49 Essential tackle items for carp fishing in France

You will be amazed by the amount of carp tackle you take with you.

1. Passport - Obvious really but if you forget it you will ruin your holiday before it even got started.
2. Fishing rods (x2-4) - A good range of rods to cover all situations. These do not need to be any different from the ones you use for your normal fishing. If you are considering your rod choice, just think about the distance you will be fishing or casting. If long range fishing is a strong possibility consider taking some rods in the fast taper, higher 3-3.5lb test curve.
3. Marker rod - A good specialist marker rod if you need to identify feeding spots and depths. These should be capable of casting a long way with a stiff tip action for feeling the bottom of the water.
4. Spod rod - If you need to bait up at range then a Spod is another essential bit of kit. A specialist spod will be able to stand up to the punishment this task can give out.
5. Stalking Rod - If you have the opportunity to roam around your chosen venue, stalking is often a great way to catch a few extra fish during the quite periods. A shorter softer action stalking rod can be great fun with big fish.
6. Reels - A reel for each rod you take plus a fully loaded spare spool if you have it. Your reels again do not have to really different from the ones you normally use. The only exception is fishing at very long range you may need a higher line capacity spool or big pit reel. For Spod and Marker work I would recommend a big pit just to stop your arm from dropping off doing all those retrieves!
7. Landing nets and poles - A good quality 42 inch plus landing net. Take an additional one if using a boat as you can then leave one in the boat with a shortened handle for easy manoeuvrability.
8. Large unhooking mat - Due to the larger size of the fish you will be catching. A good large beanie type unhooking mat is great. This will give you something to knee on to if the ground is damp and will protect the fish. They are also great for floating fish out into the water for those in the water trophy shots if you catch a good one. Take two if you are fishing with a boat.
9. Umbrella for stalking - During the day maybe slow on a lot of waters. This presents an ideal opportunity to go away from you main peg and try you hand at a little stalking. A brolly in this situation is great for keeping the rain or sun off you back for a few hours.
10. Bait buckets - Personally like to have a good range of bait bucket sizes with me. Typically you will need containers for none prepare bait (particles to to be cooked), pre-prepared bait, method mixes, hook baits and washing fish at the mat.
11. Markers - Depending on you fishing style and whether you are using a boat will determine the variety of markers you should take with you. Generally a few normal marker floats for you marker rod will be sufficient. However again if using a boat you may like to have a semi permanent marker in the water to bait up and cast to. This could be a H-Block marker or even a long length of conduit pipe pushed into the bottom. The pipe is a great idea for building up a feeding spot during you session. I have used this method before and the fish are not spooked by the pipe if fact they often give then selves away by rubbing up against it causing it to waggle!
12. Batteries - Make sure you replace fresh batteries in all your electronic device that you take with you from torches, bit alarms and scales. It is also a good idea to take a few spare just in case you drain them down.
13. Head torch - Probably the most important piece of kit to take next to the rods and reels. A head torch will make your life easy at night when you need the essential light for a run or sorting out a rig or two. As a quick tip I have actually taken to sleeping with mine hanging around my neck, this way there is not stumbling around in the dark when the rods go.
14. Small umbrella - Can be useful for investigation trips around the lake or just visiting your mates a few pegs down. Saves you getting completely soaked. Leave that for when you get a take in a rain storm with no jacket!
15. Bank sticks - I always take bank sticks in a variety of lengths this way I know I have the options to change my setup to the method I and fishing or to fit the peg I am in. Bank sticks will allow you to span out your rods more effectively even separating them several yards away from each other. I also like to have the option of raising the rod tips high to clear margin weed beds and aiding line detection at night.
16. Pod - Fishing from a rod pod is never my first choice but sometimes you may just be in a peg that does not allow you to knock in the bank sticks. Quite a few times I have been presented with a wooden platform or concrete like ground on the peg. A pod is the easy solution.
17. Bivvy light - A fixed light in the bivvy can be useful but by no means essential. Personally I prefer a slow burning candle to give some soft light when needed. The candle combined with the head torch gives light to most situations.
18. Peg light - A peg light is needed when using a boat at night. I never recommend you go out in a boat single handed with out support in the boat or bank side but if you do don’t forget to flick on the peg guiding light.
19. Terminal tackle - Terminal tackle can often be the items that cause the most worry on what to take. However a few careful considerations will mean you take the right amount of bits with you. I tend to try and limit myself to a few rigs that suit 99% of my fishing therefore I can narrow down my terminals to a few key elements. This coupled with a few variations in hook size and lead arrangement you should be sorted out.
20. Bed chair - A good quality comfortable bedchair. If you don’t have one then your going to be in for a bad time and serious pain. Fishing abroad can be seriously hard work. To the none angler or noddy that seems ridiculous but trust me if can be. With hopefully sleep less nights due to the sound of screaming alarms and busy preparing day times there is little chance of a good nights rest. If this is put in combination with an uncomfortable bed, think again?
21. Day chair - I highly recommend a taking a day chair this gives you the freedom to leave your bed chair and sleeping bag set up. You can then sit outside of the bivvy watching the water or take the chair on your stalking sessions. It can even serve as the guest chair for those visitors.
22. Chest waders - Chest waders are a none essential item for a lot of waters abroad much like in the UK. Personal I think they are great they give so many different options from placing bait or hook lengths in difficult to reach places to getting through nice trophy shots in the water. I have fished a few places where being without them would have meant fishing would be near impossible or at least very comfortable.
