Cold and its impact on fish
The cold weather changes the way fish evolve considerably. In spite of very cold waters, all fish species need to feed a minimum. However, when the water is only a few degrees, the fish will limit their movements and will be content to choose prey requiring little effort.
What fish?
Fishing in cold weather is not always fun, but it can be rewarded with some very nice catches. Large pike and pike-perch are not uncommon catches in this winter period. It is also possible to make very nice catches of perch when the water is cold.
Appropriate lures
The fact that most predators try to limit their movements leads them to choose large prey. To entice fish to bite, certain types of lures should be favored. When the water is cold, don't hesitate to fish with large lures. Fishing with large soft lures such as shad is suitable in these conditions. This is also the time to take out your biggest hard lures, swinbaits, jigs or longbill minnows. Lures of more than 10 centimeters can be easily used. Flashy colors are best, especially if the sun is not shining.
Specific animations
Lure fishing in winter requires patience and delicacy. The animations must be slow, interspersed with pauses or small shots. You must always keep in mind that the fish will make a minimum of effort to come and look for their potential prey. Line fishing with large soft lures gives good results on pike. For pike perch and perch fishing, vertical fishing is the best technique.
The best moments
To maximize your chances, certain times are more appropriate for winter fishing. The best time is when the sun tends to warm up the temperature, between 11 am and 2 pm. These are often the hours when the fish decide to move and when the fisherman will be more willing to go out to the water's edge.
