subject: What Shouldi Use For Carp Fishing Bait This Winter. [print this page] Its a question I get asked quite a lot in the shop, along with should I still be using fishmeals? Well there is no rule or definition of what you should and shouldnt use at this time of year. However, bait can make a big difference to what you catch at this time of year.
A lot of people will stick with the fishmeal based boilies they use all year round as it is a) what they are used to, and b) the fish have seen it. In my opinion it is not good for the fish at this time of year, The very nature of fishmeal boilies mean they are incredibly rich in oils and because of this the fish and water find it very hard to break them down. This means for the fish they are not getting the nutrients that they need from the carp fishing bait you are using.
Look at it this way, when you have a massive steak you end up feeling bloated and thinking maybe I should have left a bit but it was quite nice, you might end up waking up in the morning with indigestion.. This is similar to how a fish might feel after eating a fishmeal boilie. Because of the temperature the fishs digestive system finds it harder to break down and get the goodness it needs.
Now on the subject of boilies and other good carp fishing bait, there are several products on the market that are designed specifically for the time of year. Take for example the DT cold water Green Beast, here is a flavour that has proven a winner no matter how cold it gets, the reason for it is that it has all the nutrients, fats and carbs that a fish needs to live on, but at the same time breaks down easily in the cold water. The breakdown time of a bait in winter is crucial and because of this fishmeals are pretty much a no no for this time of year. Its basically due to the oil contents of the bait. What makes a good bait in summer is exactly the reason it makes a bad bait in winter.
By introducing a good winter bait, whether it be a top quality bait like DTs cold water or a birdfood bait you increase the fishs appetites. Look at it from a human perspective, would you go without eating for a few months while everything around you that you were used to eating suddenly disappears? I didnt think so.
Another winner at this time of year is plastic baits and pop ups. Fish feed by attraction but they also feed by sight! A piece of pop up corn or a hi viz popup may just entice that curiosity take at this time of year. Why? Well basically because the fish have farmed all the natural food in the lake and will become curious of foreign objects, no matter who out of place they may look!
So when choosing your carp fishing bait this year, have a look around instead of picking up your usual bag of boilies as you might just increase your chance of bagging that fish you might otherwise miss! A good quality winter bait will become its own food source and when a good food source is lacking for them it means they will be relying on your bait!
