In reply to Post #15
One hr before first light is good in my experience, but half the time I'm sleeping
One hr before first light is good in my experience, but half the time I'm sleeping
It's quite simple to find the fish in Winter, just drive up to the lake and look at it and revel in the joy that you have found them. Going any further than that to pinpoint them can lead to mental distress on some waters.
I've just done 16 days and nights and not seen a thing on my lake or even had a "beep" or so much as a liner, in fact no one has. Usually, I catch well on this water, but not this year. Something is amiss.
And at the moment, the weather is milder than usual and should be fishing well, and I never call it Winter fishing until the water hits 4C and at the moment its up just above 10C so a long way to go.
I've just done 16 days and nights and not seen a thing on my lake or even had a "beep" or so much as a liner, in fact no one has. Usually, I catch well on this water, but not this year. Something is amiss.
And at the moment, the weather is milder than usual and should be fishing well, and I never call it Winter fishing until the water hits 4C and at the moment its up just above 10C so a long way to go.
In reply to Post #1
Be selective when you fish, weather conditions are going to be more important during the winter.
I would personally start of with zigs and keep mobile, sometimes you just have to find them through trial and error.
Be selective when you fish, weather conditions are going to be more important during the winter.
I would personally start of with zigs and keep mobile, sometimes you just have to find them through trial and error.
In reply to Post #1
I use the Korda "night time rod" in camo though, thats important, more covert. Also, the Korda "night time hooks". Go for the hamsters claw design, its one of their best sellers.
I havent acually caught anything with them yet after 8 trips to my local, but im sure once they start working my catch rate will be 100%.
Ive also read online that the clever chaps in R&D will be announcing the release date for bottled warm air soon to keep your bivvy warm..
I use the Korda "night time rod" in camo though, thats important, more covert. Also, the Korda "night time hooks". Go for the hamsters claw design, its one of their best sellers.
I havent acually caught anything with them yet after 8 trips to my local, but im sure once they start working my catch rate will be 100%.
Ive also read online that the clever chaps in R&D will be announcing the release date for bottled warm air soon to keep your bivvy warm..
In reply to Post #19
I'd give a vote for zigs! especially if it's been a bit warmer and it's a deep lake, the fish can spend long periods of time just hanging around in the middle layers. I generally use all-black zigs, any sort of insect or larvae in water looks black, so I go for the natural look.
The water is also a lot clearer in winter on most lakes, so I won't use any leadcore or tubing, I'll normally fish around 10ft very thick fluro (.50) to keep everything pinned,
I think you also have to be mobile, I don't think "filling it in" and expecting the fish to turn up on you will work in the middle of Feb, so you have to go find them.
I'd also opt to fish venues which are actually fished in winter, on one of the ticket waters I fish - everybody stops fishing it in October and literally zero bait goes in, until spring the next year, the fish tend to go very inactive and are seldom seen at all, let alone caught.
Commercials venues which are busy in the winter I think are always a good bet, the bait and pressure keeps the fishing moving around and more active,
I'd give a vote for zigs! especially if it's been a bit warmer and it's a deep lake, the fish can spend long periods of time just hanging around in the middle layers. I generally use all-black zigs, any sort of insect or larvae in water looks black, so I go for the natural look.
The water is also a lot clearer in winter on most lakes, so I won't use any leadcore or tubing, I'll normally fish around 10ft very thick fluro (.50) to keep everything pinned,
I think you also have to be mobile, I don't think "filling it in" and expecting the fish to turn up on you will work in the middle of Feb, so you have to go find them.
I'd also opt to fish venues which are actually fished in winter, on one of the ticket waters I fish - everybody stops fishing it in October and literally zero bait goes in, until spring the next year, the fish tend to go very inactive and are seldom seen at all, let alone caught.
Commercials venues which are busy in the winter I think are always a good bet, the bait and pressure keeps the fishing moving around and more active,