carp pike
- Thread starter stewvie
- Start date
In general yes, it also depends on the quality of the blank. But basically a higher test curve will give you a more powerful rod for casting.
super-MAGuire
Well-known member
The test curve is rated by the amount of wieght to bend the rod to form arc down to 90degres... e.g. if you hold your rod by the butt, and you hang a 3lb wieght off it, it would bend until the tip points to the floor to lift it/loaded under 3lb of pressure. Personally i prefer the softer carp rods, (2lb t.c.) even for the bigger fish, they just absorb the lunges much better than the heavier rods, and a good quality one will have enough reserved power to control any size fish.
But i know people who prefer to use the stiffer rods... each to their own.
I'm with you on the softer rods but when your casting 4oz leads with 6oz fish a good distance you need a higher test curve. I use 2.5 TC for boat/river use and 3.25 and 3.5 for general dead baiting for pike.
Carp fishing on small waters, I just use my boat rods.
super-MAGuire
Well-known member
never done any pike'ing, only bit carp/general course this year, i do fancy some pike fishing but wouldnt know where to start. Done well though, upto 20lb carp, 27.5lb catfish, 5lb tench, 5lb chub, and plenty good specimen size roach and rudd too. I have a 3.75lb tc fox rod i use to float fish for pollock, but i use that sometimes for carp, but prefer my 2lb tc shimano for carping, i usually freeline or method feed, the method feeder can be a pain, at around 5oz fully loaded the stiffer rod is easier to cast 40-50yds. So i understand the deadbaiting 
plenty of grunt in the back bone to fire that wieght out their!
plenty of grunt in the back bone to fire that wieght out their!never done any pike'ing, only bit carp/general course this year, i do fancy some pike fishing but wouldnt know where to start. Done well though, upto 20lb carp, 27.5lb catfish, 5lb tench, 5lb chub, and plenty good specimen size roach and rudd too. I have a 3.75lb tc fox rod i use to float fish for pollock, but i use that sometimes for carp, but prefer my 2lb tc shimano for carping, i usually freeline or method feed, the method feeder can be a pain, at around 5oz fully loaded the stiffer rod is easier to cast 40-50yds. So i understand the deadbaiting
It is a fine line, there's nothing worse than playing a nice fish on such a stiff rod. Personally I like my light feeder for carp fishing, it's only done carp to 9 pound but has a nice bend in it and it cushions all lunges. It's hard to lose fish like this.
I wrote an article on pike fishing a while back, worth a read for anyone wanting to give it a try. The gear you have will be fine. I only use 4oz leads as I like a good tight line and I like the lead to stay putt to minimise resistance. They are
good for distance work too so it's my first choice lead weight.
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Here's the link to the pike fishing write up I did. Basic stuff but ideal to get a first timer started.
http://www.nesa.co.uk/forums/freshwater-fishing/109315-pike-fishing.html
http://www.nesa.co.uk/forums/freshwater-fishing/109315-pike-fishing.html
super-MAGuire
Well-known member
yeah, i have a pellet waggler i love to use for floating bread for them, and tried a cheap feeder rod i hsvr, but got no feed back through the rod when playing the fish, so was difficult to either set the hook (resulting in it being thrown if the carp jumped, or to turn runs away from the snags.
I'll have a good read through the pike article like, thanks.
I'll have a good read through the pike article like, thanks.
super-MAGuire
Well-known member
where is their near, day ticket or free to fish for pike?
Probably river tees free stretch, bolam lake day ticket or qe2 day ticket.
super-MAGuire
Well-known member
I'll have a good google spy, the tee's got any free stretches?
I like the idea of a river fish than lake stocked
I like the idea of a river fish than lake stocked
Tees has a free stretch at Yarm, most waters hold wild pike as to stocked fish.
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