Stewart Bloor

Field Tester

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Here in the UK we started to see the water temperatures fall during the month of November. After a really hot summer, where the thermometer readings were sky-high, they have now begun to steadily drop. And in the case of some cold overnight air temperatures, to fall quite considerably.

This venue is a good winter one

Over the winter they will stabilise, and fish will get used to them, but during the transition period, that’s when we need to seek out the right venue. There are some places I fish that are basically a waste of time in winter for many anglers as they simply switch off big-time. Other venues though do quite well and there’s always the chance of a fish or two.

Watching and waiting

The pool I’m featuring in this month’s blog falls in the latter category. Sometimes we can work out why some places fish better than others in winter - it’s good if we can. Other times we just don’t know why, but for some unknown (to us) reason they do. It’s always good to have these places though, as when it gets tough elsewhere, we know that we can pay a visit and get a bend in our rod.

A winter common

On this particular pool I have found that pop-up boilies always outscore bottom baits every time. So that was my approach, with M2 on one rod and lobworm on the other. One of the most important aspects I find regarding bait is confidence. Confidence in itself won’t put fish on the bank, but without it we’ll struggle. If I tell you that the two baits I have mentioned were all I took with me, that tells you about my level of faith in them. I didn’t need a plan b.

PVA bag with multimix pellets

I fished the boilies in conjunction with SBS multimix pellets. Fishing just three rod-lengths out, I was able to put some out by hand as I needed. I also filled a PVA bag with them as well every time I cast out. I am a fan of the multimix pellets, as no doubt you will realise if you read my blog on a regular basis. They are as described, a multimix of pellets with different sizes and types, and so consequently they break down over varying times. Some within minutes, others over a longer period.

On the mat and on the bank

I had a good session on the pool, landing a few fish. They don’t go to specimen sizes, but that’s not an issue to me personally. Although I always target the bigger fish in any venue, the reality is that you can only catch what’s in there. For some places a 10lb (5KG) carp might be a monster! The most important thing is to enjoy our fishing, that’s what it’s all about. And I certainly enjoy mine and that’s a fact.

Releasing a small common

So, as we approach the colder months of the year, my tip is search out those venues that will give you a better chance of a fish. By all means target the difficult ones, after all we all love a challenge. And there’s nothing better than banking a fish from a rock-hard winter venue. But many anglers also like to get a bend in their rod from time to time. That’s when the winter-friendly places can be a real blessing. Ultimately though, whatever you do, enjoy it!

Regards, Stewart Bloor