Feeder or Carp

I'd be very grateful if someone could explain the difference between a carp rod and a feeder rod. I bought a Shakespeare mach 3 XT 11ft feeder rod to start my fishing career but would this be OK for going after bigger carp with heavier rigs? Please excuse any naivety.

Many thanks.

acbruce said:

I'd be very grateful if someone could explain the difference between a carp rod and a feeder rod. I bought a Shakespeare mach 3 XT 11ft feeder rod to start my fishing career but would this be OK for going after bigger carp with heavier rigs? Please excuse any naivety.

Many thanks.

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A dedicated carp rod is likely to have huge rings and not many of them. It's also likely to be a poker in comparison. Modern carp rods are designed to chuck big lumps of lead (1 to 4oz or so) and PVA bags of bait a good distance. Lines used are likely to be in the order of 10 to 18lb breaking strain depending on the rod.

You feeder rod is going to have a quiver tip and be much lighter. It's not expected to cast much more than a couple of ounces. Line ratings are likely to be in the order of 3 to 6lb. It's not designed for modern carp fishing tactics.

However, that doesn't mean that you can't catch carp, even good carp, on your rod. Just don't try putting 12lb line through it and try chucking a 3oz lead to the horizon.

Good advice Sam and clearly put.

That particular rod is perfectly capable of handling small/med feeders including method feeders at short to medium range but I wouldn't use it to chuck big feeders a long way.As a starter feeder rod its quite a good choice and perfect for your typical commercial carp up to [say] low double figures.

I guess a typical med sized loaded method feeder would weigh [say] two ounces or so and this rod would handle that comfortably provided you dont try to hit the next county. Its best suited to 6-8lb mainline.

Thanks. I'm much clearer now.