Winter Carp Fishing: The Little Edges That Keep Me Catching in the Cold | Ian Russell

Winter carp fishing can be tough, but this is the proven approach Ian Russell relies on to keep catching. With fewer anglers on the banks and carp often tightly grouped, small edges in location, bait choice and presentation can make a decisive difference. Drawing on years of cold-water experience, Ian breaks down the key tactics and decision-making processes that consistently put winter carp on the bank.

"Watch the full film this article is based on by following the link to our YouTube channel - The Bold Carper 'Winter Carp Myths Busted'"

I love fishing the winter more than the summer. It’s not sweaty, you haven’t got mosquitoes buzzing around you, and the carp are big, beautiful and still very catchable – actually more so in some cases, thanks to reduced angling pressure on the lakes.

When it comes to catching them, it’s important to remember that every lake is different. Some have superb winter form, others not so much, and the fish behave slightly differently everywhere you go. Nonetheless, I have a few winter carp fishing tactics that I stick to, which I’ll explore further below…

Well-Stocked Waters

When looking at venues, the key trait I look for is a decent stock of fish. Not overstocked, but enough to create a bit of competition. Winter is a great time of year to catch a real big ’un, so I’m looking for venues with a good head of thirties, with the potential for a forty-pounder or even bigger.

Regardless of stock levels, location is crucial on all venues at this time of year. Use the bailiffs, catch reports, and your eyes and ears on arrival to try and locate the carp. Historical knowledge from previous seasons has served me well too – these are creatures of habit we’re fishing for.

Finding Carp in the Winter

As mentioned already, winter carp location is absolutely critical to get right. If I don’t have any prior information, I’ll first look towards the middle of the lake. On many waters, this central zone is where you’ll find the bulk of the carp balled up together.

If the fish aren’t particularly shoaled, you’re looking for areas that offer warmth and security for smaller groups. This could be sunken barges, islands, reedbeds, or drop-offs from shallow to deep water. When the sun does come out, carp will often move into the shallows to make the most of it, spending the rest of the time sitting in the deeper water close by. Carp love the sun.

Ultimately, your biggest weapon is your eyes. A single show at this time of year can be the only clue you need.

Bait – Can You Use Too Much?

As mentioned earlier, this question is entirely venue-dependent. For example, on Wraysbury I found that the more bait I could put in, the better. It was fairly deep water (16–18ft), and I’d really load it up with hemp, corn and 10mm boilies right at the start of the session, wherever I chose to fish.

This goes totally against what many anglers think about winter carp fishing – usually singles or small bags – and I agree these are often my first approach on other venues. A good example was Harefield in the early ’90s, where the fish were out in the middle of the 60-acre pit. Small yellow, orange or red pop-ups cast 130 yards were the tactics there.

My Go-To Winter Bait Mix

Where possible, I like to introduce a bit of bait to try and build a hit of fish. At present, my go-to winter bait mix is 10mm iScream (whole and crumbed) and sweetcorn. Soak it in Nutty Sauce (and sometimes a splash of Baileys) and you’ve got a very consistent winter performer that can be dropped by boat or Spombed out.

I’ve found the B8M8 super useful for knocking up crumb on the bank so you can keep it going in. I’ve seen quick responses on this mix. At Linear, for example, I started with 10 tins of corn and 5kg of 10mm iScream and crumb, and had a bite from a 41lb 8oz mirror within 10 minutes – it works.

It’s safe to assume the fish were in the area en masse, and in that scenario they’re going to feed. That’s why finding winter carp hotspots is so important.

Winter Hookbaits

My winter hookbaits are nearly always fairly small – either a pop-up between 10mm and 14mm, plastic corn, or a bunch of maggots flossed on top of a piece of foam. The mix is small, so I want my hookbait to be the cherry on top.

I’ve had plenty of success on iScream pop-ups, sometimes changing things up with two 10mm baits on the hair, just to add a bit of variety.

Maggot Fishing

You can’t really talk about winter carp fishing without mentioning maggots, can you? The only reason they weren’t flagged earlier is because on some venues I fish they can’t be introduced as loosefeed.

Even where I can use them, I won’t put loads in straight away. A bait boat hopper full, combined with a mesh bag on the rig, is enough to encourage a bite. Flossing maggots on top of a pop-up or a piece of foam on my favourite Ronnie Rig works wonders. That extra movement and visual attraction can pick up bonus bites when carp are preoccupied with the small bits in the mix.

Winter Zig Fishing

While carp won’t move huge distances in winter, they do move up and down in the water column. At certain times of day, you’ll find them sitting in the warmest thermocline, dropping to the bottom only when they want to feed.

That makes them very catchable on zigs. I’ve done really well on the OMC Zig Zombies over the past year, so they’re well worth a try if you fancy something a bit different.

Scaling Down Rigs for Winter

This is something that’s been written about for years, but if I’m honest, it’s never really been part of my angling. I use the same rigs as I do in summer: thick lines, leadcore, big hooks and heavy leads.

I’m fishing for carp between 15lb and 55lb – I can’t risk losing them or something not working as I know it should from the rest of the year. I focus my attention on finding the fish and getting the bite. I know the rig works and has served me well.

For me, that’s the Ronnie Rig with a size 4 Lock Hook. It sits an inch or so off the lakebed, presents well anywhere I put it, and just catches time and time again. Carp are greedy by nature. I know when one drifts past that little yellow pop-up, it’ll want to grab it before its mates – and the Ronnie converts that curiosity into a fish in the net.

If it’s not a pop-up, it’s a small piece of rig foam with 20 maggots flossed on top. I use 20 so I can count them if nuisance fish have been at it; if any are missing, I know a maggot hookbait isn’t viable.

Thinking Differently – There Are No Rules

While my winter carp fishing might sound fairly standard, that isn’t always the case. Around 15 years ago, while fishing Manor Farm, I had an unbelievable winter using 20mm fishmeal boilies soaked in oil and cast as far as I could reach.

They totally outcaught the traditional bright single hookbaits. The lesson is simple: don’t be afraid to experiment, especially if you’re unsure you’re on the bulk of the stock.

Spring Is on the Way

So that’s winter carp fishing – or at least my approach to it. It’s served me well so far this season; three forties and a fifty isn’t bad going!

Get out there and enjoy it. There are always fish to be caught, and you’ll be well in the groove for spring when things really start happening. Hopefully this article, along with the attached film, has helped with a few tips on how I go about it. Now go find some carp and get catching.