Fishing in December on open water: tackle, bait and bait

With the advent of winter, most of the reservoirs are covered with ice, so you can forget about summer fishing for a while. At the same time, there are reservoirs that do not freeze for the winter, despite the low temperatures. Such water bodies include rivers with an intense current, as well as lakes that are located near heat sources such as factories, factories or thermal power plants. Much also depends on the climatic zone in which the reservoir is located. On such reservoirs you can fish in open water all year round.

Features of winter fishing in open water

By nature, this type of fishing is no different from summer fishing, although the level of comfort is completely different, and the fish are not as active as in summer. Despite this, in winter you can also count on the capture of large specimens. In this case, much depends on the availability of food resources in the reservoir.

What equipment is used

Winter fishing in open water involves the use of the same gear as in summer. For example:

1. Fly rod.
2. Match rod.
3. Spinning.
4. Plug rod.
5. Feeder.
6. Onboard gear.
7. Winter fishing rod.

Selection of tackle for winter fishing. Recommended:

• Choose a rod up to 6-7 meters in length. It is desirable that the fishing rod be light, as your hands will quickly get tired and freeze.
• The rod must be strong, as there is a possibility of catching large individuals.
• The thickness of the fishing line must be at least 0,15 mm.
• The float should be heavier than for summer. The movements of the bait should be smooth, without sudden movements.

As a rule, spinning is chosen for winter fishing with the following characteristics:

• Lure selection. Oval-shaped lures made of brass or cupronickel, 1-1,5 mm thick, are more suitable. The tee is selected wider than the spinner by a couple of millimeters, with an attractive red plumage.
• Balancer selection. Lures numbers 2-9 are the most catchy during this period. It is desirable that there are elements that additionally attract fish – these are beads or flies that have a brighter color.
• Living choice. As a live bait, carp is suitable, as the most tenacious fish.

Fishing from a boat requires the following gear:

• In the case when fishing is carried out from a boat, both summer and winter options may be suitable. In this case, the tip of the rod should be used to detect bites. When fishing at depths up to 6 meters, a meter rod is suitable, and for fishing at shallower depths, you should take a rod up to 1,5 meters long.
• Mormyshka choice. For fishing in winter, such a mormyshka as “hell”, up to 20-25 mm long, is suitable. If the bite is sluggish, then it is better to take smaller baits.
• Hooks. For example, it is desirable to have tees with bright elements, such as bright beads or cambric.

Feed and bait

The choice of bait and bait depends on the nature of the reservoir and the type of fish that is supposed to be caught. Therefore, there are a number of recommendations, such as:

• Bait such as bloodworm, worm or maggot is always in demand, both in summer and in winter. If fishing is carried out in winter, care should be taken to ensure that the bait does not freeze. Therefore, it is necessary to have a special device where the bait always remains alive and active.
• It is better to cook bait at home, otherwise near the reservoir, especially when it is cold outside, it is not at all comfortable to cook it. Bait should also be stored in a special container so that it does not freeze.
• In winter, it is better to abandon various bite activators, such as flavors, and rely on natural smells.

Subtleties of winter fishing in open water

Fishing in winter on open water comes with a few things to be aware of. For example:

1. The fishing rod should be light and mobile, as it has to be held in hands for a long time.
2. To prevent the fishing line from getting tangled, the sinkers are placed in the following sequence: first the heaviest, and then lighter pellets come. Basically, shot type sinkers are used.
3. The wiring of the bait should be smooth, without jerks.
4. In winter, dress as warmly as possible.
5. When fishing from the shore, the length of the rod is selected depending on the fishing conditions.
6. Freezing of the coil and guide rings is possible in frost.

What kind of fish is caught in winter

If there is no ice on the pond, and it is fed by some kind of warm source, then the same fish are caught on it in winter as in summer. For example:

• Pike.
• Perch.
• Roach.
• Crucian.
• Bream.
• Bleak.
• Redshirt.
• Carp.

Pike fishing in winter on open water

Predatory fish such as pike are the most sought after trophy at any time of the year, including in winter.

