Gearing up for France

We're planning a 10 day trip to France later this year to fish for the
monster French Carp.

I don't currently have the tackle for this kind of trip and have been
checking the magazine ad's and Ebay for deals on rod's, reels etc. One that
has caught my eye is the "2 for £20" deal on 2.5lb TC rods at Dragon Carp
(Hucknall, Notts). Has anyone used these rods and can offer an opinion?

I don't expect them to be amazing at that price, but at only a tenner each
if they're at all decent I'll have them!

__
m@

Matt (IS Team) wrote:
:: We're planning a 10 day trip to France later this year to fish for
:: the monster French Carp.
::
:: I don't currently have the tackle for this kind of trip and have
:: been checking the magazine ad's and Ebay for deals on rod's, reels
:: etc. One that has caught my eye is the "2 for £20" deal on 2.5lb
:: TC rods at Dragon Carp (Hucknall, Notts). Has anyone used these
:: rods and can offer an opinion?
::
:: I don't expect them to be amazing at that price, but at only a
:: tenner each if they're at all decent I'll have them!

Don't bother with Dragon anything, it's cheap kak
Your local tackleshop will have Zebco cheap carp rods for around 20 quid and
I have used these for years, until getting a couple of Fox Warriors.

TBH if you are forking out money for a trip to France, you really need to
spend a bit on proper tackle - you have a good chance of hooking something
in the 30 - 40lb bracket and a ten quid rod just isn't going to do it.

What are you using now for catching carp?



--

http://www.blueyonder256k.myby.co.uk/

If They are the dragon carp dynamo
i currently own a set the are good for casting out
a heavy pva bag for the money
4****

"Matt (IS Team)" wrote in message
...
We're planning a 10 day trip to France later this year to fish for the
monster French Carp.

I don't currently have the tackle for this kind of trip and have been
checking the magazine ad's and Ebay for deals on rod's, reels etc. One
that
has caught my eye is the "2 for £20" deal on 2.5lb TC rods at Dragon Carp
(Hucknall, Notts). Has anyone used these rods and can offer an opinion?

I don't expect them to be amazing at that price, but at only a tenner each
if they're at all decent I'll have them!

__
m@

"Phil L" wrote in message
k...
Matt (IS Team) wrote:
:: We're planning a 10 day trip to France later this year to fish for
:: the monster French Carp.
::
:: I don't currently have the tackle for this kind of trip and have
:: been checking the magazine ad's and Ebay for deals on rod's, reels
:: etc. One that has caught my eye is the "2 for £20" deal on 2.5lb
:: TC rods at Dragon Carp (Hucknall, Notts). Has anyone used these
:: rods and can offer an opinion?
::
:: I don't expect them to be amazing at that price, but at only a
:: tenner each if they're at all decent I'll have them!

Don't bother with Dragon anything, it's cheap kak
Your local tackleshop will have Zebco cheap carp rods for around 20 quid
and
I have used these for years, until getting a couple of Fox Warriors.

TBH if you are forking out money for a trip to France, you really need to
spend a bit on proper tackle - you have a good chance of hooking something
in the 30 - 40lb bracket and a ten quid rod just isn't going to do it.

What are you using now for catching carp?

I'm currently using a couple of heavy feeder rods. They cope very well with
what I've used them for so far (fish to 15lb, casting 2oz leads or small
method feeders 10-30yds) but I know they're not up to "proper" carping.
I normally but 2nd tier brands (Shakespeare etc) as I really won't notice
the difference between them and something twice the price, and was hoping
that the Dragon gear was at least useable, but if it's crap I'll stear
clear!

Many thanks...


m@

the fish are big and so are the lakes . you need to be able to hold pressure
while playing the big ones, and enough 'muscle' to cast out a long way.
I suggest 2.5lb not big enough; you really need 3lb+, and solid big pit
reels to match.

I dont know dragon, but note the earlier determined response - perhaps they
are too cheap!
Most cheaper end named brand - hyperloops, ron thompson, zebco, badger, pro
performance etc will be up to it. You will get more feel and fun with
up-market rods, but the thrill of catching big french ones will make you
forget all about the finer points (at least on the first trip!!)

dont forget a marker / spod set up, and decent carp care equipment - big
net, u/h mat etc

Check out Badger International; a strange blue colour, but the screamer big
pit reels have been very good for me for some years - currently down to
about £30. judging by that, their rods are probably fine as well.

Ian


"Matt (IS Team)" wrote in message
...
We're planning a 10 day trip to France later this year to fish for the
monster French Carp.

I don't currently have the tackle for this kind of trip and have been
checking the magazine ad's and Ebay for deals on rod's, reels etc. One
that has caught my eye is the "2 for £20" deal on 2.5lb TC rods at Dragon
Carp (Hucknall, Notts). Has anyone used these rods and can offer an
opinion?

I don't expect them to be amazing at that price, but at only a tenner each
if they're at all decent I'll have them!

__
m@

In message , "Holly, in France"
writes



Ian Hooksem wrote in message
snip
dont forget a marker / spod set up, and decent carp care equipment -
big
net, u/h mat etc

What is a u/h mat please?

Unhooking mat. A mat to protect the carp from the surface it is unhooked
on.

--
Steve Walker

Holly, in France wrote:
:: Ian Hooksem wrote in message
:: snip
::: dont forget a marker / spod set up, and decent carp care
::: equipment - big net, u/h mat etc
::
:: What is a u/h mat please?
::
An unhooking mat.
Basically, it's a padded er...mat on which you place the landed fish for
unhooking, some of them double over and seal with velcro making it into a
weighing sling as well, the fish can then be carried in it to the water for
release with less chance of injury.
They are a nessecity for big fish as their own body weight can cause
injuries if plonked down on gravel, rough grass or any other unsuitable
surface.

HTH

--

http://www.blueyonder256k.myby.co.uk/

Ian Hooksem wrote in message
snip
dont forget a marker / spod set up, and decent carp care equipment -
big
net, u/h mat etc

What is a u/h mat please?

--
Holly, in France.
Holiday home in the Dordogne,
website: http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr

Phil L wrote in message
Holly, in France wrote:

::
:: What is a u/h mat please?
::
An unhooking mat.
Basically, it's a padded er...mat on which you place the landed fish
for
unhooking, some of them double over and seal with velcro making it
into a
weighing sling as well, the fish can then be carried in it to the
water for
release with less chance of injury.
They are a nessecity for big fish as their own body weight can cause
injuries if plonked down on gravel, rough grass or any other
unsuitable
surface.

HTH

Yes, indeed it does, thanks Phil and Steve. Now I know what they are I
realise I have seen them on TV. Great idea for a present methinks, and a
good idea to have around in case we have visitors who don't come well
prepared. I am a little worried that someone may catch one of our big
carp and be unable to handle it if they are not used to it, or not very
strong. My 12 yr old son caught our biggest one, but luckily my husband
was around. I don't let the children fish with boilies now unless my
husband is close enough to home to be called back if necessary. I guess
the same rule might have to apply to visitors if they are not very
experienced or very confident. But anyway, a mat will be useful, thanks
again.
--
Holly, in France.
Holiday home in the Dordogne,
website: http://la-plaine.chez.tiscali.fr