The winter months are well renowned for being one of the hardest times of year to catch Carp. They are less common to find in the winter as it is a time where predator fish such as Pike become more common to catch. However it is not impossible to catch Carp during this time of year and whilst there is still a few weeks left off winter at Taskers Angling we thought we would share some advice with you.
Before we even discuss the Carp we need to speak about you first. Keeping warm, dry and comfortable really is very essential. A high quality jacket is a great start but also having gloves, hats and thermal socks can go a long way in helping to keep you warm and protected from the elements. This is particularly important if you are planning a long session, whether that being all day or overnight. If you are staying on the bank for a night or two we highly recommend that you have a dependable bivvy and bedchair which will help keep you protected. Trust us you don't want to be stuck by the water freezing! Please see our website as we have all of this available.
Next you will need to put some thought into where it is that you decide to go fishing. This is very important in the colder months as you will need every advantage that you can get. Firstly you need to think of the temperature of the water. If the water is very cold then it will put the Carp off from feeding, this is why deep lakes can prove hard to fish on. However shallower waters can generate enough warmth to keep the Carp active and on the feed. Once your actually by the water you'll need to find the Carp, again this is challenging as they move around less in the cold but they can be found grouped together so trying to pin-point that early is a good tip.
Getting the right bait in order to catch the Carp is also vital. As mentioned earlier Carp will not tend to feed as much in the cold so you won't want to fill them up early and stop them feeding altogether. Using smaller particle baits and groundbait in moderation is a good tactic as it'll attract the fish without giving them too much. In terms of the rig you should think about using one that brings success in the winter and cold is a zip rig. Carp don't tend to just stick to the bottom of a lake when its cold so using a zip rig will allow you to stick your hookbait in the areas a fish are roaming.
When discussing when the best time is to fish is, this can vary from water to water. Because of this research is very important but there are some general guidelines that can be followed. Carp can move more around first light so it may be a good idea to try getting down by the water for then.
Finally do be prepared to have to move around. The Carp may not come to you so you may have to go looking for it so keep the gear you bring light as this will help you to stay mobile, allowing you to explore and find different spots to fish from. This will give you a better chance of landing those big Carp catches in the cold.
We hope that you have found this advice helpful and that you feel ready to go and land those Carp catches in the cold. If you have any questions about any gear you need the please come and visit our Liverpool Store or give us a call on 01512606015.