The techniques for carp fishing are very simplistic, however there are small details that require your attention to improve your catch rate. There are no lures involved. This is an omnivorous bottom feeder that detects its food by scent so bait selection is important.

There are general two grassroot techniques that can be used. They are float fishing and bottom fishing. Because it is a shy fish that can be spooked easily, light tackle with great sensitivity is required. For fishing line, I generally prefer to spool up 4lb or 6lb test line on my reels. The leader strength can range between 2lb and 6lb test, depending on the size of the fish that I am targeting.

When bottom fishing, a spinning rod that has a sensitive tip should be employed so small bites can be detected. The rod needs to have great flexibility, but at the same time it should be able to maintain its stiffness to withstand those long runs. The terminal tackle is relatively simple. Thread the mainline through a sliding weight and tie on a swivel. Tie a leader between 1.5 to 2 feet in length at the other end, this is followed by a hook between size 10 and 16. The sliding weight allows the fish to bite without feeling any resistance. The amount of weight used is dictated by the amount of current present in the waters that you are fishing.

There is a huge amount of science that is involved in float fishing for carp. A wide selection of floats is available in the coarse fishing market. Each float style is designed to suit the depth, water current, wind, lighting and other environmental factors on that particular day. Currently, my favorite float for carp is Drennan's Crystal Avon. It's sensitive, but it retains great stability even during strong current. You do not need an unique rod for float fishing, but it has to be slightly longer than others. I generally prefer 8 to 10 feet. This allows greater control when casting a float and setting the hook. The terminal tackle below the float is similar to the bottom rig, replace the large sliding weight with tiny split shots. Balancing the float is a crucial step. Your depth should be set so that the hook is lying on or just suspending above the bottom.

Coarse anglers love tiny fishing gadgets. If you ever attend a coarse fishing tournament, you will notice that each angler has several rods and a gigantic tackle box that is filled with hundreds of floats, hooks and weights. Their intention is not to catch more fish, but to be prepared for any condition that they may encounter. As a weekend angler, there isn't a need for you to carry so much, it would be an overkill. I usually like to have three or four different sizes of float with me, these are accompanied by a package of hooks, a spool of 4lb test line and a box of weights. In addition, a rod holder, a chair and a landing net are required. Carp can be slippery, and trying to land a 5lb+ fish on 4lb test line without a net can be messy.

What about bait?

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