WE DISCUSS THE TEN BEST TIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR WINTER ANGLING!
WE DISCUSS THE TEN BEST TIPS TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR WINTER ANGLING!
WHEREARE THEY?
The first thing you should consider is where are the carp? There’s no point fishing a peg with no fish in there so this should always be your first starting point. Unfortunately, carp can be a real pain to locate once the temperatures plummet, as their immune system slows and their whole body wants them to take a chill pill! So, if you arrive at your chosen venue and they aren’t bouncing out all over the place like in the summer, where do you go?
There’s no hard and fast rule here, but the middle of the lake is often a great bet. This area is often deep, away from angling pressure and an ideal zone for the carp to live in the winter. Aside from the obvious middle for diddle, anywhere away from cold winds normally holds carp too. If you can feel a rise in air temperature when stood on the back of the wind, then there’s every likelihood the carp will too!
BRIGHT &SMELLY
Vivid, strong smelling hookbaits are excellent for use in the winter. Carp have a reduced capacity to find their food in the cold, and so making it far easier for them to do that is going to get you more bites. Boosting your pop-ups with matching bait spray will ensure they pump out maximum levels of attraction, whether they are fished over freebies or on their own.
BRIGHT &SMELLY
Vivid, strong smelling hookbaits are excellent for use in the winter. Carp have a reduced capacity to find their food in the cold, and so making it far easier for them to do that is going to get you more bites. Boosting your pop-ups with matching bait spray will ensure they pump out maximum levels of attraction, whether they are fished over freebies or on their own.
SCALE ITDOWN
We aren’t talking about 4lb line and a size 18 hook here, just making slight alterations to your tackle or bait could see a change in your fortune in the cold. Fluorocarbon mainlines and smaller hooks are far less obtrusive in the cold, clear water. The same goes with your bait, a single 12mm hookbait looks far more appealing to a carp that potentially isn’t that interested in feeding than a kilo of 20mm baits.
WHICHBOILIE?
For years anglers have swapped their baits over, from a fishmeal in the warmer months, to a nut or milk protein bait for the winter. However, is there really a benefit to doing this? As a rule of thumb, fishmeal baits like The Krill and Krill Active will still work in even the coldest of waters, so if you like using fishmeals then there is really no need to change.
Adam Penning is a great advocate for both swapping and not swapping his baits. He suggests that sticking with fishmeal baits works best on low stock venues whereas a sweet mix of Manilla for instance is more favourable on venues with a higher stock. It’s all personal choice, which ever you feel most confident in should be your number one choice.
WHICHBOILIE?
For years anglers have swapped their baits over, from a fishmeal in the warmer months, to a nut or milk protein bait for the winter. However, is there really a benefit to doing this? As a rule of thumb, fishmeal baits like The Krill and Krill Active will still work in even the coldest of waters, so if you like using fishmeals then there is really no need to change.
Adam Penning is a great advocate for both swapping and not swapping his baits. He suggests that sticking with fishmeal baits works best on low stock venues whereas a sweet mix of Manilla for instance is more favourable on venues with a higher stock. It’s all personal choice, which ever you feel most confident in should be your number one choice.
FISH FORLINERS
If you are struggling to find signs of carp above the surface, then fishing for liners is a great way of locating a few fish. By keeping mobile, and fishing a few likely looking areas, with slight drops in your bobbins, you are bound to receive a few liners if the fish are present in your swim. This is the perfect way to find the fish and could make your winter campaign one to remember.
SOLUBILITYIS KEY
Liquids are a great edge no matter what time of year it is, but in the winter, you have to choose the liquids you use with a bit of care. Fish oils congeal in cold water so aren’t going to have the same desired effect as hemp oil would. Thick liquids with high fat content are the same. Liquids that have a really high solubility, such as Pure Calanus and our range of Cloudy Liquids are perfect for use in winter. Their make-up allows them to disperse attraction without being too limited by the cold weather.
SOLUBILITYIS KEY
Liquids are a great edge no matter what time of year it is, but in the winter, you have to choose the liquids you use with a bit of care. Fish oils congeal in cold water so aren’t going to have the same desired effect as hemp oil would. Thick liquids with high fat content are the same. Liquids that have a really high solubility, such as Pure Calanus and our range of Cloudy Liquids are perfect for use in winter. Their make-up allows them to disperse attraction without being too limited by the cold weather.
CANALS &RIVERS
The UK’s network of canals and even a few rivers can provide great sport in the cold. It is often the best time to fish them, particularly canals, as the reduced boat traffic means the fish with be far less nomadic once they find a spot they like. Moored boats and marinas are great places for fish to live in the winter as they provide a little bit more warmth and cover. Once you find a particular spot the carp like, there will often be a group of them which could result in a red-letter day behind the rods.
A NATURALAPPROACH
Natural baits really come into their own in the cold, and with much less nuisance fish activity, you can get away with incorporating them into your mix. Maggots coated in Krill Powder are a great method, which makes your maggots stand out a little bit more than standard ones. Whether you choose maggots, casters or worms, they are sure to bring another level of attraction to your swim.
A NATURALAPPROACH
Natural baits really come into their own in the cold, and with much less nuisance fish activity, you can get away with incorporating them into your mix. Maggots coated in Krill Powder are a great method, which makes your maggots stand out a little bit more than standard ones. Whether you choose maggots, casters or worms, they are sure to bring another level of attraction to your swim.
CHECK THEWEATHER
During the winter, checking the weather before you go fishing and during your session is vital. If you have the luxury of time and can pick and choose when you go this becomes even more paramount. If there’s a bout of warm, low pressure due in the middle of a cold winter, then with it will come mild temperatures and warm winds. This will almost always result in the carp getting on the move, looking for a bit of food before the cold returns again. If you can time your trips with optimal conditions, it is well worth it, rather than sitting for days on end staring at motionless bobbins.
A BITE ATA TIME
Fishing for a bite at a time is the best way to maximise your chances of catching not just one, but multiple fish in the winter. Regularly topping up your swim after each bite with just a few spombs of bait will keep the bites coming, without over feeding the fish. You might still use the same amount of bait, but spread over a greater period of time, rather than being dumped in all at once.
A BITEAT A TIME
Fishing for a bite at a time is the best way to maximise your chances of catching not just one, but multiple fish in the winter. Regularly topping up your swim after each bite with just a few spombs of bait will keep the bites coming, without over feeding the fish. You might still use the same amount of bait, but spread over a greater period of time, rather than being dumped in all at once.
