Most people tend to fish in the warmer months rather than winter, but fishing in the colder season has its own charms. The cold is no excuse to store your fishing gear during the winter! Any serious angler should consider going fishing in the winter.
Learn everything you need to know about winter fishing, benefits, tips and tricks to help you be more successful.
Everything You Need to Know for Winter Fishing
Although many will be after that larger Winter Carp, they feed a lot less in the colder temperatures leaving you sat behind motionless carp rods for sometimes hours on end, so we suggest being a little more open to targeting other species within the same day.
Fish such as roach, perch, grayling and chub are often happier to feed throughout the day regardless of the temperature. These can offer an action-packed day, even on a short session.
Winter is prime time for those impressive predators so make sure you kit yourself out and give pike, zander and perch a go! Predator fish produce bites and certainly keep you enjoying the winter as these cold-water killers are actively hunting prey fish in winter so attracting them with dead bait, live bait or even a decent lure can lead to a fantastic day full of bites.
And not all fish become relatively inactive as temperatures drop. Besides trout, there are many other game fish that are still active in winter. Even in cold temperatures, bass can still be aggressive. They can find basins at the bottom of lakes, foraging for any food in the mud. Using a small ice jig with live bait such as bloodworms, you can catch them easily. Another great winter catch is the northern pike.
These mean that the fish are very adapted to cold conditions and are even willing to attack artificial baits in winter. They're not endangered, and they're delicious, so don't feel bad about bringing this angry bite home for dinner. Another fish that thrives in cold conditions is the channel catfish. They are very active eaters even in the colder months and, unlike many other fish, will put up a good fight even when the mercury is below freezing.
Winter Fishing Advantages
Fishing in the colder months has its own advantages.
l Reduce competition
This is the biggest and most obvious advantage of winter fishing. There will be less competition in winter because many recreational anglers don't like spending hours outside in the cold. With fewer people fishing, you have fishing spots almost all to yourself. This greatly increases your chances of getting a large catch automatically.
l Different experience
Winter fishing requires you to adopt a different fishing strategy. Since the fish have less energy in winter, the session pace is slower. However, that doesn't mean you won't get hooked; it just means you'll have to adapt your fishing techniques to new challenges. You also have to deal with the cold constantly throughout your training, but at the end of the day, there's nothing like catching a big bass and cooking it over a hot winter stove.
l Quality Catch
In winter fishing, you trade quantity for quality. While it's true that it's harder to catch fish in winter, the chances of catching a valuable specimen are much higher. As mentioned, the competition is less, and once you're ashore, the catch is almost guaranteed, since the fish don't have enough fighting power in the winter.
Additionally, winter is an excellent opportunity to diversify your catch.Many warm-loving species go out of production during the winter, and this is your chance to catch game like northern pike and bass that would otherwise be harder to catch in the warmer months due to competition from other anglers.
Winter Fishing Tips and Tricks
l Location
Fish tend to congregate in winter and are less active in swimming. No matter what species you're targeting, choosing the right fishing spot is essential to a successful fishing trip. There are many resources available that can properly guide you on how to choose the right fishing spots for your location and weather during the winter. But as a rule of thumb, unless you know what you're doing, you should avoid heavy water in winter.
l Time the Weather
Winter weather can certainly be very changeable. The last thing you want is to get ready to go, only to come back to your cabin freezing from an unexpected snowstorm or rain. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and plan your fishing trips For winter fishing, the best weather conditions are when the skies are clear and the cold weather front has not passed.
l Choose the Right Gear
If you don't prepare for your winter fishing trip, not only will you run into a lot of headaches along the way, but you can also seriously damage your fishing gear.For starters, you'll need to adjust your cord reels to keep them from stiffening in cold weather. Many fishing supply stores offer this service for a low price, so if you don't know how to disassemble, clean, and lubricate your reel properly, you can ask the store owner to do it for you. Second, it's important to condition your threads to keep them from twisting and tangling from the cold.
Also, since winters tend to be wetter, it's important to bring a dry backboard to store your gear when not in use. Of course, your own comfort and safety are paramount. Wrap up enough to ensure you stay warm no matter the weather. While you bring a little extra help from technology --- rechargeable hand warmers like Ocoopa Union 5s would go a long way in fighting the cold with confidence. This multi-functional hand warmer is not only a rechargeable hand warmer but also an incredibly large 10000mAh battery power bank, it would be one of your best winter outdoor products! The more comfortable you are, the more energy you gain to face the challenges of winter and enjoy the time fishing in the snow.
And the risk of frostbite and hypothermia is real, and you should not only protect yourself by insulating, but also make sure you have proper waterproofing around your body. Waterproof pants, overalls, gloves, a thick hat, and warm socks are must-haves for winter fishing clothing. If the risk of getting wet is particularly high, there are also waterproofing sprays on the market that can make your winter clothing more water-repellent for extra protection.
