If you plan on catching that crafty carp then you’ll need a decent carp fishing rod to go with your tackle.
Depending on whether you need to cast long range or short range, the test-curve and length of carp rod is an important decision to make. You’ll also need a decent carp fishing reel to compliment your carp rod. The best carp fishing rods are made from carbon fibre material and offer superior balance compared to other cheap carp rods constructed from glass fibre mix.
If you’re looking to buy a new carp rod then this page is a great place to start. I’ve reviewed the best 2-piece and 3-piece carp fishing rods from popular brands such as Greys, Shimano and Daiwa below:
My Top 6 Carp Fishing Rods
Here are my 6 best rods for catching carp:
Shimano Tribal TX2 Carp Rod
Shimano, a Japanese brand well known for making the best carp bait-runners in the world. The Tribal X2 is a powerful and responsive carp rod made from XT60 carbon and finished with stainless steel guides:
The slim and slender design makes this carp rod lightweight and responsive. For this reason, Shimano gave the TX2 a rubber handle for improved grip in wet weather conditions.
The strength and power of this rod make it my first choice for large stubborn carp. The blanks have a DPS reel seat with stainless steel SIC guides to protect the line when you’re hooked into that big fish.
Key Features:
- 10ft, 11f, 12ft carp rods
- 2.75lbs – 3.5lbs test curve
- XT60 carbon fibre blank
- DPS reel seat
Editors Rating: 5
Greys Prodigy GT4 Rod
Greys Prodigy GT4 is the 4th generation of the leading Prodigy carp rods. Featuring woven carbon fibre and super smooth progressive action that will keep you in control:
The GT4 is a great looking high-performance carp rod that’s both powerful and responsive for playing big fish. I recommend the Prodigy GT4 carp rod for casting long-range, so perfect for fishing big lakes. Features a Fuji DPS-18 reel seat, stealth black anodised collars and a slim shrink wrap handle for extra grip.
Key Features:
- 10ft – 13ft carp rods
- 3lbs – 3.5lbs test curve
- 3k-UD carbon fibre blank
- Fuji DPS-18-reel seat
Don’t forget your Polaroid fishing glasses if you want to improve your vision finding the best spot to cast your bait.
Daiwa Black Widow Carp Rod
Daiwa is well known for quality budget fishing rods. The Daiwa Black Widow G50 is lightweight and powerful. It certainly lives up to expectation!
The high quality ceramic rings and stainless steel frame guides create a slim profile. With 50mm butt guides and 3.5lb test-curve, the rod allows for high action casting power and precision accuracy.
The DPS reel seat will fit any popular carp reel. The rod is matt black and has an aluminium butt making it very stylish. When fishing with the Black Widow you can feel comfortable catching big game and it handles the playing of fish really well.
Key Features:
- 10ft, 12ft carp rod
- 2.75lbs – 4.5lbs test curve
- Lightweight carbon blanks
- DPS style reel seat
Sonik Vader X RS Carp Rod
Sonik is a new fishing brand established in 2008. They’ve established a reputation for creating the best carp rods and fishing tackle that are both high-quality and exceptional value for money. Constructed from slim, lightweight, armoured blanks with progressive casting action:
Sonik Vader X RS carp rods offer a sleek design, constructed from super lightweight DL guides to protect your line. There is a hard-wearing anti-frap ceramic tip ring, to further improve your chances of landing that fish. The rod has a 17mm black DPS reel to accommodate big pit reels as well as slimmer bait runner reels.
Key Features:
- 12ft Carp Rod
- 3lbs Test Curve
- Lightweight Armoured Carbon Blank
- 17mm Black DPS Reel Seat
Wychwood Riot Carp Fishing Rod
Key Features:
- Lightweight Carbon Fibre Blank
- 50mm Butt Guide (12ft models)
- Black DPS Reel Seat
Shakespeare Cypry Carp Rod
This 12ft fishing rod by Shakespeare is designed to catch carp smoothly. Not only is the rod great value for money but it also offers 3.0 lb powerful casting action and is constructed of high-quality carbon with a sleek black finish.
Key Features:
- Carbon Blank Construction
- Quality Lined Guides
- Through Action Blanks
- Popular Budget Carp Rod
Carp Rod Accessories
Here are some recommended accessories to compliment your carp fishing rod:
Lixada Portable Rod Carrier
Perfect for carrying your carp rods to the lake.
Arapaima Camouflage Rod Bag
NGT Anglers Carp Rod Holdall
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about carp fishing rods:
What’s the Best Size Rod For Carp?
I prefer to use a 10ft rod for stalking carp, the shorter length makes a surprising difference when you want to fish close to the banks or trees without getting snagged. The 9ft rods available are also perfect for stalking carp on the margins.
Anything over 10ft would be better suited for casting longer distance on larger waters. I recommend 12ft carp rods, which are suitable for most angling situations. The 12ft rods have a semi to fast playing action and a test curve of 2.75 to 3lbs. Most experienced carp fisherman will take three rods with them as part of a 3-rod set up:
What’s the Best Test Curve For Carp?
For beginners, I recommend starting at 2.75lb test curve which is capable of casting 3oz weight and bait for approximately 100 yards. The 2.5lbs to 2.75lbs range is best suited for casting shorter distances or smaller lakes.
The most popular carp rod is 3lbs test curve and will make a great all-rounder. The 3.5lbs to 3.75lbs test curve rods are better suited for casting long distance on large waters.
What’s the UK Freshwater Fishing Rules?
There are some general freshwater fishing rules you’ll need to follow at all lakes where you fish for carp or any other species of fish. These rules usually enforce when and where you can fish, such as what swims and at what times. There are also rules for the number of rods and baits you can use, lures, weights, keep nets and landing nets. The UK Government website has more information on tackle you can use when freshwater coarse fishing.
Jason Sawyer
Expert UK Fish Species Hunter
I have now caught over 100 different species of fish from British waters. My site is completely independent, financed only by you clicking on retailer links and buying something (at no extra cost to you). If you do - thanks a million I wish you tight lines fishing!