10 WINTER TIPS to keep your FISHING HEART WARM!

WORDS: Werner Lubbe | PHOTOS: Supplied Winter is that time of the year which requires a slightly different approach. Everything changes in winter and various factors need to be considered to keep enjoying the fishing experience, whether it be a social outing or in an organised competition. 1. BE WARM, PREPARE FOR IT We are fishing because we love and enjoy it. There is absolutely no reason at all to be cold and uncomfortable. It's easy enough to be prepared and a few important factors can change a cold, miserable day into a nice, warm fishing day albeit in cold conditions. Here are a few things to do: Dress appropriately – Use cotton, long-sleeved underwear, thick socks, a good quality beanie and a thick jacket, preferably one with a hoodie. Cold and wet feet are no good for comfort and you need to invest in a quality chest wader, or if that makes you a bit claustrophobic, hip waders are a good alternative. Cold hands also take a long time to heat up again and can impact your ability to put on bait or tie knots. Getting your hands cold and wet in the morning is not necessary. Take a flask with warm water to prepare your first batch of feed. It also adds value to have slightly warmer feed in the morning, just for the consistency of it. A small gas stove is very handy, and a mug of hot coffee when it's freezing makes a massive difference – at least it does for me! A thermal coffee mug ensures that the coffee (or soup) stays warm longer. There is nothing as terrible as when one has just made a steaming cup of coffee and the reel screams, so when you return after the fish is landed, it is ice-cold. 2. FOCUS ON YOUR GROUNDBAIT In the winter, when fish are feeding less, it is sensible to use soft, fine feed with fewer particles. If you have to cast it far and need to put a lot of power into the cast, knead it well to stay on longer. This will also ensure that it stays on for those longer periods. Because the bait might have to lie for extended times, like 90-120 minutes and a small amount of dip will not last, work the flavour into the bomb. 3. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE Slow it down – let it lie for longer, and do not feed a lot. When the water temperature is nearing 10°C, most fish are going into some sort of hibernation because they cannot digest food at that temperature. Koi breeders stop feeding their fish at that temperature because they do not need to eat. Because fish are not eating out of hunger, fish for the inquisitive fish – do something different, let your bait stand out. Be prepared to catch only 3-5 fish a day, and get your head around the matter. Fishing too hard will let you end up with nothing. 4. FIND THE WARMING WATERS Deep water has a more stable water temperature, so it is worthwhile targeting the deep water for the bigger fish that seek stable temperature even though it might be colder. Shallower areas warm up quicker, and can attract fish as it starts changing. It might be a good strategy to focus on these shallower bays and inlets. Western banks see sun first, and due to the angle of the bottom, will warm up first, while the eastern banks will see the sun longer and stay warm longer into the night. Rocky areas hold warmth better due to the energy absorbing quality of rock. Long, rocky ledges and points going into the water, will definitely attract more fish and hold them for longer. In winter, barbel in particular like to hold around rocky areas. 5. GO LIGHT, IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE! Presentation is key, and when the water is cold and the fish are lethargic, it is critical that the bait plays its part and is presented as natural and as light as possible. The waters are clearer and everything is much more visible, therefore baits that look unnatural will just not get the attention that they should. Go with lighter line on the hook – even 5lb; it just makes the entire look and feel of what the fish are confronted with more natural and less suspicious. Smaller hooks with smaller associated baits are easier to get sucked in by investigating fish that are just 'window shopping'. 6. FISH FOR THE INQUISITIVE FISH When fish are not really feeding and definitely not competing for food, it is important that your baits are interesting, but still natural. Thus while they need to be presented light and natural, they need to be different enough to attract some attention. You can achieve this by doing a few things: Colour contrasts; Different shapes; Cloudy effects; Moving baits; Flavour contrasts – Stronger (Aniseed, TCP, Gumtree etc) with fruity offset – Quattro/Has Been; Pips with long dough. 7. BE VERY ACCURATE You will not do many casts, but make sure they are on one spot only. The accumulation of a few groundbait balls, even though finer stuff only, creates that layer of aromatic, tasty maize on the bottom. There is not much to eat, but if it is in one spot, fish will stay there for longer and if there is an interesting bait presented naturally, it might pick it up. The best way of being accurate is by measuring the distance you cast, even if you are not sure you are going to catch a fish there. Remember, to measure is to know. Clip in on a measured distance, even if you are still looking for the fish. Mark your line with a marking pen to ensure you can go back to the same spot after catching a fish or had a bite. It also helps a lot to know the depth of the water you are fishing in. There are various ways to find out – marker floats, counting it down, topographic maps and 'phone a friend' are all tools you can use. 8. EVERY FISH MUST BE LANDED When you are fishing for only a few fish a day, you cannot afford to lose any of them and you must be sure to land every bite. There are a few things that you can do to increase the efficiency and lower the risk of losing fish. Here are a few pointers: A soft wrist that absorbs some headshakes. A loose drag that prevents a quick dash to break off or pull a hook. Be patient when playing the fish; take your time, as the most important fish is the one you are playing. Beware of the quick dash close to the bank. With clear waters the fish can see you much better and can easily spook when they see your bright coloured jacket or bright green landing net. Be ready for that moment with a soft wrist and a loose drag. 9. CHOOSE YOUR DAYS With all the technology now available, it is much easier to make some predictions. If you are a social angler and you can choose when to go fishing, be picky and make sure you select the best days. If you are a competitive angler and you have to adhere to competition schedules, use these tools to help you prepare accordingly. Look at the following: Solar & lunar effects. Weather conditions – pre-frontal. Barometric changes. Activators like windy conditions or rain. 10. ENJOY EVERY MOMENT AND MAKE IT COUNT! We are fishing because we love it so much, so make sure you do exactly that. Prepare well, dress warmly, make the changes, get your mindset right and go fishing with a purpose.

10 WINTER TIPS to keep your FISHING HEART WARM!

WINTER WARMERS

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