Even in the depths of winter, I always like to feed a bit of bait because at least then I’m actually doing something to pull fish into the swim. That said, lashing loads in will cause any fish that happen to be in the area to head for quieter waters, so when I’m feeding in the cold it’s all about tiny amounts of bait.
A tactic I often use at this time of year is ‘pinging’, which involves feeding hard pellets on a little-and-often basis. Creating this small amount of noise and attraction can be a deadly approach on even the coldest of days, but crucially, it won’t overfeed and ruin your swim in the process. Loosefeeding may seem like the kiss of death, and if that meant firing in pouchfuls of bait, I’d agree, but this is totally different.
One or two pellets plopped in on a regular basis creates just enough attraction to get a fish that may not be too interested in feeding properly curious enough to investigate. By pairing this approach with a light rig that lets the hookbait fall slowly through the water, the chances of a bite are greatly increased.
USING THE BEST FISHING POLES WILL MAKE YOUR ANGLING MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.
Pick the right pellet
I prefer to feed low-oil coarse pellets as they are easier for the carp to digest in the cold, with my favourites being Ringers R6s or R4s – just make sure they are consistent in size because you need to feed over a tight area.
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Fish ‘at range’
When I’m pole fishing at this time of year, I’ll always look to fish at 14.5m or 16m, because when the water is clear carp will push out from the bank into the deeper areas, so it makes sense to fish for them where they feel comfortable.
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Use a light rig/hook
Light rigs are crucial because in clear water it’s vital that your hookbait behaves in as natural a manner as possible. A 0.2g float is perfect, coupled with a light-wire hook such as the Guru Super LWG in a size 18.
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Feed small amounts
This is all about little-and-often feeding, so I’ll kick off with just two pellets at a time every two to three minutes, which is enough to pull a fish or two into the swim. If I get a good response, I can increase the amount and see what happens.
THE BEST FISHING CATAPULTS ARE IDEAL FOR PINGING PELLETS ACCURATELY!