Where to look for pike in winter

In the month of December, during the first two weeks, the pike is in its favorite places, which include:

• Various kinds of shelters, both natural and artificial origin.
• Places where smaller rivers flow into larger ones.
• Edges where slight changes in relief are observed.
• Bays and harbours.
• Thickets of aquatic vegetation, such as reeds or reeds.

Using baits in winter

With the onset of real cold weather, the pike moves to the depth. If there is ice on the pond, then the following gear will come in handy:

• Zherlitsy.
• Spinners for vertical lure.
• Balancers.
• Vibrotails.
• Jig lures.
• Live fishing.

Pike fishing in December on spinning

Spinning fishing in winter, when it is cold outside and several layers of clothing are concentrated on the angler, is not just fishing, but a separate sport. If we take into account that there is also snow, then we can imagine how much effort the spinner spends to catch the coveted trophy. After all, the fisherman does not stand in one place, but moves over considerable distances. To spend a minimum of effort and energy, it is better to use a number of tips. These should include:

• To prevent ice buildup, it is better to use an anti-icing spray.
• Fishing from ice depends on the depth of fishing and the thickness of the ice: if the thickness of the ice is about 10 cm, then fish can be caught from a depth of about 6 meters, and with an ice thickness of 20 cm – from a depth of about 4 meters and with an ice thickness 25 cm fish are caught from a depth of half a meter.
• It is better to go fishing in stable weather conditions, without pressure drops.
• When fishing from ice, the first cast of the spinner should not be accompanied by sudden movements. When the lure reaches the bottom, only then can a sharp movement be made, after which the lure rises up to a certain height. When the bait reaches the bottom, a pause should be formed, lasting up to 5 seconds.
• If fishing is carried out in open water, then it is better to arm yourself with a rod up to 3 meters long with a fast action. Such a rod will help to carry out long and accurate casts, while the tackle will be quite sensitive. Spinners, twisters and foam rubber fish are suitable as baits. If the bite is sluggish, then it is better to catch on live bait.

Fishing for roach in open water in winter

Roach tend to be quite active, both in summer and winter. And yet, you should adhere to certain subtleties of catching this fish in winter. For example:

1. Roach in winter is caught mainly on bloodworms or maggots.
2. You can feed the fish with the same compositions as in summer, only without the addition of flavors, since odors do not spread as actively in cold water as in summer.
3. For fishing, you should choose days with stable weather and constant pressure. Better if it’s a cloudy day.
4. It is advisable not to make unnecessary movements on the shore, since the water is more transparent in winter and the fish may notice movement on the shore.
5. Carrying out preparatory operations, you should not make much noise.
6. Conducting should be carried out in different layers of water, since the fish can be on any horizon.
7. If bites are observed, then this place should be fed additionally.
8. If there was a gathering of fish, then you need to immediately throw bait into the water. Thus, it is possible to resume biting again.

Some winter fishing tips

1. First, being on the ice, one should not forget about security measures.
2. On cloudy days, brighter and lighter baits should be preferred.
3. When using baits of vegetable origin, it is better to use hooks with a short shank to better mask them.
4. It is better to wear comfortable and warm underwear for fishing, like thermal underwear.
5. The hook can be sharpened on a matchbox, or rather, on that part of it where the match is lit.
6. When fishing from ice, it is better to cut several holes.
7. Be sure to take a hot drink with you to keep you warm.
8. In hard-to-reach places, it is better to fish on baits, such as “non-hooking”.
9. So that the hole does not freeze quickly, you can pour a little sunflower oil into it.

Short Tips

• When using bite activators, it is best to add minimal doses.
• It is better to take several types of nozzles or baits with you.
• Before going fishing, you should check the gear for reliability.
• Each fish prefers its habitats.

If the reservoir is not covered with ice in winter, then this is a good opportunity to fish in conditions close to summer. In such cases, there is no need to change summer gear to winter gear, although fishing conditions cannot be called comfortable.