It often seems like carp fishing comes with a lot of equipment, which can be a little daunting if you're just starting out. Once you know the basics, however, it's all quite simple. Read on for some tips. When you're starting out, you may be tempted to buy the cheapest equipment available, but it's worth spending a bit more money to get quality products you'll also be able to use as a more experienced angler. Better quality equipment also means you'll catch more fish, which is surely the whole point!

One of the most important pieces of equipment you'll need is a rod. Most anglers buy two or more, but you only need one to get started. The type of rod you need will depend on where you'll be fishing. If you're after carp of less than 15lb, then a fairly light rod with around 2lb of test curve will be plenty. If you need to cast off to bigger distances, go for a test curve of 3lb. Medium action rods are good for beginners as they're flexible and powerful.

To go with your rod, you'll also need a reel. This should ideally match your rod. Choosing a reel is a personal thing, so a good way to find the one that's right for you is to test one on the rod you're buying. Make sure it fits well so you have good balance. Also consider buying a reel with a baitrunner. This will stop any carp that bite your bait from pulling the whole rod into the lake as you'll hear the line move when they take the bait.

In order to catch carp, you also need a line. A good rule to work out what kind you'll need is to multiply the test curve of your rod by five, meaning that for a 2lb test curve, you need a 10lb line. If your line is too light then you run the risk of losing fish. For beginners, standard monofilament lines are recommended but, again, the type of line you need depends on which reel you decide to buy.

To complement the rest of your equipment, it's worth spending a bit of money on decent hooks, as cheap ones are likely to lose fish. This is because they bend, break, or aren't sharp enough to hook the fish in the first place. Invest in a selection of sizes from 12 to 4 to cover all eventualities. It can also be an idea to invest in some 1-3oz weights to help sink the hooks. Then all that's left to do is buy a case to carry it all in!