Winter is one of my favourite times of the year to go carp fishing. You may be thinking why? It’s cold, damp, long nights with short days and fishing activity has slowed. Who would want to go then?
Yes I agree that the fishing will be much more difficult than in the warmer months but, providing you set yourself some realistic targets, you can have a rewarding few months! Every bite is hard earned in the winter but in return you can often catch carp at their top weights showing off their beautiful winter colours.
For me there is no better sight in the morning than waking up to a frost covered bank with mist rolling off the water’s surface watching the sun just start to rise. Alongside the views lakes tend to have minimal angler pressure in the winter which gives you the freedom to move onto the carp which can be a vital tactic in the winter!
Here are some of my top winter carp fishing tips to help you catch more carp whilst keeping comfortable in the colder temperatures.
Bait Choice
There are many different opinions on what bait is the best for a winter bite. My advice is to put away the fishmeal based boilies and opt for something a bit more natural like maggots or for a faster breakdown boilie which many bait brands now call “winter” baits.
Using maggots in winter is a great tactic when used in the right locations. If your lake is filled with silvers then this tactic will not work aswell so make sure you know the stock in the lake your fishing. If the lake is majority carp then usually a few pints a day will be enough to tempt a bite.
TOP TIP: Fishing a popped up maggot rig with a pva mesh bag is always a winning tactic in winter.
Alternatively using a single hookbait and a bright pop up can also prove effective in winter. I like to use this method when casting at showing fish or signs of feeding.
Remember the metabolism and feeding of carp in the winter does slow down so make sure your not going to hard on the freebies and over bait your swim. Little and often is the best tip for feeding freebies in winter.
Shorter Sessions
In winter the days are very short often only showing light between 7am and 4pm which is a vast contrast from those warm summer nights and extended daylight hours! You may find yourself sitting in single figure temperatures in the face of a brisk northerly wind, motionless bobbins and waiting for the fish to come to you.
These temperatures can make us less productive as we seek the warmth of our bivvies and sleeping bags. Try shortening your sessions down to a max of 24hrs as you can stay more productive for that shorter period of time. These shorter sessions on a more regular basis is a much better approach to catching that winter PB!
In the winter I tend to notice that the feeding times of carp are either at first light or the first hour into darkness. The best way to find this out is to do short 2/3 hours sessions in the morning or evening which will more often than not help you identify the bite times!
Locating the fish
Sometimes we can’t pick and choose the days we go fishing, you just have to put up with the weather you are given on a certain day. Turning up to a lake with and idea of what to look for is the best way to achieve a winter bite. So here are a few tips in how to locate fishing in the winter
Lake Walk – Make sure on arrival you do several laps of the lake looking for moving carp and holding areas. Carp tend to hold up in an area in the winter so if you can find them they tend to stay for longer periods due to their movements being less pronounced as the water temperature has reduced.
Shallows/Weed – Carp often eat naturals more in the winter so weed bays can hold these aswell as offering more warmth for the carp. On a sunny winters day the shallows is normally where you will find the carp due to the water temperature increasing quicker in these areas
Bivvy Position – Place your bivvy on the best possible angle to view as much of the lake as possible. I suggest making yourself a hot drink, sitting in the mouth of your bivvy and looking for signs of feeding carp! Remember don’t be afraid to move onto the fish!
Fishing for Liners – Fishing slacker lines can help you indicate if there are carp moving in and off your spots. Don’t be annoyed at liners in the winter, it is a great indictaion that carp are moving through your swim.
Water depths – Knowing carp activity in the winter is crucial to get you a winter bite. Normally the deeper water holds the warmer temperatures in the hours of darkness so knowing the depths is crucial. In the days, sometimes there are different levels in the water where carp hold up, why not try a zig at different depths as they can hold up in different water colums.
Scale down your terminal tackle
Water clarity in the winter can often improve so refining your terminal tackle is crucial. I advise going simple in winter and sticking with the rigs you are confident over. I tend to reduce my hook sizes from 4/6 to 8’s dependant on the rig and circumstances to help with keeping the rig small and simple. Think about making sure your rigs are pinned to the lakebed as this will help with camoflauge and in turn produce you more bites.
I’d even go as far as reducing my lead size. I tend to know how far I can cast certain lead weights and would opt for the smallest I can to reach my spots. This creates less crashes which will help with carp staying on your spots.
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Summary
If your prepared for winter then it can be a great time to get on the bank.
In short I’d advise to locate the fish, keep mobile, stay warm and bait effectively!
Good luck this winter and if you would like some more advice then I’m only a email or facebook message away!
Tight Lines and Wet Nets!