WINTER
FISHING
Cold temperatures, frosty mornings and very little atmospheric warmth and of course the reduced amount of daylight can deter anglers from fishing for carp in the colder months. This however is no reason to put the carp rods away and try for other species during the colder months. Not too far back in the past any carp angler who decided to set up his stall during the winter was regarded as a down right eccentric. The common myth circulating in those days amongst anglers was that carp were virtually impossible to catch during the colder months as they hibernated during the winter. I am glad to say that the record has been put straight and carp can and do get caught often throughout winter and fight just as hard as at any other time of the year. I admit it becomes harder not only in regards to enticing a fish to take your hookbait but also on the angler to remain alert and enthusiastic, however providing the angler sets up and goes about his campaign in a logical manner there is no reason why the angler should not be successful in his/her campaign. I am a great believer in the theory that an angler’s performance is governed directly by their personal administration and attitude, even though the angler’s skill does play a part in regards to consistent results. Now that I have made that statement let me try and explain what I actually mean, two anglers who have decided to fish for the day, arrive at a lake, the ground is covered by a light coating of frost, the skies are clear with a moderate north easterly wind blowing and the air temperature is 5 degrees C. Angler 1 is dressed in jeans, shirt, jumper and a light waterproof coat, his footwear is a pair of Wellington boots. He carries from his car two rods and a landing net strapped together, also taken from the car is a folding chair and a bag containing tackle items, bait, and sandwiches, he then heads for his chosen swim to fish. Angler 2 is dressed in light cotton trousers, shirt, and jumper with no coat; on his feet a pair of lined waterproof boots. He carries from his car a rod holdall, rucksack and a chair, angler 2 then heads for his chosen swim. Both anglers set up at the same end of the lake with the wind blowing directly into their faces. After setting up angler 1 sits onto his chair and awaits a run, angler 2 however once set up realises he is now cooling down from the initial assertion of carrying down tackle to the swim and setting up. A one piece lined suit is removed from the rucksack and placed on which provides two additional layers; next an umbrella is removed and erected to provide shelter from the biting wind. After only a few hours angler 1 is concentrating more on keeping warm then on the fishing and soon loses confidence and enthusiasm. Angler 2 was well prepared; he had the right clothing and footwear and protected himself from the elements, which subsequently meant he remained warm and dry and could concentrate solely on his fishing with his enthusiasm intact.
Water Temperature: It is normally recognised that the term winter carp fishing starts at the beginning of November and runs until March. However with the uncertain climatic conditions over the last few years nothing can be guaranteed. Generally though since being in Northern Ireland I have noticed that the water temperature does drop quickly in November so that is when I plan my winter campaign. It is during this noticeable drop that the carp start to demonstrate signs of a different feeding pattern to that of the warmer months. If the drop in water temperature is very pronounced then this can put the carp off their feed entirely, this however should be for only a short period of time as once the carp adapt to the change in temperature they do fall back into some regular kind of feeding pattern. During winter just like summer the amount of success will be determined by the stocking level of the venue you choose to fish. Heavily stocked day ticket waters still provide a lot of action even though their feeding pattern will have changed; this is purely down to the amount of fish present. The carp’s metabolism slows down in winter, as does everything else within the lake’s environment. Unlike during the summer where the carp feed for long periods of time both day and night, it is rare to find carp feeding more than twice in a 24 hour period and then maybe for no more than an hour or so. This is possibly the reason why a lot of carp anglers do stop fishing in the winter because they crave instant runs and numerous ones at that. For me carp fishing in winter provides its own unique atmosphere not just the increased uncertainty of catching but the whole lakeside environment. Unlike summer when the whole lake is alive with lilies, reeds and other bankside vegetation, and of course the wildlife that inhabit the lake, coupled with the long hours of sunshine beating down provides the angler with a nice warm environment. In stark contrast during winter all the summer foliage has died away which can leave a lake looking cold, desolate and inhospitable. There is however still beauty about with frost covered banks and pathways, hundreds of cobwebs pronounced against there background like small net curtains. Another thing you will definitely notice is the increased amount of space you will have to fish. Not only does the environment change but also the carp, the bronze coloured scales of the common carp become a deeper shade, more defined and seemingly glow against the surroundings.
The Mind Set: To succeed during winter the angler must approach a campaign with the right frame of mind, and be fully aware of the difficulties that may lie ahead. There will be times just like during the summer when blanks will occur. It is so important that the angler approaches the session with enthusiasm and confidence, if you leave the house with the frame of mind that I am probably not going to catch I advice you to stay at home because you have presented yourself with a defeatist attitude before even arriving at the bankside. I guarantee there will be times where a couple of blank sessions will follow each other but if you continue to analyse what you did and make small changes this should then bring results.
Equipment: As previously stated it is vital that you have the correct equipment to remain warm and dry especially if the session is to be overnight. Apart from the normal basic tackle items, you must have a means of sheltering yourself from the environment, a good warm sleeping bag and something decent to sleep on. In addition either take a flask or have the items to make a good hot brew and food. Also remember that it is normally the feet that get extremely cold first so please wear decent footwear and clothing, do not turn up like angler 1 as explained earlier as I can guarantee your performance will be drastically affected if you cannot remain comfortable.
Location: At most venues during the summer the carp give their position away quite easily, either by crashing out of the water, swimming just beneath the surface or by producing clouds of bubbles as they root around the lake bed. During winter things change completely as most waters seemingly appear to be devoid of fish entirely due to the carp’s metabolism rate. It is a distinct advantage to fish waters that you are very familiar with as all features of the lake will be well known. Productive areas during winter are under overhanging bushes or trees as carp love to have a canopy over their heads just like any other time of the year. Quick depth changes are also a good place to position a bait such as plateaus or bars. Another good area to try is around dying lily and reed beds as the carp do not have to travel far for a food source.
Baiting: It is crucial that your baiting tactics change during the winter to that of the summer. Large quantities of bait can be consumed in the summer with the carp still looking for more, if the same tactic is employed during the winter all you will achieve in doing is filling up the carp which may result in them not eating for days. The little and often approach is a good one to adopt, this allows bait to be introduced which will hopefully be investigated and eaten and because there are only a few offerings available the hookbait should be picked up before the carp has satisfied its hunger. Good methods for delivering small amounts of bait into a tight area are by the use of a stringer or PVA bag, obviously if the angler is fishing at short range it should be possible to place these in by hand. Most carp baits will still be taken during the winter months with firm favourites still being boilies, sweetcorn and maggots.
Additional hazards: During winter, food for the wildlife that inhabit the lake and its surroundings becomes harder to find so they will naturally home in on a ready supply of easy meals. Ducks, swans, coots all love boilies and can decimate an area that has been baited. Gulls are another menace as they can take boilies in mid air, at times it can be impossible to get any bait past them when using a throwing stick or catapult, it is then better to use stringers, PVA bags or even a spod to get your bait into the target area. As you can plainly see winter carp fishing is not easy but the rewards can be high. It seems like everything is against you, the weather, water temperature, lack of movement by the carp, short feeding spells and of course the wildlife. I however find this a magical time as waters are less pressured, the challenges are set before you and the condition of the carp when landed are first class. Lots of anglers have photos of carp caught during the summer in their albums, however for me the ones that stick out are those caught when the frost can clearly be seen on the ground, because I then know that fish didn’t come easy.