Carp fishing on pole is probably what I do most of the time; my default starting point. That is to say, my local venues are mixed fisheries, and whilst fishing primarily for silver fish, having been smashed off several times, I decided I would rather risk losing a 6oz roach than a 10lb carp.
So I simply changed my top two pole sections. Both top sections were bagging carp complete with 18 elastic, I beefed up my line with 6lb Drennan double strength to 5lb hooklink, with a Kamasan wide gape eyed barbless hook.
I never looked back. Not only did I still catch plenty of silver fish, but my carp landings increased ten fold. With respect to floats, I prefer the thicker tipped ones (my eyes arent what they used to be). But I always carry a variety of colours, making sure whatever I fish with contrasts the water or sky reflection to make visibility easy.
Rig Setup for Pole Fishing
As far as shotting is concerned, it depends on how you are fishing. I mostly fish off the bottom, so my bulk shot is placed about two thirds down the line with a dropper shot or two placed above a shortish hooklink (10/12inches.) Hooks are relative to the bait, for maggots and caster try a 20/18. Corn, pellets luncheon meat or any small cubes or pellets a 16 wide gape should do the trick.
On difficult days I have found that by twitching baits or lifting baits and dropping them down again will slowly induce takes from finicky fish.