Catching carp in February: TOP rules for successful fishing

Crucian carp is not caught in all water bodies in winter. However, choosing the right reservoir is not a guarantee of success. We need knowledge about the habits and characteristics of the behavior of crucian carp during this period. It depends on where to look for it, what gear and bait to use. Consider what tricks and secrets you can use to catch crucian carp in February.

Features of the behavior of crucian carp in February

In winter, crucian carp is not very active. Moreover, in many reservoirs, it simply burrows into the silt. But where there is no silt and the food base is sufficient for the vital activity of crucian carp, it does not hibernate and continues to be active in winter. Before spring, the fish begins to slowly gain strength for the active season.

By the end of winter, the oxygen content in the reservoir decreases significantly. Carp is easier than other fish to cope with oxygen starvation. But still, he prefers to stay in areas rich in oxygen.

These may be the confluence of streams or underground springs. But he avoids shallow water places covered with decaying vegetation.

He also lives on the border of a fast and slow current. You can search for it in pits and other uneven terrain, on slopes. Favorite places are concentrations of bloodworms, caddis flies, which are a delicacy for this fish. The absence of pike has a positive effect on the bite of crucian carp in winter, as it does not feel threatened.

Choosing the best time of day

It is useless to catch this fish at night in winter. The best time for fishing is morning and evening, when there is the greatest activity of feeding fish. But sometimes on some water bodies the best time is the middle of the day.

Site Selection

In order not to be left without a catch, it is better to go to a reservoir where it is reliably known that this fish bites in winter. Otherwise, you can run into a lack of bite. Reservoirs can be quite close to each other, similar in all respects, but in one the fish will take the bait, but not in the second. This may be influenced by the presence of a predator or the volume of the water body. Also, a significant role is played by the supply of fresh oxygenated water. Therefore, it is better to go to a place where it is known for sure that this fish bites in winter.

The most promising places are underwater edges, exits from deep pits. Crucian does not keep in the pit itself, but near the exit from it. Driftwood and places overgrown with reeds also attract crucian carp. The best place for the thaw period is a shallow with reeds, which is located near the pit.

Baits and baits

To attract crucian to the fishing point, you should use bait. Its composition is not intricate. It is worth refraining from perishable products, such as milk powder. It is better to prepare the bait right at the place of fishing or before it starts.

Bait should be finely fractionated, as a base, breadcrumbs are well suited. Add crushed seeds of flax, sunflower, hemp to the base. As a flavoring, you can use garlic, dill, and other “bitter” spices. They work best in cold water.

You can also add an animal component to the bait. It can be a maggot, a worm or a bloodworm. Although other fishermen advise not to put a bloodworm, as it gathers perch around it.

natural baits

The best bait option for winter is bloodworm. But he does not bypass other nozzles. In cold water, crucian actively eats animal feed. It could be a worm, a maggot. But he can respond even to the dough.

They put the bait on the mormyshka. A small, nimble bloodworm behaves perfectly on a small hook. Sometimes the fish refuses to take the bait at all. Picking up the key to the capricious crucian carp is not an easy task.

Mormyshka

Mormyshka is a hook and a weight-head made of lead, tungsten or other metal. Heads may vary in shape and color.

Mormyshka can be used without a bait, luring fish only with its game and appearance. Such a lure is called a bait. There are mormyshkas that are used with a bait, making it more visible to fish.

How to choose

The shape of the mormyshka is a very important criterion for its selection. The shape affects the game of the lure in the water, what movements it produces. In its form, it can resemble a bug, larva, worm, maggot.

Here are a few mormyshka options that are effective for winter carp fishing.

