As the title says - how cold does it have to get before you stop fishing? I'm curious what your experience is fishing in colder weather, and if you think it's worthwhile.
I'm guessing most will change tactics in winter, but I've heard of folk catching on fishmeal in freezing temps too.
I have to say, I'm a fair weather fisherman myself. As soon as it gets chilly I pack up the rods and wait for spring! Am I maybe missing a trick?

In reply to Post #1
I fish right through, but it's not so much about the catching, as much the peace and quiet and the adventure. I've been out in as low as -6 when I was younger. If you put a hot water bottle down your bag and keep your feet warm, the rest of your body seems to follow suit and it's lovely!

In reply to Post #1
no rules, do what your happy with, I try and fish through the winter , but its not compulsory and I do like going to the odd muppet water for a bend

I generally don't bother fishing for the carp when temp is lower than 10 degrees

They are hard enough to catch when conditions are spot on for me. I just fish for whatever species the weather suits best. This time of the year it's pike, perch, chub or roach - too many choices

I only stop if there's a lid on the pond!

In reply to Post #2
Me too. Out now and have forgotten the bloody hot water bottle.

I love winter fishing. But just because I hate people.

Cold is never an issue if you are prepaired, lovely calm cripsy frosty mornings are glorious. I do find cold wind and rain to get very tiring and miserable though.

I fish till it freezes over and start again when it thaws out. Usually though I stop about a week or two before Xmas just to be sociable and go away and start again week after New Year providing it is not frozen over. During the "closed" period, I hit the beaches for some Cod bashing.

But, I do wonder why I fish through the Winter months now.

back in the day the man that showed the carping world that you could catch carp in the harshest of winter conditions was Fred Wilton & Gerry Savage
in think it was 1967 ? after a baiting campaign with a PYM based HNV bait they arrived at Sutton in a snow storm to find the lake had frozen over they broke the ice and soon caught this fish and showed provided a regular amount of bait was going in the fish would indeed continue to feed right thru the winter
HOWEVER !!!
it was also found if food wasnt readily available thru the lower temps in winter .....(nobody baiting and fishing) then the fish would stop feeding and go into a torpid state until the warmer weather and food became readily available


so basically if you want to be successful winter fishing fish a place that gets fished a lot OR bait regularly so the fish continue to feed

In reply to Post #10
I dont, i fish as much as i can throughout the year, and even if im on a stillwater that freezers, i will move to the river and fish there. Its in my blood.

I still go as much as I can..

Yesterday a lovely common,my latest,I just looked for cloudy water in this flooded mine,bingo..!

I noticed them swimming around in a large posse,not all the carp though, some lone individuals amongst the small groups,,I found the 'window',this is around 4pm,I note all the small silvers become very active,...only at that time ,not in the main part of the day..

I have had some of my best sessions in colder months,not always either from high stock lakes..

As long as you keep warm,got a good shelter,nice food n drink,should a good experience, I only mainly do long days,..if not carping the big still water silvers or perch..,I also take my binos,do a bit of wildlife obs as well


Nb,Mr Savage used to have that winter picture on his wall,either at Bolingy ,or in his passage at the bungalow..can't remember zackly

I always fish throughout the winter, it's my favorite time of the year to be on the bank.
As every years, bar the last due to this bloody virus, I have began the chasing of the Carps in the lake I fish. I love this searching, to find where they are is almost as good as catch them.

I've a couple of great memories of winter campaign, one is when I caught the biggest common I had after a winter without a single carp. Two weeks before I had it, I have seen a really big carp leap out of the water just in front of me, not far from where I was fishing. The week later I heard a carp crashing the water few ours after dark and after another week, after a blank night with strong winds like gale and a drizzling rain, when I had just put the coffee on to make breakfast I had a take and after a good fight in a cold February morning I caught it, a beautiful common in his winter shape and color.
My pb at the time and the second biggest carp I was lucky to catch.

I think is better to save you from the other memory LOL

In reply to Post #1
I'm a bit of a fair weather angler and I take my hat off to you hard core blokes.

For the last 8 years bringing up three kids single handed just getting out has been a luxury, if I had no kids no bird and a less demanding job then I'd probably fish every weekend, plus bank holidays and spend all of my annual leave on the bank.

This year my last session was the end of September and I won't be out again until next March. Now my daughter can be legally left unsupervised overnight I am hoping to get out more and hopefully fish October and November.

In reply to Post #14
Fair play mate. I doubt you'll look back in years to come and regret the fishing you couldn't do, but you would sure as hell regret not seeing your kids grow up if it was the other way round.

I don't stop I go right through the winter, it's my favourite time of the year I actually enjoy the colder weather and quieter banks, A lot less people in the winter so I prefer it plus I can get a head start in the spring when they are at very good weights

The temperature is never an issue just a decent bag, a hot water bottle and a good winter suit is all you need