Locating Carp in The Winter Months
Locating Carp in the colder months is something easier said than done. As we know during the colder months the carp are a lot less active than usual which makes locating them tricky, however here are some tips which should help.
Laps!
Do your laps of the lake until you're settled on a swim you're confident in. Doing laps could give you an opportunity to spot fish or signs of fish which will give away their location. Just because its cold doesn't mean you won't see them in the margins. Remember your polarised sunglasses!
Angling Pressure
Take time to note where any other anglers are set up, if they are not catching then it's definitely worth fishing a different area of water to them. If the other anglers are spread out around the lake then base your location where you can control the most water out of the swims available.
Water Depths
Depending on the weather, the fish will hold up in different depths of the lake. If it's mild then the carp are likely to move into shallower water, making the most of the warmer water. However if it's colder than the fish are likely to be in deeper water as this will hold a bit more warmth.
At the start of winter, you're better off fishing deeper waters as the water will be warmer, meaning the fish are likely to be more active. However in the back end of winter, the shallower lakes are going to warm up a lot quicker meaning the fish are going to be more active.
Lake Features
Look for any features of the lake where the fish are likely to hold up. Islands are perfect as there is likely to be some natural food and if the carp know of this then why would they leave!
Find A Swim With The Best View Of The Lake
If you're at your wits end and can't find any signs of fish then fish a swim which gives you the best view of the entire lake. This will mean that if any fish bosh out then you are likely to see it meaning you can then make a move and get onto the fish. As well as this, this swim will usually also give you the most water to control on the lake, meaning you can spread your rods out in hope that you'll come across a carp.