Getting Started in Carp Fishing: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Carp fishing can seem very daunting to a newcomer to the sport, as there is so much variety of tackle, and all sorts of different techniques, to choose from, which can make it all very confusing.

When it comes to the tackle that you need to actually get started, it is far less than you might think, and you can go out and catch some carp without needing every single piece of kit that is made for carp fishing!

The same applies to fishing techniques and rigs, and as long as you know and understand some of the basics, and apply them properly, that is enough to catch some fish, and especially so on an easier, higher stock water.

Which brings us onto choosing where you actually go fishing, and setting yourself realistic targets – if your first objective is to go out and catch a 40-pounder, then you’re likely to either fail, or give up fishing soon afterwards, if size is all that is important to you.

Here we take an in-depth look at how to get into carp fishing, what you actually need, and what is essential when you're first starting out.

What is Carp Fishing?

Whilst that may sound like an incredibly obvious question, it is actually subject to debate, as carp come in all different sizes and are found in most venues these days.

Technically you could argue that somebody sat on a seat box in a match is actually carp fishing if that is their target species, or apply the same to a pleasure angler chucking out a pellet waggler on a commercial day ticket lake.

But whilst they are all targeting carp, we tend to separate them into separate disciplines, and what we are talking about here is specimen style carp fishing, which tends to involve targeting larger fish – not necessarily monsters, but doubles and upwards rather than going for lots of small ones.

The tactics used for specimen carp fishing also tend to differ greatly. Most people would associate it with using a hair rig and hookbait such as a boilie, with the rod set on a bite alarm, and often fishing with multiple rods where venue rules allow. Combined with the specialist tackle used, this is what really differentiates specimen carp fishing from other ways of targeting carp.

It doesn’t mean spending days on the bank at a time, or even staying overnight, just that you are fishing in a way and with the sort of tackle that we associate with carp fishing, and plenty of anglers enjoy successful day sessions, or trips after work where they only have a few hours available. 

Where Should You Start Carp Fishing?

Choosing the right sort of venue is very important at this stage, as the quickest way to learn is by catching carp.

Sitting behind motionless rods for days on end will teach you little, if anything, when you are new to the sport and still working out the basics, and if you do happen to catch a big fish along the way, it is likely it will be more by luck than you having worked out exactly how to catch them.

You will make far quicker progress if you choose a water with a good stock of carp and where you will be getting chances fairly regularly, and take the approach where the size of the fish is largely irrelevant to start with – once you know what you are doing, you can then target bigger fish on harder waters, and aim to increase your personal best.

It also makes good sense to choose somewhere that is accessible – some lakes aren’t and have waiting lists – and won’t cost you a fortune. Until you know whether you actually enjoy carp fishing, and the specific style of fishing you like, it is likely that you will fish a variety of different venues initially, and these will typically be day ticket waters, or on cheaper club tickets which you may already have if you’re coming into the sport from a pleasure or match fishing background.

Often, this will involve going to some sort of commercial fishery, maybe even one that you’ve pleasure fished in the past, and targeting one of the lakes on the complex that is aimed more at specimen sized carp – which is very typical of these types of waters with multiple lakes on site.

Fishing clubs are a great option as usually they have a number of different lakes containing carp on their ticket, and it also means you might get to meet and become friendly with other anglers at the venues, who you can learn from and swap ideas.

In England and Wales you are required to have a rod licence before you can go fishing, and these can be purchased online.

What Should Beginners Expect from Carp Fishing?

There are more big carp around these days than there have ever been before, but the quickest way to lose interest in carp fishing is by setting yourself completely unrealistic expectations initially.

Focus more on the learning side of things than the actual size of the fish, and whilst a 40-pounder is what most carp anglers dream about, the way in which you catch it is just as important.

Anybody can get lucky if they have a bait in the water and have it picked up by a big carp, but unless you really understand how and why you caught it, the whole process won’t actually leave you with any more knowledge than you had before the capture, just a nice photo in your album.

Part of the appeal of fishing for most anglers is the fact that we are constantly learning – even anglers who’ve been doing it for decades – and there is always something new or different, and going through that process will also teach you along the way.

An angler whose aim is to catch a few carp of any size, whilst they get to know more about  the sport, and then to gradually progress onto harder lakes with bigger fish, is much more likely to become a lifelong angler than someone who is obsessed with just catching big carp from the outset – in that case, it is often the size of the fish, rather than the angling experience as a whole, which appeals to them, and when they don’t succeed they sell their gear and move onto something else.

