Autumn is here
We are in autumn and in the coolest regions of France, the water temperature has already dropped below 14°C.
For us humans, it doesn't make much difference, we just cover up and turn on the heat. For the fish, it's a different story, when the water temperature drops below 14°C, its metabolism slows down and so does its feeding activity.
After gorging itself as much as it can during the warm weather, it switches to energy saving mode when the cold of winter arrives.
To survive, he will now have to minimize his efforts and limit his movements. He will no longer run after food. He will wait for it to come to him so as not to burn up his reserves unnecessarily, each expenditure of energy is calculated.
We notice that the feeding phases are much more spaced out when the waters are cold, on the other hand the size of the preys increases in the carnivores which never miss the opportunity to fill their bellies.
It is also under these conditions that I have been able to catching carp with a lure . The cold weather should encourage them to seek out a protein intake.
Nice little perch caught with a soft lure of 12 cm leaded in 3 grams.
The winter grouping
The cooling of the waters also induces another phenomenon, when winter arrives, we notice that the fish gather on specific spots. They are no longer scattered as in the good days, the schools of perch and pike-perch are reformed, as well as the balls of catfish, it is the big gathering for many species.
Adapting your animation
Scratch fishing, drop shot, vertical: the drop in temperature rings the bell for slow fishing. We must adapt to the fish and offer them easy and attractive prey.
Don't be afraid to brave the cold, because the fish are there!
At that time, I enjoy slow line fishing with very gliding lures!
