purchasing a separate set of Stealth Side Bars, which are very easy to fit for those sessions when you do need to take more gear than usual.

Keep your gear dry with a matching olive or Dark Kamo cover

The last thing you want is for all your fishing kit to get soaked before you even start, or having to pack it all away in your vehicle when it is drenched.

There will be times when you either arrive at a lake and need to set up in the rain, or can’t avoid packing up in it and are unable to wait for it to stop, and need to get your kit from your swim back to the car park.

Luckily there a Carp Porter Barrow Cover that has been designed to fit over your barrow and protect the contents from the elements, and which can be adjusted for a custom fit depending on how much gear you are carrying, and prevent rain from being blown underneath it. The Barrow Cover is durable and made from a high quality waterproof material and with taped seams, and will fit any of the current Carp Porter barrow range.

Like all of the items of luggage, it is available in a choice of green or Dark Kamo, so you can match it to the rest of your Carp Porter barrow luggage, or even the Korda Compac luggage.