Just for a bit of discussion and not for the 'find the fish / use this bait, try zigs' type of advice (please). last week I was on a day session, it was horribly cold, about 12 acres but usually you can find some kind of sign of a fish, but despite 2 of us fishing opposite ends of the lake nada, not even a liner.
Whilst not surprising given there hadn't been a fish out for a few days and many doing 48 hours it made me really scrape the bottom of the barrel when trying to get some confidence - so in no particular order (some are silly obvious) anyone have any to add or mad thoughts (like some of mine are).
Fish showing, bubbling, muddling, cleaned spots all the obvious etc.
Margins and islands typical gotta be there spots given conditions
Teeth of the wind, back of the wind.
Old spots where you've caught from (especially in same conditions)
Similar depths to previous captures in the same conditions
The area of the lake that 'heats' up first by the sun
Slack water (Dunno why, but I love anything without the chop when I'm struggling)
Where the ducks are (fuzzy logic)
Where I can see any fish activity (the random perch shoal)
That 6th sense i will try that (very occasional success)
Rotating recasts - every 30 mins on 2 rods
Seen someone else catch from there!
and yes I move swims regularly - it was just last week, I actually moved twice, for the sake of moving and because I just couldn't draw inspiration from anywhere....
Whilst not surprising given there hadn't been a fish out for a few days and many doing 48 hours it made me really scrape the bottom of the barrel when trying to get some confidence - so in no particular order (some are silly obvious) anyone have any to add or mad thoughts (like some of mine are).
Fish showing, bubbling, muddling, cleaned spots all the obvious etc.
Margins and islands typical gotta be there spots given conditions
Teeth of the wind, back of the wind.
Old spots where you've caught from (especially in same conditions)
Similar depths to previous captures in the same conditions
The area of the lake that 'heats' up first by the sun
Slack water (Dunno why, but I love anything without the chop when I'm struggling)
Where the ducks are (fuzzy logic)
Where I can see any fish activity (the random perch shoal)
That 6th sense i will try that (very occasional success)
Rotating recasts - every 30 mins on 2 rods
Seen someone else catch from there!
and yes I move swims regularly - it was just last week, I actually moved twice, for the sake of moving and because I just couldn't draw inspiration from anywhere....
In reply to Post #1
I know you've mentioned it briefly, but I remember hearing Scott Lloyd talking about watching the birdlife etc, and showing swans hissing at / spooking off from carp, and the same for some coots etc. Definitely watching them is always interesting
I know you've mentioned it briefly, but I remember hearing Scott Lloyd talking about watching the birdlife etc, and showing swans hissing at / spooking off from carp, and the same for some coots etc. Definitely watching them is always interesting
Northeast corner, gets the sun and no cold winds.
Watch where the seagulls gather of an evening, often on top of fish. 😉
Watch where the seagulls gather of an evening, often on top of fish. 😉
In reply to Post #1
Some waters, no matter what, the fish hole up in particular areas, snags, by rushes, weed, near natural food or drop-offs or gravel bars.
Knowing the water in winter can be a case of going to that area every trip.
Some waters, no matter what, the fish hole up in particular areas, snags, by rushes, weed, near natural food or drop-offs or gravel bars.
Knowing the water in winter can be a case of going to that area every trip.
In reply to Post #1
I've lost count of the winter fish I've caught from water barely deep enough to cover their backs, day and night.
I've lost count of the winter fish I've caught from water barely deep enough to cover their backs, day and night.
I've done well so far this winter, fishing in heavy silt, like really thick silt.
At this time of the year, it's one of the few places left which holds plenty of natural food (bloodworm and stuff) and the fish will regularly feed in those areas, even when it's very cold in the middle of January.
Only last week, in 20 feet of water I was bringing back my rig with bloodworm entangled around the hook and lead clip. I also caught 3 carp from there and someone else had a mirror just under 50lb from the same spot.
I also tend to find, that lakes which are busy in winter generally continue to produce. With bait, disturbance, spods, leads - it keeps them on the move, so they use more energy and need to feed more, especially the larger fish.
At this time of the year, it's one of the few places left which holds plenty of natural food (bloodworm and stuff) and the fish will regularly feed in those areas, even when it's very cold in the middle of January.
Only last week, in 20 feet of water I was bringing back my rig with bloodworm entangled around the hook and lead clip. I also caught 3 carp from there and someone else had a mirror just under 50lb from the same spot.
I also tend to find, that lakes which are busy in winter generally continue to produce. With bait, disturbance, spods, leads - it keeps them on the move, so they use more energy and need to feed more, especially the larger fish.
Wish I could get amongst the carp on my syndicate no ones caught a single carp since mid October
The lake as less 100 carp in 58 acres everyone seems to be fishing the open water so next week I'm going to target the North End of the lake fishing the snags
One can only try
The lake as less 100 carp in 58 acres everyone seems to be fishing the open water so next week I'm going to target the North End of the lake fishing the snags
One can only try
I love this and thanks all - proper advice when you are smashing your head against the winter brick wall
In reply to Post #8
You and me both.
I know pretty much where the carp are located, 115 carp in 45 acres, nearly all sat in the slightly deeper west end, but they are hardly reliant on anglers baits, so headbanging time it is.
