cold weather fishing

[Chappa]

Hi all, I'm new here and pretty inexperienced so here's dumb question #1!

I’ve been having good results all summer on local fisheries, bagging some nice carp, bream and roach on the feeder and float, but how do I modify my technique for the cold weather? I’ve been out twice in the cold on a local canal and blanked both times, (using corn, soft pellet, and also a swim feeder). I assume I should be downscaling my tackle and maybe using worms or maggots? That aside how should I loose feed, if, what and how often?! I’d like to go for roach, tench or perch, or anything that offers variety.

 

Cheers

 

Chappa

[lutra]

Hi all, I'm new here and pretty inexperienced so here's dumb question #1!

I’ve been having good results all summer on local fisheries, bagging some nice carp, bream and roach on the feeder and float, but how do I modify my technique for the cold weather?

On a lot of waters ( especially ones with carp and bream in) the water will tend to clear as winter sets in and fish become less active therefore not stirring the bottom up. because of this you may need to fish with a little smaller hook and slightly lighter hook length. Another factor of the fish slowing down is they don't need to feed as much and have less competition therefore they can be a little more selective about what they take, so you may need to lighten your float or rig up.

 

I’ve been out twice in the cold on a local canal and blanked both times, (using corn, soft pellet, and also a swim feeder). I assume I should be downscaling my tackle and maybe using worms or maggots?

Bait is a hard one to answer as it depends on what species your targeting. Corn tends not to be a good silver fish bait in winter as it fills them up to quick, but it can be a good winter carp bait as its oil free. Oily baits like pellets and meat lose their edge in winter as oils don't mix with cold water well.

 

That aside how should I loose feed, if, what and how often?! I’d like to go for roach, tench or perch, or anything that offers variety.

If you catch a tench in winter i would consider it a bonus as their not a winter species. When it comes to feeding i try to feed to my bites. Think quality not quantity and keep loose feed light and small so not to fill the fish up.

 

Brian.

[Chappa]

Cheers Brian!

[Peter M]

for perch in the winter i don't think you can beat a nice Jucy lob worm. i am fishing a slow flowing river near me with some nice side streams that move a little faster and have been having a few perch on lobs, nothing big but still nice. mind you its not proper cold yet and the perch are still grabbing the worm on the retrieve and are very active.

[Chappa]

OK another dumb question, as I've never used lob-worms!

 

Are they available from most tackle shops along with maggots? And do you hook them straight onto the hook?

 

Cheers

[wayne baker]

OK another dumb question, as I've never used lob-worms!

 

Are they available from most tackle shops along with maggots? And do you hook them straight onto the hook?

 

Cheers

Just hook them once through the head end. I love float fishing for perch this time of year the weather is still pretty good. just cast around likely looking spots, EG deep margins with cover like overhanging branches and reeds. Anywhere they might be lurking. Dont overfeed to much a few red maggots should do the trick to get them curious..

[Chris Plumb]

OK another dumb question, as I've never used lob-worms!

 

Are they available from most tackle shops along with maggots? And do you hook them straight onto the hook?

 

Cheers

 

Most tackle shope will sell lobs - if you haven't a garden (or a lawn) to harvest your own. My local sells a small pot for £1.50 - but with little more than a dozen worms - that's 10p a worm. I hook lobs once in the very head of the worm - gives a much more natural look to the bait as it falls through the water - and when twitched imparts an irrestible action. Any big fish (perch or chub) will take the whole bait - no problems!

 

 

C.

[AndyY]

I had my pb rudd 2,3/4lb whilst fishing for perch on a lob hooked in the head then injected with air and ledgered on the bottom this was the middle of winter and I think was only 1 of 6 fish caught between 3 of us on a water that in summer is a bite a throw.

 

Good luck

[Anderoo]

Worms are expensive (especially when they keep getting chewed up by ****** crays ) but worth the money where perch are concerned. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is hook size - a 6 (barbed) is about right. It looks huge, but if you use a small hook you'll miss bites. The best hook I've found for lobs is the Kamasan wide gape specialist (yellow packet).

 

I usually break a big lob in half and hook both sections at the broken ends - plenty of wriggle and lots of scent. Plus when you get a bite you can be sure the whole lot in in the perch's mouth and can strike straight away.

 

Best baits this time of year are worm (for the bigger fish), maggot and bread. Scale down your end tackle enough to get bites. Feed little and often. Fish such as roach will be shoaling up, so large areas of water may be barren. Fish to structures and features for the perch and chub. Dusk is often the key time. Good luck