Fish are cold-blooded animals, so their metabolism slows considerably in winter. This means reduced, targeted windows of activity. On the other hand, fish will be stationary and won't go after prey too quickly, so you'll need to take this into account in your approach.
Look for the warmest waters
Fish are cold-blooded carnivores, so it's only logical that in the coldest months they seek out the warmest waters. You should therefore concentrate your search for carnivores in the deepest areas, such as the quietest pools in rivers and around the bunghole in small bodies of water. Not only will they find thermal comfort there, but also a real larder. This is where schools of white fish will be concentrated.
Edges, if exposed to the sun for a long time and during a prolonged period of thaw, can also be an opportunity to sting a few fish on well-targeted niches.
Finally, any water inlet that is slightly warmer than the surrounding environment should be investigated as a priority.
Enjoy the midday rush
In this quest for thermal comfort, there's no need to get up at the crack of dawn in the middle of winter. The warmest hours, i.e. the stroke of midday, should be preferred if possible.
Keep sessions short
The fisherman's enemy is the cold, and it's really hard to get a full day's fishing in the middle of winter when you're ill-equipped and your fingers are frozen. So, while it's obvious to have effective clothing, it's also advisable to opt for several short outings rather than one long one. All the more so as this will multiply your chances of stumbling upon a favorable day or window of opportunity.
Watch out for water surges and floods
Rising waters are always a good time to fish for zander and catfish. In some regions of France, winters are marked more by water strikes than by snow and freezing cold. So keep an eye on the weather forecasts and the vigicrue website to make the most of these short but sometimes intense moments when the water rises.
Fish slowly
As we've already mentioned, fish slow down during the winter months, and you need to take this into account in your animations. So, it's best to fish slowly and punctuate your animations with pauses to increase your chances of catching a fish.
At the same time, the use of bulky lures representing a high caloric intake will often be more productive at this time of year. Every effort is energetically costly and predators prefer to move for a worthwhile prey...