So, it is great to have targets, as we all do in all aspects of life, but make sure they are realistic ones, and that achieving them actually teaches you something along the way.

What Tackle Do You Need to Start Carp Fishing?

When you look at just how much different carp fishing tackle is available these days, it isn’t surprising that some newcomers to the sport are daunted by it all, or think that getting into carp fishing is going to cost them a fortune.

Depending on how far you take it, carp fishing is a sport that can end up costing you a lot of money, both on the actual tackle that you use, as well as bait. But it is also possible to go out and catch carp with a fairly minimal amount of kit that won’t break the bank.

If you are only fishing day sessions then you won’t even need to worry about bivvies and bedchairs, and a simple fishing seat, like our Compac Low Chairs, plus some sort of brolly or shelter in case it rains, is all you need.

With the amount of kit that you take for a day session, it is likely that you’ll be able to fit it all in one fishing rucksack or carryall, including your tackle box and all the basic terminal tackle bits you need to get started.

If you are planning on night fishing as well then you will need a bedchair and a bivvy of some sort to protect you from the elements, as well as additional luggage for items such as food and cooking equipment, and likely some sort of Carp Porter barrow to transport it all to your swim. This guide explains exactly what you need for your first night session.

Aside from that, all you really need to go out and catch some carp are some suitable rods and reels, with the Kaizen Green range providing a wide range of rods at an affordable price. Whilst it is the norm in carp fishing to use multiple rods at a time, you don’t actually need to and can catch on a single rod, or can just buy a pair of rods and reels initially.

These need to be of a sufficient test curve to allow you to cast to where you need to, and also to land anything that you hook. When it comes to reels, this will mean having one that is capable of holding enough 10lb to 15lb line, as well as having some sort of baitrunner or quick drag facility.

You will also want some sort of rod support system for your rods to sit on whilst you’re waiting for a bite, plus you will need bite indication via a bite alarm and some sort of bobbin.

Just as important as having the right tackle to actually land the fish that you hook, is making sure that you are able to look after them properly on the bank.

So, you are going to need a landing net of a suitable size so as to actually fit the fish in it comfortably – a net that is too small is not only bad for the fish and could damage fins, but also makes it much harder to net them and increase the chances of losing it at the net.

Once you have landed a carp, you are going to need a proper unhooking mat of an appropriate size to protect it once it is on the bank, as well as some sort of weigh sling or retainer sling, so as you can transfer it in and out the water, and weigh it safely (assuming you have scales). A good unhooking mat is also essential when you are taking photos of the fish.

What Carp Rig Should Beginners Use?

Looking at the vast array of different carp rigs can feel daunting, especially as some of them look complicated.

You don’t need to learn how to tie them all though, or even how to tie any of them initially, as ready-tied versions of the popular rigs are available, and you simply tie it on to your main line along with your chosen lead system, add a hookbait, and you’re ready to cast out.

If you do want to learn how to tie them yourself, it is actually much easier than you might think, and there are lots of step-by-step guides and videos showing exactly how to construct the most popular rigs.

Some of those are simple, and basically involve a knotless knot and some sort of hair rig, and even the popular spinner rig, also known as a Ronnie rig, is actually very easy to make once you get the hang of crimping – it is actually simpler than most rigs that involve a knot at the hook end!

The new Korda Essentials range is a great place to start when it comes to rig components, as this has been designed to be more affordable, and a direct replacement to our Basix range, which is a good place to start for things such as hook link material, lead systems, and hooks.

You will also need to learn some basic knots as well and how to tie them properly, as a badly tied knot can significantly weaken your line or hook link material. 

What Is the Best Bait for Beginner Carp Fishing?

You are also going to need bait, and this is arguably even more important than the tackle, as whilst having more expensive kit often won’t result in more carp on the bank, a good bait can make all the difference – something that Korda boss Danny Fairbrass has pointed out numerous times himself.

Boilies are the bait that most specimen carp anglers use, although particles, pellets and many other baits will also catch carp. Which is best depends on the venue and the situation, and we cover all of that in our guide to carp baits.

