Alex Shorrock - Staying Motivated Throughout Winter
Introduction
It may be unusual to say, but wintertime is my favourite time of year to fish for carp. The banks are quiet; you have those beautiful, crisp, bright winter days, and there's something magical about waking up in the morning to frozen bobbins and a frozen bivvy. But how do I stay motivated during the dark days of winter? For me, winter fishing is all about getting as many bites as possible, so I put off catching my target fish in low-stocked venues and instead fish in high-stocked waters with excellent winter form. There are numerous venues in the UK where you can get bites throughout the winter, including Todber Manor, Brasenose One, and Wyreside Lakes. So, choosing the right winter destination is critical if you want to enjoy this difficult time of year.
Choosing the right venues...
When it comes to winter water, I'd go with deep lakes at first because they take longer to cool down. The fish on deep lakes are often very active and feed heavily throughout December. From January to February, I'd concentrate my efforts on the shallower lakes, looking for areas that would warm up first. Pegs that receive the majority of the day's sunlight, the margins, or shallow gravel bars are typically the best places to begin because they warm up the fastest. It's amazing how much a little winter sun can raise the temperature of a lake's water.
Location. Location. Location.
Once you've determined your venue, the next most important step is to locate the carp. Generally, the carp will remain in the same locations year after year. So, spend some time researching previous captures at this venue on social media, speaking with the bailiffs, and, if the venues are nearby, walking around the lake every couple of evenings to find them. Once you've found the carp in the winter, they usually don't move much, so they'll be in the same spot until the middle of February, so take advantage of this! I've had some of my best carp catches during the winter, because once you find them, you can really rack up the number of carp you catch throughout the season.
The right tactics for winter
Tactics-wise, I usually start with naturals at the start of winter: simple combi maggot rigs (made with 30 lb. Fluoro link and a size 4 Clinga BP hook) and PVA mesh bags of maggots and bug crumb. If I feel the fish are on the feed, I'll start introducing some bait. When it comes to bait selection at this time of year, I'd avoid baits with a high oil content and instead opt for a bait high in carbohydrates. They are much easier to digest in the winter and do not congeal on the lakebed. Baits like corn, flaked maize, the bug, the switch and the humble maggot all perform well this time of year.
I'm frequently casting at shows near the end of winter, when the carp start to wake up and move to the lake's shallow areas. As a result, I frequently change tactics and switch to casting out singles on chod rigs or fishing small solid bags injected with thin liquids, as they contain a lot of attraction without overfeeding. The solid bag stems are especially useful in the winter because they allow me to tie a large number of solid bags ahead of time, eliminating the need to tie bags in the cold and rain. Pre-tied solid bags also allow me to stay mobile during this time of year, which is critical. The carp's main priority in late winter or early spring is warmth rather than feeding, so they can often move at the drop of a hat, seeking out a specific area of the lake that is warmer than anywhere else. Having a load of solids bags tied allows me to quickly get the rods out after moving on to fish.
Final thoughts
Finally, if you want to enjoy your winter fishing trip, you should dress warmly, bring plenty of hot drinks, a good sleeping bag, and get yourself a snood. It's amazing how warm you feel with one of those around your neck!
So, get out there, choose the right location, find where they're holding up, and catch a winter carp
Tight lines,
Alex