My winter ticket which I get most years is about to start. It's a lake that has excellent winter form, with multiple captures happening regularly, usually middle of the night bites. I've had successful sessions where I've had to peel the frozen landing net off the ground to net fish.
It got me thinking, we all know of lakes have good winter form, but do we truly understand why they do? So many lakes shut up shop as soon as the cold weather hits but others for some reason will continue to fish well, and wondered if anyone has any theories as to why?
The lake in question is not heavily stocked, but is very deep - up to 20ft in places. My theory with this particular lake is that the temperature is stable due to the depths.
Interested to hear other people's views/theories on other waters with winter form.
Phil
It got me thinking, we all know of lakes have good winter form, but do we truly understand why they do? So many lakes shut up shop as soon as the cold weather hits but others for some reason will continue to fish well, and wondered if anyone has any theories as to why?
The lake in question is not heavily stocked, but is very deep - up to 20ft in places. My theory with this particular lake is that the temperature is stable due to the depths.
Interested to hear other people's views/theories on other waters with winter form.
Phil
In reply to Post #1
I have a lake local to me in middle of town with depths of upto 50' and is allegedly connected to another pit 1 or 2 mile away,it fishes well in winter apparently I think it's due to the depths taking longer to get colder than shallow lakes and then obviously they take longer to warm up as the weather improves.
I have a lake local to me in middle of town with depths of upto 50' and is allegedly connected to another pit 1 or 2 mile away,it fishes well in winter apparently I think it's due to the depths taking longer to get colder than shallow lakes and then obviously they take longer to warm up as the weather improves.
Deeper lakes certainly seem to fish better but I also think it depends how regular it's fished. Soon as the bait stops going in regular they soon become dormant.
In reply to Post #1
My place is only shallow, but fishes well during the winter. In fact I've fished a few good winter waters that were shallow.
Personally I think that the amount of high quality feed that has gone into the water through the summer and particularly autumn months has a big impact on whether the fish feel the need to feed enough to get caught. Also I find that the leaner fish in a water (cricket bat commons) get caught more than the plump mirrors.
My place is only shallow, but fishes well during the winter. In fact I've fished a few good winter waters that were shallow.
Personally I think that the amount of high quality feed that has gone into the water through the summer and particularly autumn months has a big impact on whether the fish feel the need to feed enough to get caught. Also I find that the leaner fish in a water (cricket bat commons) get caught more than the plump mirrors.
In reply to Post #1
I don't think there is any consistent rule and it just varies from lake to lake, (which sounds obvious!).
For me deeper lakes tend to fish better into winter as they take longer to shut down due to the depth and thermocline lasting that bit longer. I used to have a winter ticket on a very deep pit and that would fish reasonably well into early/mid January, then shut down....the fish consistently sat in the Thermocline between 9ft and 12ft from the surface up to this point. The same lake would however take a lot longer to wake up, usually not doing a fish again until well into March when shallower waters had started to produce.
I don't think there is any consistent rule and it just varies from lake to lake, (which sounds obvious!).
For me deeper lakes tend to fish better into winter as they take longer to shut down due to the depth and thermocline lasting that bit longer. I used to have a winter ticket on a very deep pit and that would fish reasonably well into early/mid January, then shut down....the fish consistently sat in the Thermocline between 9ft and 12ft from the surface up to this point. The same lake would however take a lot longer to wake up, usually not doing a fish again until well into March when shallower waters had started to produce.
In reply to Post #4
I once fished a water that was a good winter water, for a couple of years the owner did supplementary feeding which certainly saw the fish gain weight. The extra feed made no difference at all to the winter fishing, it remained as good as ever.
At the time it made me think that a good winter water is always a good water, but I'm far from sure and it's probably as others have said every water is different.
I once fished a water that was a good winter water, for a couple of years the owner did supplementary feeding which certainly saw the fish gain weight. The extra feed made no difference at all to the winter fishing, it remained as good as ever.
