Weather plays havoc with the angling world
The continued cold snap as really put paid to any recent activity I was hoping for, my last four matches have all been called off and a couple of attempts to film some more of The Obsessed Angler have also fallen by the wayside. Only rivers can offer the chance to wet a line at the moment apart from the odd corner of a lake or pond if you are lucky but unless you can reach the waters by foot or a very short drive it is too risky to attempt a full and proper angling session without putting yourself and others at risk with a long journey.
Safety in numbers!
You don’t need me to tell you that being near water and slippery ice is very dangerous and fishing on your own in these conditions is not advised safety in numbers as they say. There has been very little action at Bury Hill Fishery with some days not an angler in sight despite the Old Lake offering some fishing, thanks to the aeration pump system that manages to keep at least a dozen pegs fishable in the coldest of days. A few pike have been caught to those braving the conditions but very little else is feeding when the water temperatures are registering around 0.5 degrees C. The smaller lakes Bonds and Milton have been out of action for at least three weeks or more and it is hoped that the weather relents over the festive holiday season so anglers can come and visit the fishery to try out some of their new Christmas presents. The fishery can be quite busy at this time of the season so it is of concern that if the ice cold conditions continue then some good business will be lost with anglers preferring to stay at home. Apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day the fishery will be open for business weather permitting and looking at the long range forecast is looks like the snow and ice will turn to rain so fingers crossed the temperatures will rise enough for this to happen and free up the lakes.
Pike will always feed in extreme conditions
So with the water temperatures very low and the ice melt keeping temperatures that way for a couple more weeks to come, what are the chances of catching a fish and what can you do to tempt a bite. Well the good news is if you are a predator angler then you will know that pike will feed in very cold temperatures although the zander fishing can be very slow when this cold at the best of times. But what about carp, well when the temperatures fall below 4 degrees C then the action is almost non-existence as their feeding habits shut right down. This table below is a good guideline to how fish react feeding wise to water temperatures.
This simple guide of best times to fish I am sure will make a big difference when planning your next session.
1. Water temperatures above 6 degrees C with settled weather.
2. Water has been around 4 degrees C for 4 or 5 days.
3. Late afternoon when the sun has warmed up shallower parts of a lake.
4. When water temperatures start to rise after long spells of cold weather.
5. When the wind direction swings in to a southerly bringing milder weather.
This fish feeding temperature guide is worth noting as well.
6-7 degrees C Fish feed moderately well offering good prospects
4-5 degrees C Fish still aware and feed intermittently expect the odd fish or two
2-3 degrees C Fish become dormant you will struggle
1-2 degrees C Fish virtually inert stay at home
For a more detailed description of the above table, please click on this link http://www.anglingfeatures.com/howtofish.htm from my angling website.
May I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
“Tight Lines”
Russ Evans
19th December 2010
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