Choice, pile in loads of bitty food items, chopped boilies, well soaked Vitalin and chopped worm or keep trying a bright pop-up to provoke a take or both.
You and me both.
I know pretty much where the carp are located, 115 carp in 45 acres, nearly all sat in the slightly deeper west end, but they are hardly reliant on anglers baits, so headbanging time it is.
Choice, pile in loads of bitty food items, chopped boilies, well soaked Vitalin and chopped worm or keep trying a bright pop-up to provoke a take or both.
In reply to Post #7
The first place to look would be in any cover.
Trees and snags, tall phragmites reed beds that they can get deep inside (nightmare stuff), and remaining weed beds, etc.
The first place to look would be in any cover.
Trees and snags, tall phragmites reed beds that they can get deep inside (nightmare stuff), and remaining weed beds, etc.
In reply to Post #1
Anywhere where water comes into the lake, the Golden ticket being underwater springs, no matter how small.
Anywhere where water comes into the lake, the Golden ticket being underwater springs, no matter how small.
First thing I would look at is past history, does it produce in the cold and what is classed as a good result and that's your target, if it has not got form expect some long cold days and nights. Like already mentioned, people expect that if they have a boilie in the water the carp will eat it!
Fish habits vary and some waters they do switch off, I have caught them early season when nothing has come out over the cooler months covered in leeches from areas where they have been laid up or spending a lot of their time
Cold weather bait is everything (same as the rest of the year for me) and people just go through the same old routines. If you do not have a bait that is established then for me you are fishing for a bite and the simple answer is. If you caught one carp would you be happy and I guess the answer is yes. Digestibility is everything for me, a bag of low oil or high quality beatine pellets for example, my choice, has caught me more fish in such circumstances than anything else, soon dissolve just leaving your hookbait. Couple this with a soft quality hookbait or a single of choice and you are not far off the mark, you could even try more natural stuff, unlike these mongs just mindlessly filling it in
Problem though, be aware of the silver fish population because they will wipe everything out so if you think you are fishing a nice pile of pellets with your hookbait you ain't!!! Better with a small stringer in this case or soaked half boilies for example, list is endless
I will go back to the obvious though (not for the sheep). If a carp does not want to eat your boilie it will not, so THINK about it
Fish habits vary and some waters they do switch off, I have caught them early season when nothing has come out over the cooler months covered in leeches from areas where they have been laid up or spending a lot of their time
Cold weather bait is everything (same as the rest of the year for me) and people just go through the same old routines. If you do not have a bait that is established then for me you are fishing for a bite and the simple answer is. If you caught one carp would you be happy and I guess the answer is yes. Digestibility is everything for me, a bag of low oil or high quality beatine pellets for example, my choice, has caught me more fish in such circumstances than anything else, soon dissolve just leaving your hookbait. Couple this with a soft quality hookbait or a single of choice and you are not far off the mark, you could even try more natural stuff, unlike these mongs just mindlessly filling it in
Problem though, be aware of the silver fish population because they will wipe everything out so if you think you are fishing a nice pile of pellets with your hookbait you ain't!!! Better with a small stringer in this case or soaked half boilies for example, list is endless
I will go back to the obvious though (not for the sheep). If a carp does not want to eat your boilie it will not, so THINK about it
In reply to Post #12
Was just about to say... most people fish singles in winter because of their pva bag approach when silver fish eats everything.
Was just about to say... most people fish singles in winter because of their pva bag approach when silver fish eats everything.
In reply to Post #1
Lots of good advice here
I'd add trying zigs on those warmer days when they might be up in the middle layers and my go to winter bait when all else fails.. a chunk of bread using its natural buoyancy to pop up from the bottom
Lots of good advice here
I'd add trying zigs on those warmer days when they might be up in the middle layers and my go to winter bait when all else fails.. a chunk of bread using its natural buoyancy to pop up from the bottom
In reply to Post #12
I used to fish a local water quite regularly for a number of years, we knew where the fish holed up in the winter, the middle of 3 arms (imagine a capital E in reverse).
Some weeks you could catch on boilies, yet other weeks sweetcorn was the bait to catch. Even single high attract boilie you had to chop and change. Some weeks it was Dynamite Green Zing, or Pineapple N-Butyric, even Scopex or Monster Crab.
Over one winter between Christmas and New year I did a week session. For 2 days I caught on high attract pop-ups, then on the 3rd the fish switched onto my food bait that I had been feeding gradually since arriving, (snowman topped with Garlic Spice pop-ups).
I used to fish a local water quite regularly for a number of years, we knew where the fish holed up in the winter, the middle of 3 arms (imagine a capital E in reverse).
Some weeks you could catch on boilies, yet other weeks sweetcorn was the bait to catch. Even single high attract boilie you had to chop and change. Some weeks it was Dynamite Green Zing, or Pineapple N-Butyric, even Scopex or Monster Crab.
Over one winter between Christmas and New year I did a week session. For 2 days I caught on high attract pop-ups, then on the 3rd the fish switched onto my food bait that I had been feeding gradually since arriving, (snowman topped with Garlic Spice pop-ups).