Be prepared. Make sure you have the kit to keep you warm and comfortable.- Scale down your tackle – drop a hook size, or use a lighter breaking strain hook link and fluorocarbon lines to combat the clear water conditions.
- Bait correctly. Don’t fill the lake with bait, small baits and mouthfuls of free offerings to begin with.
- Choose a venue to suit your angling. Well stocked day ticket waters will keep you catching all year.
- Keep ‘em peeled. Observation is key, be prepared to move onto showing fish.
- Work out the bite times! On most lakes a feeding spell may only last a few hours, make sure you are on the lake for these times.
- Chose a high quality bait that will keep the fish feeding 365 and don’t neglect the naturals! Maggots are a fantastic winter bait and can fished relatively easily, with a simple mag aligner rig and mesh bag of freebies.
- Do your homework, once you have chosen a venue, research it as much as possible – the internet angling forums are a great place to gain snippets of information.
- Plenty of warm food and hot drinks.
- Enjoy it! The fish are at their top weights and looking as good as they ever will, don’t let a blank session put you off, perseverance is the key!