The winter is a season where some of us store away their gear until the arrival of the spring. Others are aware that you can experience some big moments during the winter. The winter is the time where generally the bigger fish will see the inside of our landing net. In my opinion a big reason to keep the rods out of the shed as long as possible and go out hunting for that winter whacker instead.

Depending on which venue I choose and how many carp that are in there, I choose if I will go prebaiting the spots. Another big issue that you have to keep in mind is the water temperature. The fish will move just a little bit or even lay still most of the time when the temperature stays under +7 degrees. In these conditions I won’t go prebaiting but will fish much more active. I then use small solid pva-bags filled with chopped boilies and action pellets or fish with a single hookbait. I keep the rigs in place for one hour and then recast them again to a new spot when nothing has occurred on the previous spots.

When the temperature rises above +8 degrees though, the fish slowly starts moving again. It’s not that you can go prebaiting like you do during the summer. The amount of one baiting spoon a day will do the job. I generally prepare some particlemix like the “Seed mix” from Quest Baits for my prebaiting campaign of 3 to 4 days. On the actual fishing day I use less bait as possible and try to catch that one-bite carp that comes by to feed from a place he thought was safe. I try to accomplish that by using small solid pva-bags and fill them up again with some chopped boilies and action pellets. As hookbait I like to use a bright Pimple Pop like the yellow or orange ones on top of a normal chopped down 15mm boilie or fish two pimples only. Using bright coloured hookbaits in the winter is a proven method and the pimple pops are well qualified for that job.

Well the plot is that you could stay at home or you could go haunting that winter whacker. It won’t be easy but even more satisfying when you have that bigun in your net during the winter.

Happy winter hunting,

Mario Taal.

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