Hookbaits of some description are also going to be essential and there are plenty to choose from, with a wide range of different coloured and flavoured pop-ups and wafter boilies, as well as plastic Fake Foods artificial baits such as corn, various particles, or even just a standard boilie bottom bait straight out of the bag. Your choice of hookbait will usually depend on the angling situation and the rig that you are using.

How Do You Look After Carp Safely?

Anglers often think of this purely as looking after a carp on the bank with things such as a suitable sized unhooking mat, but it comes into other aspects of fishing as well.

You need to learn how to fish in a way that is safe for the carp and gives you the best possible chance of landing them, and that includes using appropriate tackle and only casting into spots where you will land most of what you hook, and especially so when fishing near snags.

It also involves the way that you set up your terminal tackle, ensuring that in the event that your main line snaps, the carp can always gets rid of the lead, unhindered by leader knots or rig tubing.

How Do You Cast Accurately in Carp Fishing?

There will be lots of new techniques to learn, and with most, the more you use them the better you will get at them.

But probably the most important of all is going to be casting, and how to do it accurately and get your rig in the right spot every time.

The cast itself will take a while before you perfect the timing of the lead release so that you are consistently casting the same way each time.

Accuracy is a big factor in carp angling success, so you will need to learn how to find your spots, clip up and measure how far out your spot is using distance sticks, and you’ll then be able to recast accurately back onto your bait even at night.

The alternative to this, which is significantly less effective, is to just cast out, hope you land on an area where the carp want to feed, and then hope that your loosefeed ends up somewhere near your rig, which in many situations will result in you catching nothing or occasionally getting lucky.

What Clothing Do You Need for Carp Fishing?

You certainly don't need specialist carp clothing to get started, and many anglers begin in ordinary outdoor clothing.

The important thing is that it is comfortable, suitable for the weather, and doesn't restrict your movement when casting or playing fish.

As you spend more time on the bank, purpose designed fishing clothing, such as the Korda Clothing range, becomes worthwhile because it is built around the demands of carp fishing, from waterproof jackets to insulated clothing for winter sessions.

Starting Carp Fishing: Quick Questions

How do I start carp fishing?

The best way to start carp fishing is by choosing an easier venue with a good stock of fish, using simple tackle and rigs, and focusing on learning rather than targeting the biggest carp. As your experience grows you can gradually move on to more challenging waters and more advanced techniques.

What tackle do I need to start carp fishing?

To start carp fishing you will need suitable rods and reels, fishing line, a rod support system, bite alarms, terminal tackle, bait, a landing net, an unhooking mat, a weigh sling and suitable luggage. If you plan to fish overnight you will also need a bedchair and bivvy.

Do I need expensive tackle to catch carp?

No. You can catch plenty of carp with a relatively simple and affordable setup. Expensive tackle is not essential when starting out, and it is often better to invest in reliable equipment and quality bait than buying every item available.

What is the best venue for beginner carp anglers?

Beginners should choose waters with a good stock of carp where they are likely to get regular chances. Commercial fisheries and club waters are often ideal because they are accessible, affordable and allow anglers to build confidence before progressing to more difficult lakes.

What is the best carp rig for beginners?

A simple hair rig is an excellent place to start. Ready tied rigs are widely available and allow beginners to fish effectively without needing to tie complicated rigs. As your confidence grows you can learn to tie your own rigs.

What bait should beginners use for carp fishing?

Boilies are one of the most popular baits used by specimen carp anglers and are a great choice for beginners. Particles, pellets and other baits also catch carp, with the best option depending on the venue, conditions and fishery rules.

Do I need to fish overnight to catch carp?

No. Plenty of carp are caught during day sessions or even after work when anglers only have a few hours available. Overnight fishing is not essential when you are getting started.

What is the biggest mistake beginners make when carp fishing?

One of the biggest mistakes is choosing a lake that is too difficult too soon. Beginners learn much faster by fishing venues where they regularly get bites, rather than targeting very large carp before they have developed the necessary skills.

How important is carp care?

Carp care is an essential part of the sport. Anglers should use appropriate tackle, land fish safely, use a suitable landing net and unhooking mat, and ensure their terminal tackle is set up so the fish can safely shed the lead if the main line breaks.

What skills should I learn after starting carp fishing?

Once you understand the basics, useful skills to learn include finding productive spots, casting accurately, using distance sticks and clipping up, understanding how weather affects carp, baiting techniques, line lay, night fishing, surface fishing and zig rig fishing.