At the time it made me think that a good winter water is always a good water, but I'm far from sure and it's probably as others have said every water is different.
In reply to Post #1
I think that every lake could have a good winter form, if the lake has food in it the carps continues to eat, maybe in waters rich in natural food they don't are so focused over ours baits and we think that the lake has close up shop when in reality it's not what's happen.
I've had some really good results in winter, I must say, in some years I caught more in winter than in others seasons. I have a theory regard fishing in winter. The most important thing in winter is to find where the carps are grouped, in my experience find this particular area is the first step toward the success. And find the carps isn't easy in winter since they don't show up as in others seasons. We must count solely on past experiences or on some luck.
The search of carps in cold water can change from lake to lake. As example I want to tell a couple of that.
In the past I fished a little lake very rich in natural food that I discovered where the carps were straight away the first winter I fished there. For a couple of years I fished over a rocky slope not far from a fallen tree and I caught one of two carp during the winter. But it's when I really understood where they were grouped that I had the better winters. In fact, they were shoaled up down the rocky slope I fished the previous winter, on that area there were a muddy bottom and when I fished over there the caught plummeted up, in winter '06/'07 I had one or two carps every day session I fished there.
The other example regard the lake I fish at the moment, it's a big dam lake with deep water, a lot of bays and point. Here the carps don't shoal in the same area year after year and it's not so easy to find them. I move from swim to swim until I find where they are (following a pattern the experience of the past learn to me), more often than not is a blank after another, but when you find the right spot you can catch with regularity. If you are lucky to find the right shoal of carps you can have one of the most memorable winter you can imagine.
In my opinion only fishing during the winters can tell you where to fish
I think that every lake could have a good winter form, if the lake has food in it the carps continues to eat, maybe in waters rich in natural food they don't are so focused over ours baits and we think that the lake has close up shop when in reality it's not what's happen.
I've had some really good results in winter, I must say, in some years I caught more in winter than in others seasons. I have a theory regard fishing in winter. The most important thing in winter is to find where the carps are grouped, in my experience find this particular area is the first step toward the success. And find the carps isn't easy in winter since they don't show up as in others seasons. We must count solely on past experiences or on some luck.
The search of carps in cold water can change from lake to lake. As example I want to tell a couple of that.
In the past I fished a little lake very rich in natural food that I discovered where the carps were straight away the first winter I fished there. For a couple of years I fished over a rocky slope not far from a fallen tree and I caught one of two carp during the winter. But it's when I really understood where they were grouped that I had the better winters. In fact, they were shoaled up down the rocky slope I fished the previous winter, on that area there were a muddy bottom and when I fished over there the caught plummeted up, in winter '06/'07 I had one or two carps every day session I fished there.
The other example regard the lake I fish at the moment, it's a big dam lake with deep water, a lot of bays and point. Here the carps don't shoal in the same area year after year and it's not so easy to find them. I move from swim to swim until I find where they are (following a pattern the experience of the past learn to me), more often than not is a blank after another, but when you find the right spot you can catch with regularity. If you are lucky to find the right shoal of carps you can have one of the most memorable winter you can imagine.
In my opinion only fishing during the winters can tell you where to fish
In reply to Post #7
It's an interesting discussion and the thinking of old was that carp didn't really feed in winter, few and far between. Angling pressure or the lack of it may be one of the factors, less bait going it, the other one is environmental conditions, water temperatures and carp metabolism that a lot of people do not appreciate as they continue to cane in the bait. Seasons have changed now but when I used to fish for carp in the 80's it was meat, cheese, and corn etc. I also used to fish a rod with maggots for anything that swims, come the September frosts it was the maggot rod that started to catch and you could see a stepped change in their feeding habits, wouldn't touch anything else for me, water temperatures and bait digestibility is everything when cold water fishing if you want them to eat it
Lakes stocked full of ****ters with limited food sources are something else of course
I would put a good old worm before any boiled bait in winter but the chances of a carp seeing it before anything else are few and far between, plus the numpty carp anger can't really hair rig them so they are out of fashion...
