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It's come to that time again to keep his lordship happy, this time with winter setting in its knowing what to do. Firstly do you continue with your carping exploits which you know is going to get harder and harder the colder it gets, or do you change the quarry and do some winter piking which can be exciting and have some excellent results.  | Or thirdly do you say sod it until spring and lets see what the weathers like and stay at home with her indoors. Let us take the first one and that's carping in the winter. My opinion is water choice as you will know yourselves which one does and doesn't produce throughout the colder months, this is where you could be on a loser even before you start. At this time of year you have to maximise your chances wherever possible, don't worry about moving from your traditional syndicate waters where there might be the odd angler that is prepared to sit and wait for maybe one fish in the winter. |
Even if the fish you're after are smaller as long as you are getting the runs and this will improve your overall water craft. I would prefer to fish gravel pits in the winter as I believe the fish keep moving around more and so are more willing to feed. The reason being the grave layers in the lake allow the water to pass through so there would be a steady flow, maybe not noticeable to you or I but the fish would. Whereas in a clay pit the cold water would be still and very much colder so the fish would tend to switch off making your job so much harder. Now to finding the fish, don't be fooled that they will go deep in the winter, they will look for where they feel safe and the waters a few degrees warmer. This could be in the snags (definitely) or the shallows, if you have shallows at the western end of your lake this is the first area that the sun will hit and so warm up the quickest. Top of gravel bars is worth a try as the shallower water will warm up first. Even if part of the lake is frozen you can see if your lucky, carp basking underneath the ice. The ice acts as a window so giving the carp the feeling of warmth. I have known people take fish off the top in February in freezing conditions against an area that was iced over. If you have the time spend as much of your spare time walking around your chosen lake and look into these kinds of areas and you will be amazed what you can see when you look for it. It is also worth trickling small amounts of bait into these areas but you really don't want to be using anything with a high oil content as this will emulsify in the cold and the carp will have trouble digesting it. | Some pellets have approximately 30% oil like halibut and some trout pellets, I would tend to use something with about 12% and no more. C.C. Moores pellet Ultramix (formerly pellet fusion) is low in oil and easily breaks down, try in the margins and watch it start to fizz. Hookbaits are down to your personal choice be it plastic corn or Enterprise Tackles illuminating boilies , or your own bait which you have been confident in throughout the year. We will go into Winter and Summer baits more in depth in another issue. | |
Now to the second choice, and fancying a bit of predator fishing, the Pike. Some people I know will not go near one never mind unhooking it, but once you have got the correct equipment it's relatively easy and some excellent fun can be had seen the Pike rise out of the water and start tailwalking . The rods and reels you use for carp are perfectly adequate for pike fishing, similar breaking strain mono line of 15lb or you can still use braid if fishing at distance. Set up is quite simple, at first keep it to basics and don't try making things difficult for yourself. Wire traces can be bought ready made or if you prefer you can buy a spool of wire and a crimping set to make your own, this can work out cheaper but make sure you have crimped the trebles in place correctly. Simple running rigs consisting of a 18-24” wire trace with 2 x size 6 semi- barbless trebles attached. Always use semi- barbless as the one with the barb is used to hook the dead bait, and the 2 remaining hook the prey. Un-hooking of the Pike is made so much easier with semi- barbless hooks. Between the running lead and the trace put a rubber bead to protect the knot. Choosing dead baits is all down to personal choice or do a bit of asking around your water to see what works and what doesn't. A simple half Herring might be a killer on one water but wont get a pick up on another. Try your local fish monger or tackle shop as they will have an array for you to choose. Once the baited rig is cast out it is time to set up your indicators, optonics are cheap and great for this job because you will be fishing with an open bail arm some indicators will not register free running line. Because of the open bail a drop off indicator is required this just looks like a ping pong ball with a line clip attached to your rear rests with a piece of tubing. This keeps your line in direct contact with the rig and gives a visual indication of a take when the line is pulled free from the clip. DON'T hit it straight away just give it a moment to turn the bait but not too long as to deep hook it, this will come to experience and the size of bait you are using. Once hooked all that's left to do is play it and get it on the mat, as this is where some good fun can be have if the pike is prepared to tail walk. Tail walking can mean a lost fish as they vigorously shake their head and try rejecting the bait. Now we have the fish safely on the mat lets see about unhooking it, forceps are a must and preferably in 2 sizes as a deep hooked fish would be difficult to unhook with a small pair. Another item is a thin pair of gardening glove to protect your hands from the gill rakers (red filters in the gills) as these are very sharp and can lacerate your hand if the pike starts to thrash. A tip is if you have picked the pike up by the gill and it does start to thrash hold it away from you. Keep a firm grasp but it will try using your body to force itself off you, the reason for holding it out. The best way to approach the un-hooking process is to lay the pike down on its back on the mat and straddle it keeping it supported steady between your knees, then with the hand with the glove put your fingers under one of the gills and into the mouth, taking care not to go to far in as your fingers will be close to the teeth. This will come with time.  | Then pull gently roll your hand upwards and watch the mouth open widely, now it's a case of using the forceps and clamp onto the penetrated hooks and turn upwards releasing the hook. I hope this gives you a little insight into Piking and gets you out there on the bank. Please treat the Pike with the same respect you give the carp, they are tuly magnificent creatures. And last but not least for them who have already decided winter is just for dreaming and reading about catching fish, yes I mean the Couch Potato. |
Pick up a fish mag and think you can do it. Dream on. Get wrapped up and get out there, you'll never know until you try. Good luck and til next time Paul Zurek
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