By Thomas Finney
Two Rods to Cover All
Surface fishing for carp is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to catch them. Over the years, I’ve refined my approach to two main setups: a fly rod and a floater rod. Together, they give me the versatility to adapt to different situations and achieve consistent success — even on pressured day-ticket venues.
The Fly Setup
For fly fishing, I prefer a 7 or 8 weight rod around 9–10 feet in length, similar to those used for reservoir trout. On weedier venues, I may step up to a 9 or 10 weight, though this can compromise delicate presentation. My go-to rods are from the Wychwood Ionica and Flow ranges.
I pair them with sealed drag wide arbor reels, spooled with a stretchy floating fly line such as the Connect Series 2 Rocket Floater. That stretch is essential for absorbing powerful takes. My reel choices are usually the Wychwood Flow and Ionica.
For the leader, I use 7–8 feet of copolymer with a 2-foot fluorocarbon tip joined by a surgeon’s knot. This provides a stealthy setup, with the front section floating and the tip section sitting just beneath the surface. My preferred materials are 10.2 lb Silk Mode Copolymer and 9 lb Ghost Mode Fluorocarbon.
When it comes to flies, I stick with imitations that match the feed — usually dog biscuit-style patterns tied with deer hair or synthetic fibres.
The Floater Rod
For conventional surface fishing, I favour a 2.25 lb test curve rod — 10 feet for close range and 12 feet for distance work. The Wychwood Riot Specialist range is ideal, paired with a Riot 55S reel loaded with 12 lb floater line.
A large, transparent bubble float, filled with water to adjust casting weight, is my float of choice. It’s subtle, versatile, and highly effective. For hook-links, I use 9–11 lb zig line with a size 8 floater hook.
Bait, Hookbaits and Feeding
Feed Bait:
I like to mix feed baits in various shapes and sizes so carp don’t fixate on just one. Bulk comes from adult dog mixers, topped up with smaller mixers, floating kibble, and branded floaters. My mix is usually three scoops of cheap mixers to one scoop of premium bait. Oils can be added in rippled conditions — groundnut oil works generally, while salmon or hemp oil add attraction on harder days.
Hookbaits:
My go-to hookbait is a trimmed-down pop-up that matches the feed. I use Dynamite Source pop-ups, along with fake biscuits and hookable floaters when a change is needed.
Fly Selection:
For fly fishing, biscuit imitation flies trimmed to sit low in the surface film often tempt the wariest carp.
Managing Bird Life
Birds can be the biggest challenge in surface fishing. Swans, geese, ducks, and especially gulls all love floaters. While carp usually tolerate birds, gulls are the main disruption.
I always carry at least 10kg of floaters. If swans or geese are present, I feed them separately in the margins, ideally into the wind so bait drifts away from my swim. With gulls and ducks, little-and-often feeding or spodding bait with bright braid can reduce interference.
Fish Spotting & Location
A good pair of polarised sunglasses is vital. I use the new Madison Eyewear range, which comes with interchangeable lenses for all light conditions.
On sunny days, carp are easy to spot basking or cruising. In overcast weather, wind direction becomes more important. Carp often follow warm breezes, particularly from the south and west. Strong winds can push them into bays, islands, or calmer water. Colder easterlies and northerlies are less productive, but sheltered water can still produce some of the biggest surface carp.
The Fishing
Fly Rod Approach:
Where fly fishing is allowed, it’s often my first choice. Presentation is subtle, accurate, and quiet, with the ability to cover individual fish. The lack of float splash makes it the closest thing to freelining — but at range.
Floater Rod Approach:
When fish are further out or feeding confidently, the controller float comes into its own. I’ll cast beyond the fish and draw the bait back into position. Often, a bite comes just after the float settles. The self-hooking nature of the float also allows me to fish it while simultaneously using a fly rod, effectively doubling my chances.