It's an interesting discussion and the thinking of old was that carp didn't really feed in winter, few and far between. Angling pressure or the lack of it may be one of the factors, less bait going it, the other one is environmental conditions, water temperatures and carp metabolism that a lot of people do not appreciate as they continue to cane in the bait. Seasons have changed now but when I used to fish for carp in the 80's it was meat, cheese, and corn etc. I also used to fish a rod with maggots for anything that swims, come the September frosts it was the maggot rod that started to catch and you could see a stepped change in their feeding habits, wouldn't touch anything else for me, water temperatures and bait digestibility is everything when cold water fishing if you want them to eat it
Lakes stocked full of ****ters with limited food sources are something else of course
I would put a good old worm before any boiled bait in winter but the chances of a carp seeing it before anything else are few and far between, plus the numpty carp anger can't really hair rig them so they are out of fashion...
In reply to Post #7
The lake I fish is public only a few swims and overgrown as well but I've had them out to almost mid 20's every fish I've had has been a common and that's 9.5 years of fishing it,with only one big mirror(seen pictures last month )mid 20's as well in there(if it's still there)and it also fishes well in winter as it loses 3/4'of water during the warm months,I think as the level goes back up in the wetter colder months they come right into the edge looking for all the insects,worms snails or anything edible on the bottom of the lake that is now covered in a few feet of water and I've seen those inch long or more cone shaped snails actually in the water when I've waded out to put my rods out,thankfully only a few people fish it in winter but the bait keeps going in apparently
The lake I fish is public only a few swims and overgrown as well but I've had them out to almost mid 20's every fish I've had has been a common and that's 9.5 years of fishing it,with only one big mirror(seen pictures last month )mid 20's as well in there(if it's still there)and it also fishes well in winter as it loses 3/4'of water during the warm months,I think as the level goes back up in the wetter colder months they come right into the edge looking for all the insects,worms snails or anything edible on the bottom of the lake that is now covered in a few feet of water and I've seen those inch long or more cone shaped snails actually in the water when I've waded out to put my rods out,thankfully only a few people fish it in winter but the bait keeps going in apparently
In reply to Post #5
Agree with this regarding deep (20ft +) lakes, my local is just like this.
Overall though, far too many variables, but ....shallow lakes with no unreachable areas, high banks with sheltered areas (wind free) a decent stock.
Just my experience.
Agree with this regarding deep (20ft +) lakes, my local is just like this.
Overall though, far too many variables, but ....shallow lakes with no unreachable areas, high banks with sheltered areas (wind free) a decent stock.
Just my experience.
Just my tuppence
I fished a 28' deep reservoir with a very cold run off from the hills and was told it shut down fishing wise in winter....no it didn't. At any time of year I put 3 rods at various depths down the sloped margin until I started picking up bites, none were ever more than 3 rod lengths out in about 18' of water. I theorise the fish stayed in the thermocline that was most suitable to them at that time. On sunny days in April they'd be less than a foot or 2 out in 2' of water, I'm not talking prolonged days of sun just the odd day so any water warming was minimal, especially as it had strong cold winds most of the time. I just assume again they liked the feel of the sun on their backs or for some other reason biologically, as there wasn't much insect life about.
Another water I fished went to 16', a ex gravel pit. In winter the fish would clump in front of a island with the wind coming toward them, but when the wind changed they'd porpoise almost the full length of the lake following it irrespective of temp...bizarre!
And finally, another water, very shallow, probably average 3', give it a warm wind in winter and they just switched on. On that particular water the fish came out for me in winter irrespective of sun, 2-4 hours after sundown, I think that's a body clock thing, you could sit there all day without a bite until then.
