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I get where your coming from, budget etc. You do get what you pay for, £300 just rods n reels or what ?? Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

Bow, every word written above could have come from my mouth. The Fox Warrior range of rods are considered to be amongst the best value for money that are available. If I were in your position I'd opt for a 3lb test curve. As for reels, over my decades of carp fishing I've owned and used many but I always default to Shimano or Diawa with a distinct preference for Shimano as I've never, ever, been let down by one. My current favourites are Big Baitrunner Longcasts but I'm happy to use my 10000XTEA's, assuming, of course, that my son hasn't "borrowed" them.....like he does...... Ian

Can I make a suggestion or multiples of? to learn more and get experience I would concentrate on one, or at most two lakes. If you fish various lakes you will not learn about a particular water and how fish respond. Almost every lake fishes differently, different fish respond to anglers and pressure differently. I would actually get one test curve of rod, not various test curves. I fish a two rod water yet always take three rods. The spare rod is rigged up ready to cast, in case I see a showing fish, or need to put a bait out in a hurry to replace one I have just reeled in. That could be cast out to either rod, the one in the margins, or the one at long range. What happens if the rod is not heavy enough test curve to hit the long distance mark? I can't guarantee it would be replacing the margin rod! I would be buying new rods and reels, not second hand. Second hand rods may suffer from previous owner abuse, or even worse, previous owner pinched. I know when I have had my tackle pinched I was devastated, I would not wish that on anyone else. I also know that my rods and reels are well used. I am regularly casting stringers to over 100metres, heavy work will soften them Most rods soften over time, what started as a 3lb may, 5 or 6 years later be 2.75 or 2.5 as it has been used and abused. If a rod is autoclaved (and not every manufacturer does), it will last longer. Cheaper carbons will also soften faster than more expensive carbon cloths. Look at Fox Warrior Rods, and I would also be looking at Shimano ST range reels, I do not trust most other makes of reels, and Shimano have never let me down. There were also Shimano deals around, Shimano Rod and reels, and to be honest, they are pretty good.

I've got the gt3's in 3lb to and they are fantastic all rounders. They'll do long range and under the rod tip... But does your set up budget allow for pod/ buzzer bars, alarms and net etc? If so 2 of the gt3s coupled with a decent reel each then your budget is going to be used up. If I was you I'd look at the fox warrior range and team these with some wychwood riot reels, if you shop around should leave you about 100 quid to deal with alarms (Nash sirens s5 are very good budget alarms) one of the ft gear pods is quite good at a decent price and then maybe look at ngt for the net.