My Winter Carp Fishing Approach
Winter is here again, and I’d love to say I enjoy the cold months just as much as the warm ones – but let’s be honest, sitting by the lake in Crocs, T-shirt and shorts is far nicer than wrapping up in layers of thermals. So why do I still head out carp fishing through December, January and February?
For me, it’s the challenge. Carp fishing in winter tests every part of your knowledge and approach, and if you stay at home, you lose a quarter of the year. On top of that, carp look incredible in their winter colours, which is all the motivation I need to keep going.
STAYING SAFE AND STAYING WARM
Before I get into bait and tactics, I can’t ignore safety. If you’re using a bivvy heater, please pair it with a CO₂ detector. They aren’t expensive and they can save your life. Personally, I avoid bivvy heaters altogether and rely on clothing and a good sleep system.
Layers are everything. I start with quality thermals, add two or three layers on top, and combine that with a five-season sleeping bag and a hot-water bottle. If you don’t want to buy a new bag, you can throw a cheap duvet over the top of your current one, which works just as well.
This set-up keeps me mobile. I prefer feeling active rather than being glued to the bivvy with the heater blasting. Winter nights are long, so I always take a book. I find it better than watching films on a tablet, because I can still listen for fish. In winter, you’re more likely to hear carp than see them.
Winter carp fishing is not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards are there…
… as this December scaly proves
MY WINTER PLAN FOR 2025/26
In recent years, I haven’t been out on the bank as much as I’d like, but that has given me plenty of thinking time. I’ve built a new winter approach that I’m looking forward to putting into practice – weather permitting!
Unlike many, I’m not a big fan of solid bags. They just don’t fit in with how I like to fish, so this year I’m doing something slightly different and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. I’ll be posting catch reports or a winter diary as I go, and I hope to get out most weeks.
MY WINTER SPOD MIX
My winter spod mix is simple but effective:
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50/50 maize and tiger nuts
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Cooked one week in advance
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Stored in enough water to cover the mix
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Finished with:
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A small amount of Hemp Oil
Leaving the mix to sit allows the liquid to thicken, while the Hemp Oil helps pull fish down from the upper layers. I’ll be applying five or six spods over each rod and sticking to the same area of the lake as often as possible. The idea is to create consistency and build a regular feeding zone.
Any leftover mix goes in at the end of the session.
BOILIE AND PELLET BLEND
My next mix combines:
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Bug boilies (8mm, 12mm, 15mm + dumbbells)
This will be spread using an Airbomb to create plenty of coverage. The variety of sizes means gulls won’t take the lot, and with shelf-life baits, nothing goes to waste.
DNA Baits’ 8mm boilies are a major edge for the winter months
PVA BAG MIX
I also prep a separate bucket of Bug pellets, coated in:
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A touch of Hemp Oil
Once left to bind together and broken apart, it makes an ideal stocking bag mix.
WINTER HOOKBAITS
Hookbaits will be DNA dumbbell wafters. Most recently, I’ve been using Bug Half Tones, but I’ll also be rotating:
I don’t think colour makes a huge difference through most of the year, but in winter, a bright hookbait can give you that important edge.
I’ve been using the small Bug Half Tones wafters a lot in my winter carp fishing
READY FOR THE WINTER AHEAD
That’s my winter plan and now it’s just down to the carp. I’ll be updating my progress through catch reports and session notes, and hopefully there will be some great results to share.
So, if you’re heading out this winter, tight lines to you all! And if you’re using heaters, please stay safe!
Enjoy your winter carp fishing, and make sure you keep safe!
