GEAR: For reels I believe the more durable & proven styles seem to perform better. This is good for the carp angler, as the reels are usually the most affordable too! (how often do you hear that in Fly Fishing literature?) Why? Because you will drop your reel. It will get muddy. and you may forget it outside. Carp fishing by its very nature is typically on mud rimmed banks, weedy, reedy cattails, etc. A $350 reel has no place here. Mud & wet sand clogs up expensive bearings & destroys kevlar discs. My most used reels are the venerable Pfluger Medalist. Sizes 1494 through 1498 all work well. These reels have a decent drag, which you WILL use. Their prices are fantastic. A new (Import model) can run $16 to $35 depending on store & model. I prefer to be a carp snob and look for the older, American made Pfluger Medalist's. These will typically run $25-$100 They work just as well as the lesser priced imports but...ya know, online auctions & all that stuff.....I may fish for carp but geeez, I gotta have some element of purist! I have also recently discovered how well the Orvis Large Arbor "Rocky Mountain" style reel has performed. For an English made reel, at $60 it was a heck-of-a bargain. The large arbor has come in handy when a carp parades back towards me! LEADER: Carp are relatively leader saavy. a 9 to 10 foot of 3x leader usually does the trick. If I'm fishing surface patterns or smaller damsel/prince nymphs, I use 4x leader with an extra couple of feet of tippet. NEVER lighter. If they're bigger fishies & I'm using heavier flies, I'll go down to a 1x leader. CLOTHING: Yes, I typically keep it on. See those brochures of people casually casting in the Florida keys for Bonefish & Permit? Dress like them. Loose fitting, cotton tops and shorts. For protection it is MANDATORY to wear a wide brimmed hat, polarized UV safe sunglasses, and plenty of sunscreen. Sounds silly enough but believe me. Soooo many times I've gone out carping with friends and somebody wants to "get an early start" on their suntan for the year and "!*^#^#^&^&(*^@@!!! Burned!" And remember to add extra sunscreen to the tops of your feet:) BOAT: I really enjoy a flat bottomed, McKenzie Style drift boat. It's easy to row. Very stable & quiet. Standing up is mandatory in a carping boat. Many folks report enjoyment & success out of converted Tri-Hulls or Boston Whalers. A lake Pram or stable, flat bottomed casting platform boat will work wonders on your carping adventures!