Winter Fishing - Some Love It And Some Hate It
How to Improve Your Catch Rate When Fishing in Cold Weather
It is true to say that a sudden fall in temperature puts nearly all fish off their feeding. Thus when winter approaches many anglers put their rods away until the warmer months return. But most fish will start feeding again after the temperature has fallen, but far less freely than before.
Freshwater usually does not fall any where near freezing point except for the cooler upper layers where ice can often form. The critical temperature is around 39 degrees Fahrenheit or roughly 4 degrees Centigrade beneath which you will be unlikely to make a good catch as the fish will be in a state of torpor. Most of the time the water temperature will be above this and cold weather fishing can be very productive.
You must be prepared to adjust your expectations. If you catch a handful of fish when the water is cooler this represents as successful a visit as a bag full in the summer months. If you accept that it is harder to catch fish in colder conditions compared to warmer ones you can have some great sport.
If it is cold enough to freeze the surface of a flowing river it is easy to find a spot to fish. Areas free of ice will dictate where you fish as these will be warmer at the surface than anywhere else. You should use a fixed ledger rather than a moving bait and let the fish slowly find your offerings. Ground bait lightly as the fish will only eat sparingly and experiment with some highly flavored treats for the fish. A piece of cheese can work wonders when it is cold for the likes of roach and chub.
As the fish will be only biting very shyly you may want to feel for bites with your fingers on the line. You may find it is too cold to take your gloves off to do this. Using a light float and laying on the bait on the bottom works very well. Moving the bait around gently every few minutes covers more ground and often induces takes.
In still waters you need to find the deeper spots as the shallows will be the colder parts of the lake or pond. This might mean that you have to cast further than you would like in conditions where the fish are rather sluggish. Bread flake or crust molded onto the hook, perhaps with a smelly attractant added, works better than maggots when it is cold. If you can find very deep water say over 20 feet this will likely to be much warmer owing to the temperature gradient in such waters and the fish may be feeding very freely here. Here worms would be a good choice if sizable perch were known to inhabit the water.
In conclusion, whereas the summer angler hates bright sunlight which can put fish off their feeding, the reverse applies in the colder months. On a bright sunny winter's day the water can warm up slightly by the afternoon enough to stimulate the fish's renewed feeding activity. It certainly will lift the angler's spirits in the winter season!
Mark Jenner is a keen angler enjoying all aspects of the sport. He spends most of his time in pursuit of trout, pike or carp as well as occasionally doing some sea fishing. For interesting articles and free advice on all aspects of fishing and fishing tackle visit his web site =>
http://www.carptackleguide.com