We used to think that carp were uncatchable in winter, we now know different, but there are changes in behaviour that we need to understand and can allow for.
Movement
Mid-summer “Bait and they will find you” is fine, the same approach in winter is more likely to become “Bait and you are throwing money away” unless you are very careful when and where you do it. Carp tend to gather in areas of the lake, “their comfort zones” and move about a lot less. You have to find them, and put any food in the right place, rather than wait for them to find you. The good news is once you have found their preferred areas, they tend to stay there and then a regular trickle of a few baits can keep the bites coming over the colder months. If it doesn’t cause upset with other anglers I prefer to do this as I leave rather than as I arrive. During the actual session I favour small parcels of bait in PVA mesh bags or just single hook-baits. In recent years there has been an increased understanding of these “comfort zones” and at times they can be well up in the water so “zigs” can work well. I must admit I’m not a big “zig” fan but at times needs must.
Feeding
Feeding activity can become restricted to much shorter spells and therefore potential bite times can also become much shorter. The good news is they often become quite predictable. My favourite time for a bite on several of the waters I have fished has usually been late afternoon into dusk. If I want to refresh or reposition my hook-baits I do this early afternoon, so everything is in position as the sun sets and darkness falls, my hoped for bite time. The more you know a venue the more likely you are to “tune into” fish routines so personally I tend to select my winter venues based on research into their winter form, then stick to them.
So, you’ve picked your venue and from initial visits you have a reasonable idea of areas the carp are likely to be settled in as their winter home. What’s next?
Arriving in the right mood by being equipped with one essential bit of kit … A large bag of confidence!
Bait and Tactical choices …. The reality of cold water carping is that it can be a lot slower than summer fishing, that’s where the bag of confidence comes in handy. Everything I do in the colder months is tried and tested so if the fishing is slow I don’t get impatient or anxious. My rigs are the rigs I use all summer. Generally, fluorocarbon based with a flexible braid hair. The carp might be feeding less but they are the same fish, so as far as I’m concerned if a rig works well in the summer it will work well in the winter. My thoughts on bait are the same. I need to be sat there thinking, if a carp comes across my chosen food item it will be tempted to suck it in, even if it’s not particularly hungry. My bait choices are based on years of experience during which patterns have started to emerge. Not science, just hours spent on the bank freezing my socks off. I cannot explain why but spicy type baits seem to work well in cold water. For that reason, I have long been a fan of Trigga Ice. If I am fishing the same water regularly Trigga Ice is the bait that I want to trickle in between trips. It’s also the bait I crumb up to use in my PVA mesh bags. I think crumbed Ice in the bags works better in terms of attraction than pellets etc. because of greater leakage. If I really want to max out on the attraction then glugging them in liquid booster is also a great tactic. With the increased water clarity upping the visual attraction is also a good option and I often do this using a bait combination of a Trigga Ice bottom bait and a White Spice pop-up. The two were made for each other, a bait marriage made in heaven. The White Spice spray is also very effective on the Trigga Ice PVA mesh bags.
The only other baits I consider for their visible attraction and proven effectiveness are good old Jolly Green Giant and maggots. I like to add a few grains of sweetcorn and some maggots in with my crushed Trigga Ice PVA mesh bags. A perfect mix of proven attractors.
Cold Water Carping is about managing expectations by careful venue selection and adapting to the conditions by understanding fish behaviour. Over the years, I’ve done the winter bivvy sessions, scratched it’s cold on the frosted bivvy sides for a winter blanking photo, and become a lover of hot water bottles and large mugs of hot chocolate, but these days I much prefer targeted short sessions. This is not me trying to “wimp out” honest, I’m just convinced it’s a more effective way to catch winter carp. Certainly, I am more focussed during short day sessions. I’m watching the water and being reasonably mobile I can move if I spot fish. More than once I’ve done several hours without a single bleep, seen a fish, moved and had a bite soon after casting out. In winter that one show is unlikely to be a lone fish, so any sign is worth acting on.
I also like to have a static rod and a searching rod. I know the Trigga Ice work, so I have no doubts on that score so either the fish aren’t feeding or I’ve set my trap in the wrong place. Usually, I have a spot in my swim that I fancy the most, that’s where my static bait goes, with possibly a dozen or so baits around it, then I don’t disturb it. The second rod “works” the swim and covers other likely spots using a single hook-bait or a single hook-bait with a small bag of crumb. I don’t put out extra bait around this one, I don’t want to end up several hours later with bait scattered everywhere. If either rod produces a take, the rest of the session concentrates on that area.
My approach to cold water carping might appear to be very simple and old fashioned. That’s because it is, but it has served me well … It’s my bag of confidence!
Brian Skoyles (Oct23)
