| Steve Williams is an all round angler who lives for the days he can get to the waters side. Like many anglers who like to target the bigger specie, Steve will be tucked up on the bankside in his bivvie for many a day. He has been fishing for as long as he can remember, having initially learnt his skills from his father, ......, who is well known and much respected on the midlands match circuit.
Steve will keep his fishing tactics simple, as he believes that as anglers we can over complicate matters. Sit back and read some of Steve's winter tips.
Carp Anglers Only!
Generally, as water temperatures cool the carp, particularly in water with limited stocking levels, will become lethargic during the winter months and feed for very defined periods. Only by gaining experience on a particular water will you learn when those periods are.
A structured approach from many anglers is to fish with very little if any free offerings, in favour of dipped single baits or stringers etc. Fishing right through the last two winters I have personally found that this approach may not always be the best and a sensible introduction of bait during the session can pay dividends encouraging lethargic fish into moving therefore searching for bait which otherwise they would ignore.
My own top winter baits are sweet corn used in conjunction with trout pellets, betamine pellets and / or hempseed. If I am attacking a water where tiger nuts are allowed, then I will take some with me that have been cooked in coca cola. These used with hemp can be absolutely devastating on the right day and matched against a good boilie; I would use them every time.
A 33lb-13oz Fish
Taken in October 2000
Rigs, hooks and mainline are scaled right down and I use running leads in preference to fixed. I have no qualms in using 8 lb. hook links and size 10 hooks if the water is weed and snag free. This tactic can also pay when floater fishing in the summer months, and again if conditions permit can be very effective making the difference between a blank and a memorable session.
A particularly effective technique I have used this winter is a basic adaptation of the 'method' with a standard fixed or running lead rig with a shortened braided link of say 6-8". The lead 2-3oz weight will have a small ball of trout pellet paste moulded around it. When the lead hits the water the hook bait will settle on or near the trout paste that is rapidly breaking down therefore making it available straight away for any passing fish. Adding or soaking them in water can make trout pellets into a paste very easily.
Depending upon the shape of the lead, very firm pressure is needed to mold the paste to it. In doing so means that the rig can be cast tremendous distances. Obviously the smaller the pellet ball the further you will cast.
20lb - 8oz
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