As I drove home the other night after a busy day at work it really struck me how autumn was going and winter was fast approaching. With leaves crackling under the Jeeps tyres the two waters I passed were angler free, a very rare sight on a Friday evening this year. Whilst I know carp fishing in the colder months can be hard work believe me the rewards are there for all to enjoy. Ten years ago I couldn’t have promised you that but follow these tips and you will wonder why you ever stopped.

1) Decide what you want from the next few months

The great thing about carp fishing is that it can be whatever you want it to be. After a summer of pursuing the big fish on a crowded water maybe you want to pick a quiet water and revel in the lack of anglers and the glorious winter colours. Or maybe you simply want to get the rod bent on an ’action’ water where it is possible to catch a number of winter carp in a day. Before you start the winter decide what’s going to float your boat the next three or four months.

If its action you want - then there is no reason to not get action. With the popularity of carp fishing in the last ten years a lot of purpose made lakes have been set up and a lot of the original waters with ‘tiddlers’ in are now producing big doubles and twenties. Whatever water you ‘think’ you want to fish before you join it or fish it (presuming you have not fished it before) pay at least one trip to it beforehand. If it’s an action water you will see carp caught and if you don’t see any carp caught… well I’d be suspicious. Get there before first light; stay till after dark and those buzzers sounding and the fish on the mats should inspire you.

2) Keep to a plan

It’s very easy to ‘think’ you want to fish in the winter but it can be harder to actually do it. There will be red-letter days and there will be ‘gruellers’ but unless you are there regularly you won’t be able to build up that winter work ethic. I try to fish once a week be it an evening session or day on the water but obviously it depends on what you have going round in your life. Every alternate week is about the least you should aim to do.

3) Make the most of your time

If you are going to fish the day and the waters rules allow it, be cast in before first light and stay till after dark. If you can do the day and have holiday time left try to do your sessions mid week. Most winter carp anglers only fish at a weekend so if you can get mid week you will probably have the water to yourself.

4) Don’t skimp on warmth

Even if you are only fishing a short session wrap up warm and take a brolly with you to keep the wind off. I have two sets of kit, one for winter and one for summer so I don’t have to keep swapping about. A warm coat, boots, gloves and hat may seem OTT but make all the difference. A small groundsheet keeps the tackle clean and stops things getting lost.

5) Don’t skimp on fuel

No not for the car but for the inner man. I always take a flask with me so I can have a warm drink as soon as I get there without firing up my stove, which will be with me anyway. The trick is not to take too much food and drink with you that will make you lethargic and tired but enough to keep you motivated. Little and often and Ainsley’s Pasta Pots are a winter essential.

6) Straight lines are best

Carp don’t always bolt off in the colder months and can be quite slow and deliberate in their takes and actions. I always fish my Infinity/Basia combination on single rod rests pointing directly at the hook bait so that any take is maximised. Buzzers are set at their most sensitive and I watch the line for any lifts or drops.

7) Be 100% in everything you do

There is less room for error in cold water carping so the closer you get to 100% efficiency the more you will catch. If that rig did not drop perfectly recast it till it does. If you see a carp jump cast a bait to it. Carp can be notoriously territorial in the colder months and you cannot hope they come to you… you need to go to them.

8) Finer is better

As any good match angler will tell you the finer you fish the more bites you will get. In the summer I may be using 15lb hook lengths to size 6 hooks but in winter it will be fluorocarbon down to 10 lb and size 10 hooks. Everything is as neat as possible and the clearer and shallower the water the more it needs to blend in and be as camouflaged as possible.

9) Bright and dull and active

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the only bait you can catch on in the colder months is a bright pop up… not so. I always have a variety of baits with me as cold-water carp can be tricky to tempt and you need to ring the changes at times. Why not try a bright bait but fish it on the bottom? Or a dull bait if you are fishing over sand where brown or black will stand out. Maggots are brilliant providing the nuisance fish are limited. And don’t forget a Zig Rig mid water to tempt carp just ’hanging’ there. On very still bright days a hand full of floaters can do the trick so my Barbel Infinity rod is always to hand just in case.

You can catch this winter, so chill out, hang out and catch ’em.

Julian Cundiff