I think Carp are heavily influenced by the sun and water temperature, not both the same thing imo
I fished a 28' deep reservoir with a very cold run off from the hills and was told it shut down fishing wise in winter....no it didn't. At any time of year I put 3 rods at various depths down the sloped margin until I started picking up bites, none were ever more than 3 rod lengths out in about 18' of water. I theorise the fish stayed in the thermocline that was most suitable to them at that time. On sunny days in April they'd be less than a foot or 2 out in 2' of water, I'm not talking prolonged days of sun just the odd day so any water warming was minimal, especially as it had strong cold winds most of the time. I just assume again they liked the feel of the sun on their backs or for some other reason biologically, as there wasn't much insect life about.
Another water I fished went to 16', a ex gravel pit. In winter the fish would clump in front of a island with the wind coming toward them, but when the wind changed they'd porpoise almost the full length of the lake following it irrespective of temp...bizarre!
And finally, another water, very shallow, probably average 3', give it a warm wind in winter and they just switched on. On that particular water the fish came out for me in winter irrespective of sun, 2-4 hours after sundown, I think that's a body clock thing, you could sit there all day without a bite until then.
I think Carp are heavily influenced by the sun and water temperature, not both the same thing imo
I mainly fish winters now and I'd say it's the most predictable season.
I have definitely had more double/multi catches than I've had single ones and plenty of blanks. Also having a few different waters good days are usually good days around the ‘county'. Even waters with good winter form, and bait going in can shut down for a couple of weeks or a month that you just can't buy a bite - and I have no shame sacking it off after a few hours.
The other thing I like about winter fishing is any activity is amplified - rolls , bubbling and other subtle signs are rarer but confidence is so much higher (for me) rather than fish boshing everywhere and the temptation to change things.
The lakes I choose in winter, don't so much have winter form, but are less than 10 acres and ones that I have caught well from during sept - nov, that way the confidence is high and seeing the back end of autumn is for me important to second guess their next move.
I admire those that camp out on big lakes - but nothing beats a warm car and a drive through the mist knowing in another few hours I'll be tucking into a roast.
I have definitely had more double/multi catches than I've had single ones and plenty of blanks. Also having a few different waters good days are usually good days around the ‘county'. Even waters with good winter form, and bait going in can shut down for a couple of weeks or a month that you just can't buy a bite - and I have no shame sacking it off after a few hours.
The other thing I like about winter fishing is any activity is amplified - rolls , bubbling and other subtle signs are rarer but confidence is so much higher (for me) rather than fish boshing everywhere and the temptation to change things.
The lakes I choose in winter, don't so much have winter form, but are less than 10 acres and ones that I have caught well from during sept - nov, that way the confidence is high and seeing the back end of autumn is for me important to second guess their next move.
I admire those that camp out on big lakes - but nothing beats a warm car and a drive through the mist knowing in another few hours I'll be tucking into a roast.
In reply to Post #1
Weed beds seem to effect whether a lake fishes well in Winter or not. Those lakes with lush summer weed beds tend to fish less well than those with little weed.
I've seen lakes that usually have lush weed growth fish very well on the odd year that the weed dies for one reason or another. This confirms for me that the weed is a big factor in Winter form.
Weed beds seem to effect whether a lake fishes well in Winter or not. Those lakes with lush summer weed beds tend to fish less well than those with little weed.
I've seen lakes that usually have lush weed growth fish very well on the odd year that the weed dies for one reason or another. This confirms for me that the weed is a big factor in Winter form.
I used to do well on the rivers caught as cold as -5 a lovely mid double and caught in December on a canal in middle of town centre surprisingly enough both over lots of bait,I've also caught on New Year's Eve as well again a lot of bait and a lot of liners,I out deeper out and they were all stacked on top of each other and I screen shot the screen and sent it my brother to say look at this,I think most waters will fish well if there's food going in and weather stays reasonable for a period of time
In reply to Post #14
Fish can be more localised, more predictable in winter than all over the lake at other times.
My winter waters are shallow..find high pressure and they are on the shallows in day and found them under ice in inches of water regularly.
Fish can be more localised, more predictable in winter than all over the lake at other times.
