Put more fish on the bank this winter- Version 2

Hello and welcome back to my blog, I am sorry I wasn't able to upload a blog yesterday as something came up which meant I wasn't able to post anything. But today I am going to another 'put more fish on the bank this winter'. As I thought that there was still a lot more to say on the subject I have decided to go ahead and write up on more ways to improve your catch reports this winter.

With changing of the seasons from autumn to winter here are some top carp fishing tips from me to you to help you catch some fish in the weeks ahead. 

1. Try to fish on water all winter - I am really looking forward to autumn and early winter. Due to the amount of time I have had recently to spend on the bank, I have been changing from one local water to another all year in an effort to make the most of the time available, and even though I have caught some stunning looking fish I have chosen to fish one lake for my entire winter campaign. This is something that I would advise anyone thinking of fishing a lake in the winter to do as you are able to get to know where the fish like to be at certain time, you know which swims produce in certain weathers and you get the fish to the bait you are using, this is the reason I stick to one bait. All of these small things added together add up to you catching more fish and hopefully better fish. When choosing a lake choose one that has a good record in the winter that isn't to far to travel so you are able to do day sessions as well as overnighters. 

2. Choose you bait carefully - The first thing to consider when choosing a bait in winter is if the carp or fish are actually going to eat it when the water temperature drops. Oily baits and boilies that worked so well in the summer can definitely work against you in the winter! I found this out the hard way many moons ago. My winter bait of choice is Mainlines Cell or Nash's Amber strawberry which works well in rivers as the carp are used to feeding on bread left over from people feeding the duck. In low water temperatures all bait will take longer to start working and releasing all their locked-in attractors. 

So, one way to help speed up the process is to squash each boilie before I throw them in. This gets the boilies leaking their attractants quicker and also ensures the baits flutter down through the water and settle gently on top of any debris that might be hidden on the bottom such as dead leaves or silt.

3. Observation - The last thing to consider next time you are by the lake is observation. Just one sighting of fish activity can turn a blank session or even a complete winter season around.Binoculars definitely come in handy on some of the larger gravel pits, especially during the colder months when it can be very hard to see carp showing amongst hundreds of birds.Remember though, there’s no point in watching carp show or bubbles breaking the surface through your binoculars if you are not prepared to make the effort and move all your kit so the fish are within casting distance. So in summary keep looking and keep mobile. 

That is all for today's tips so tight lines and keep fishing and remember, you cant catch carp without being on the bank. 

The Eastern Carper