Winter, a season we all dread but leads us well into the festive season, ice, snow and dreary weather can bring along low pressure to aid the capture of a winter carp or two. I personally love fishing in the snow, as experienced a couple of years ago catching my first snow carp or 30 at that. A small runs water which appeared to fish better in minus figures than in the summer. It made a cold day all the sweeter. Today or rather this evening, I am fishing a reservoir a short drive from work which I have caught a few stunning commons from, in exactly the same weather. It is of about 4 acres in size and depths of around 14ft. It’s a lovely reservoir set in vast farm land. Winter can be difficult to become productive, but I find that you don’t have to use the most complicating rigs to trick a few fish. Simple snow man, or straight single popups or boilies can be equally  rewarding. I always hook on a £2 coin sized bag dipped in some sort of low key booster over a spread of boilies is always a winner for me.

A size six Fang Twister, 12” of Armourlink and a 3oz lead is all that is needed for me to be able to bag a decent fish or two during the winter. So finally making way to the reservoir after work, I found the wind was blowing a bitterly cold south westerly across the lake. I decided to go for the top end of the lake and fish on the back of the wind, there was an acre or so of calm water, there had to be some fish there surely? I got two rods out on the spot all clipped up and bags ready to go, they both went out like a dream. I then scattered around a kilo of Amber Strawberry Boilies over the two rods and sat back and watched the water for signs of close activity, that being said I saw three fish in the space of about twenty minutes roll over the rods. I was positive that everything was all fishing and spot on; all that was waiting was a small food parcel and a lovely sticky sharp fang twister to snare a feeding fish.  As is always the case in winter I fish ultra-tight lines so I know that the carp don’t get away with anything, thus accompanied by a 3oz lead to really hammer that hook home! As it got to about 18:20, I received a massive drop back… I was in!! I ran down to the rod and wound down and gained a solid connection with a hard fighting power house of a carp, or maybe I had forgotten how hard they fight considering I haven’t been for a while? Ha-ha. Anyway, the fish went on several long runs of about 30 yards at a time. Almost convinced I had hooked into one of the lakes catfish, a large shape broke the surface after playing knit one pearl one with the rods.

I managed to snare the fish on a single amber strawberry boilie on the most basic of bottom bait rigs, as afore mentioned, why complicate things during the winter when sometimes all that needs to be done is get on the fish and you are well ahead of the game to catching one. Size to me doesn’t matter specially in winter as a bite is a bite. Fish usually sporting there winter colours are the ones for me, hence why I am fishing this small pit which is home to some scaly mirrors and commons at that! A real hot water during the summer, even better during winter. Up on the mat she was beautiful, really starting to show her winter colours, she stayed calm for a few shots, not the greatest I must admit, but I never have been able to take a perfect shot in the dark. I was buzzing like a little school kid on summer break! Smiling like a Cheshire Cat I walked back to the car and set off home, it has proved one thing and a massive saying in carp fishing “you’ve got to be in it to win it” thanks for reading, this has stoked the fire to start doing more short winter sessions and put some more stunners like her on the bank. Until next time.