23. Clothes - The range or clothes you take with you is up to you. Just ensure that you have a few changes of everything, something for hot weather shorts, hat, flip flops and something for the cold jumpers, jackets, over trousers, boots, woolly hat. Of course you are going to check the weather before you go, but I don’t think I have been abroad yet and not had changeable conditions. Typically hot to temperate days with cold nights.
24. Sleeping bag - A good sleeping bag will ensure you are comfortable and warm when it comes to re-charging the batteries. Try and get a bag that suits the temperature or an all season one you can boost by wearing more layers.
25. Washing kit - Don’t forget to take your washing kit with you, as a good freshen up and shower if possible during the holiday is great. And an absolute must before you go home if you want to get back into the country that is.
26. Cooking kit - Water carrier, pans, cup, utensils, knife and fork, tea towel, washing up bowl, washing up liquid, scourer
27. Baiting spoon - A very useful item when baiting up from a boat, any kind of large scoop will do.
28. Throwing stick - If you are fishing with bollies then consider taking a throwing stick. It is a very efficient way to get a good scattering of baits at range. As opposed to spodding bollies in clustered piles.
29. Bait - This is a post all of its own but just to give you some guidelines. The first options to sort out are what your main bait attack and strategy are. This may range from fishing single roving baits with PVA bags to piling in as much bait as possible and creating an artificial feeding spot. I think most people fit somewhere in the middle. I personally like to do both approaches starting slow and increasing bait amounts dependent on fish activity. The main bait of choice is usually bollies but large quantities can cost a lot. So choose a supplementary bait such as particles, pellets or ground bait to ease the spend. Choose your main bait and then bulk up around that approach with what you are comfortable taking. Give your self 3 or 4 alternatives so you can ring the changes if necessary. In my experience the fish abroad a generally not as picky about bait as here in the UK, as long as it quality they’ll have it.
30. Weigh sling - A weigh sling for ease to recording of your prize. I have one of the safety weigh slings and I have to say its great. I like it because it not only makes weighing a fish easy but also allows you carry the fish safely in one hand, allows you to lower a fish back to the water very easily.
31. Scales - Scales come in lots of different versions. Just ensure that yours weigh up to the correct poundage and are weighing accurately. Check those batteries if your using the digital versions. My preference is a set of Reuben Heatons with a weigh bar which have served me well.
32. PVA - I am a big fan of PVA and use it a lot here in the UK, so logically I take a variety to France with me. Solid bags, Mesh tube, string and tape.
33. Spare line - You will be amazed the state that you main line will get into at the end of your long session. I always equate a week 24/7 fishing and catching large carp to probably a years worth of short session fishing for me in the UK. I always carry enough spare line to re-spool at least one rod as you never know when the mother of all line tackles will wipe you out.
34. Stove - Your stove will provide you with those endless cups of tea and coffee you will be drinking as well as been you main resource for hot food. For long sessions I have a Tilley double burner stove which makes cooking an evening meal a lot easier and quicker than a small single burner, however it is bulky and very heavy so the choice is yours.
35. Cooking essentials - Don’t forget cooking utensil’s, pots and pans, washing up equipment, tin opener, tea towel, knifes, forks, spoons.
36. Gas / Fuel - Take plenty of fuel with you in the Camping gas or Unlead varieties.
37. Bivvy Table - A great little addition for the long stay, creates a great home for all those quick access items so they are always available.
38. Bivvy - Your choice of home is endless some people don’t differ from there normal bivvy/brolly they use for over night sessions in the UK. I have to admit I go for a larger two man version. Allows me to set up a comfortable base camp with plenty of room to sit in if the weather turns nasty.
39. Camera - A good camera is a must to record your time away. Some people I know still go for the traditional 35mm camera. But I think you just can not beat a good digital camera for the fisherman. This way you can check your shots before the fish goes back and compare fish caught over the session. My choice for a compact camera is the Olympus Mui range, they offer good quality shots with the additional feature of a self take trigger button, making those shots you take your self a lot easier. If you want to up the quality my other camera is a Nikkon D40X this give superb picture quality again with the self take option.
40. Sunglasses - A good set of polarised shades are essentials, the sporty ones that grip with the arms are great so you don’t lose them.
41. Hat - If you don’t want to get burnt to a crisp a hat in the peck or floppy variety will help.
42. Sun cream - twined with wearing a sun hat if its hot get it slapped on.
43. Catapult - You may think you can do with out but they can come in so useful in the margin spots.
44. Warm Clothes - Depending of the time of year, warmer clothes may not be needed but what ever the time of year I would still take your cold weather gear as hot days can have surprisingly cold nights. This is when you are fingers cross going to be at your most active the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable and cold.
45. Water container - Better take one. Bottles can be a real pain if its a long way to the tap.
46. Fishing Towel - I always carry one for wiping your hands after a fish or drying off rigs for PVA bags.
47. Food - You may think that you are best to get all your food abroad. For the majority of it you are right. The supermarkets particularly in France are great and full of lovely stuff. However taking an essentials food parcel is a good option, full of emergency supplies.
48. Knife and tools - A good knife can be a very useful item for clearing swims and cutting into different baits. A small selection of tools is also a good idea just in case you need to tighten, slacken or grip something. I find a Leatherman type of tool is perfect for this use small light weight and very useful.
49. Bait Cages - Often overseas water can have large numbers of Poison Chat and Crayfish. If this is the case you may need to wrap your baits in a mesh or use a shrinkable bait guard.

Not everything on this list is essential for every water. So tailor your equipment as much as you can to the fishing situation you will face. A good tip is to run through with the fishery manager what they think you will need before you go.