My winter waters are shallow..find high pressure and they are on the shallows in day and found them under ice in inches of water regularly.
In reply to Post #13
I've heard that reed beds are always a good go-to during the winter, as are any form of warmer water outlet.
My lake has a river inlet and an outlet, so I'm guessing the deeper water by the outlet will be the place to be, as it sees a lot of bird life, a lot of food, and theres an outlet nearby.
I've heard that reed beds are always a good go-to during the winter, as are any form of warmer water outlet.
My lake has a river inlet and an outlet, so I'm guessing the deeper water by the outlet will be the place to be, as it sees a lot of bird life, a lot of food, and theres an outlet nearby.
In reply to Post #16
Shallower water on the southerly bank, makes the most of the shorter days of sunshine
Shallower water on the southerly bank, makes the most of the shorter days of sunshine
In reply to Post #17
Surely it would be the North bank that would receive more sun??
Surely it would be the North bank that would receive more sun??
Beware of pre conceived ideas.
The last 2 winters I have consistently found fish held up in a swim that is not only the shallowest swim on the lake, it also receives 0 direct sunlight for the whole winter. Work that one out?
I don't just mean a few fish either, I mean loads of them balled up.
Baring in mind, the other end, that is reed lined, next to the deepest part, the only part that receives direct sun light for extended periods of time, I have never found a fish.
The last 2 winters I have consistently found fish held up in a swim that is not only the shallowest swim on the lake, it also receives 0 direct sunlight for the whole winter. Work that one out?
I don't just mean a few fish either, I mean loads of them balled up. Baring in mind, the other end, that is reed lined, next to the deepest part, the only part that receives direct sun light for extended periods of time, I have never found a fish.
In reply to Post #19
I have a similar bay at my place. Always fish in there during the winter.
Not just carp but all the species.
I have a similar bay at my place. Always fish in there during the winter.
Not just carp but all the species.
In reply to Post #18
Is there a lot of munga going into this particular end of the lake.?
Is there a lot of munga going into this particular end of the lake.?
Shallow normally means weedy Weed holds food whether its growing up or dying back through the winter. Makes sense that carp would like these areas.
As has been said before, don't believe everything you watch or read. A lot of the winter videos you see are filmed at well stocked puddles so that they get a bite. If you are lucky enough to fish a more natural lake then the rules will change.
As has been said before, don't believe everything you watch or read. A lot of the winter videos you see are filmed at well stocked puddles so that they get a bite. If you are lucky enough to fish a more natural lake then the rules will change.
In reply to Post #22
Dieing weed gives off heat 😉
Dieing weed gives off heat 😉
In reply to Post #5
I don't think there is any consistent rule and it just varies from lake to lake, (which sounds obvious!).
I'll 2nd that
Winter Carp fishing is oh so "sporadic" I don't think there is any times on the bank when you can be sure of a bite, apart from one when you do seem to stand a good chance.
Used to fish a water over winter for just short over night sessions (9pm to 9am) Most of the time I had it to myself, nobody else was stupid enough to risk it - I knew that when I parked up and those huge tree's above the Car Park were making creaking noises in the howling wind I'd catch!
First fish of this year was 20 minutes after midnight new years eve on another water - howling North wind into one banking, water frothing up, waves going over the dam wall.
I don't think there is any consistent rule and it just varies from lake to lake, (which sounds obvious!).
I'll 2nd that
Winter Carp fishing is oh so "sporadic" I don't think there is any times on the bank when you can be sure of a bite, apart from one when you do seem to stand a good chance.
Used to fish a water over winter for just short over night sessions (9pm to 9am) Most of the time I had it to myself, nobody else was stupid enough to risk it - I knew that when I parked up and those huge tree's above the Car Park were making creaking noises in the howling wind I'd catch!
First fish of this year was 20 minutes after midnight new years eve on another water - howling North wind into one banking, water frothing up, waves going over the dam wall.
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