• Pellet. Lead weight has the shape of a spherical bead. Produced both with a hole in the middle and with an eye. They require sweeping oscillations and active play. It is used with bloodworm replanting.
• The droplet has an elongated shape resembling a drop of water. Hooks have a fairly short shank. The game is even, smooth, without frequent fluctuations. Thanks to its shape, it actively swings in the water. Therefore, it does not need to set enhanced oscillations.
• The ant is a very catchy jig without a nozzle. It looks like an insect, the outlines of the head and body are easily traced, thanks to which it got its name. We can say that it consists of several pellets that gradually decrease from eye to tip.
• Uralka is a classic species, which in its shape resembles a mormysh, a small crustacean, which is a natural food for many species of fish. Various colored cambric and beads are added to the Uralka to attract fish.

The color of the mormyshka, unlike in summer, can be chosen very bright. Such baits are the most catchy. Fish in cold water do not distinguish odors well, therefore they react better to a visual stimulus. In addition, due to the thick layer of ice, light does not penetrate deep into the depths and a dim bait can go completely unnoticed.

Size and weight

A variety of mormyshkas are used for winter fishing for crucian carp. True size and shape should be suitable for crucian. Not every mothless crucian carp will be able to swallow. Not everyone will lure a fish with their game, making it believe that it is a small crustacean or a larva.

The size of the crucian should not be too large. A good size is considered to be a diameter of 2-3 mm. The weight must also be selected appropriately. The bait should sink easily and quickly to the bottom. However, a very heavy nozzle can affect the sensitivity of the tackle. Therefore, it is not necessary to take too heavy. So the best option is the range from 0.5 to 3 grams.

Some still use heavier baits and also get a good result. This can be explained by the fact that the overall bait is more noticeable in muddy water. Sinking to the very bottom, it raises more turbidity, thereby luring crucian carp.

Tackle for carp

You can catch crucian carp in winter on winter fishing rods with a nod and on float options.

A winter float rod doesn’t need a nod. The bite indicator is a float, usually a small painted foam ball. The bait sinks to the bottom, where it lies motionless.

For fishing on a revolver, fishing rods with a nod are used. The rods themselves are short with a whip up to 25 cm long. This is enough, since fishing takes place in the immediate vicinity of the hole.

It is better to use foam rods, as it is not uncommon for especially large specimens to drag the rod under the water. The foam handle will prevent the rod from sinking.

A nod for carp fishing from ice is chosen based on the mass of the bait. Pick up a nod a little less hard than for catching perch. An excellent material for nods with such characteristics is lavsan. In winter, crucian peck very carefully, a hard nod may not show a bite.

To increase the sensitivity of gear, thin fishing lines are used, the diameter of which does not exceed 0.12. But of course, you need to select the fishing line based on the size of the intended catch. Cautious fish are not so afraid of more delicate equipment, in addition, light baits will feel good on a thin fishing line. High-quality Japanese-made monofilament fishing lines, even with a diameter of 0.08 mm, can easily cope with kilogram specimens.

Tactics and technique of carp fishing

Often, several nearby holes are prepared for carp fishing. Thus, the water area is more fully exploited. In addition, it is more convenient to follow the nearby fishing rods. If after an hour none of the holes responded, you can safely move to a new place.

You can equip all fishing rods with a fixed nozzle. Then it should not be a revolver, but a mormyshka with a replanting of a bloodworm. The bloodworm with its movements will attract the fish to itself. If there is a current, you can use a revolver, then its game will be set precisely by the movement of water. The bait is placed a few centimeters from the bottom. If several fishing rods are used, it is better to place them side by side, in the visibility zone, so as not to miss the bite.

There is another option: install a couple of fishing rods with fixed nozzles, and catch one for the game. The game is selected depending on the chosen mormyshka. However, it should be remembered that the crucian likes a fairly active game, but with not a lot of hesitation. The bait is raised 30 cm from the bottom and lowered with pauses. Often crucian carp is enough on a pause.

The bite of the crucian carp is quite cautious, so you can hook it up after a slight movement of the nod. Hooking should not be very sharp, so as not to tear the lips of the fish.

If the conditions on the reservoir predispose to the winter activity of crucian carp, you can safely go to it. The best winter bait is the bloodworm, and the best baits are small bright mormyshkas.