How To Achieve Winter Success

After hearing about their superb Alders farm winter league victory, UKMA gave Bag'em Matchbaits/Tubertini backed rods, Matt Grant, Mike MacMillan, Steve Potter and new recruit for the 2010/2011 winter league, Tubertini/Ringers Bait backed bagging machine, Barry Mason a call to find out exactly how each of them adapted their tactics and feeding through out the series to secure consecutive victories on this prolific venue. Obviously location pays a major part in any angler’s success in winter but if your tactics or feeding approach is wrong even the best of draws during the colder months can be wasted.

This well established group of anglers have all worked hard to perfect the tactics and skills required to produce good section points from even the toughest of sections on the very hardest of days. Their results over the past two years on all lakes at Alders Farm fishery clearly demonstrate that winter fishing is about ability and judgement  and not just about a good draw. So with that in mind, over the next four weeks we will introduce you to the members of team Tubertini/Bag’em Matchbaits and get them to reveal a few of the winter tips and tactics that have made them so successful.

Part One - Winter Method Madness

Groundbait Preparation

After mixing up of the Bag’em Matchbaits Machins method mix at home for the first time I used it I decided on mixing the groundbait on the bank an hour before the start. This decision was based on the fact that the cold water we were fishing in wouldn’t make the mix too active and on testing this in the margins it was breaking down perfectly.

I also through trial and error discovered that the best way of mixing it was to wet it leave it for 10 minutes, then wet it again then leaving another 10 mins before riddling the groundbait off. This produced the perfect mix for the depth of water I intended to fish the method in, the hookbait I choose was a single dead maggot fished on a size 16 tubertini 861 eyed hook that is perfect for the job in hand.

Round 1

After drawing peg 4, my plan was to hopefully just fish the method all day fishing up to a gravel bar that runs down the lake but instead of fishing on the bar I found 3 foot of water just down the gradual slope, (I think the fish on alders feed better in that little bit deeper water) This proved to be the right decision as I caught pastie sized carp all day for a 2nd in section/ 2nd on lake with 130lbs, being beaten for the section by only 8ozs with many other anglers in the same area struggled for 30lb.

Round 2

I drew peg 21 almost opposite peg no.4, so I decided on another method match, the peg was a lot shallower across to the bar but the peg seemed to hold plenty of fish, I only had 1 fish in the first 3 hours but with the fish cruising around and line bites becoming more constant on this very mild day, I persevered and with 2 hours to go I then had a fish a cast to the end for 69lb and a section win.

Round 3

After drawing peg 12 which had been a really bad area but with an island cast. I fancied it for a few fish, thinking I only needed 20lb for good section points again. After helping clear the ice, I fished the method tight to the island and after early signs of fish/liners started catching and had 5 fish in the first hour for about 20lb. I then settled down and fished the method ending up with 20 fish for 77lb and a lake and section win. 

Round 4

Drew peg 16 and with the wind blowing a gale, again I fished the method to the island and had 10 fish in the first hour, then the fished backed off.  By waiting for bites and throwing up and down the shelf I managed to catch steady for most of the match to end up with 34 fish for 97lb all caught on the method for another lake and section win. This was a strange match though as never had a single line bite and had to wait anything up to 15 mins for the rod to go around.

Round 5

Drew peg 17 open water peg after throwing the method around peg could not find any features underwater just a flat bottom and 5 to 6ft of water so feared the worse for the method today/ so set up 2 pole lines 10 & 2 o'clock at 14.5 metres, after starting on the method I though I could be wrong as I had a fish first chuck but no more fish followed that 1 only the odd liner, feeding my pole lines with micros I only had 1 indication which was a lost foul hooker I didn’t feel pellet was right as the lake was fishing hard in my section so I decided to feed small balls of method groundbait fishing sweetcorn over the top, this starting getting me indications and a few bites and by fishing it tight managed to catch 10 carp and 1 skimmer for 37lb and another section win.

Foot Note

Matt put in an outstanding all round performance during the 2010/2011 Winters League, to amassing an exceptional 49 points from a possible 50.  This just goes to show how good preparation, attention to detail and hard work on the bank can turn the worst of draws potentially into a winning peg. UKMA would like to thank Matt for his input and are really looking forward to the on the bank features with him and his team mates, that we will be publishing later in the year.

Team Tubertini / Bag'em Baits are sponsored by the below companies.