Years after I applied the same heavy baiting principle to my local lake

For many that is certainly the case, but over the last few years most of my fish have been caught in the winter months. This does not just apply to species which are well known to feed in the winter, like pike and chub, but barbel, bream and carp have succumbed to my approach. The first winter that my catches improved significantly came about more by accident than anything else. Three of us were fishing the River Ribble for chub on a regular basis and were using the same bait. Independently of each other we were all baiting quite heavily and other a period of time our bait of choice (trout pellets) became absolutely dominant on the reach we were fishing. Captures only tailed off when the water temperature really dropped, something we attributed to the trout pellets. Years after I applied the same heavy baiting principle to my local lake. Now, while others were using single baits or a stringer, I used upwards of ten kilos of bait each week from New Year onwards. After a month the fish fed confidently on the bait and I could catch double figure bream almost at will. A short three hour session was all that was required to catch the fish, they were that well trained to expect feed at certain times in a certain swim. What made me think of writing this column this week is that I am about to start my next campaign. Hopefully, the fish will be accustomed to feeding on my bait before I start fishing for them in earnest. Each evening will be spent either making bait or introducing it well after dark. An expensive and time consuming process, but one that brings great rewards. What I have found interesting is that the quality of the bait is less important than the quantity. Obviously I am not using old stale bait, or anything that I know will inhibit my chances, but particle baits, boilie samples of a myriad of flavours, old bread, anything is mixed into the bucket and put out for the fish. Judging how much to put out is quite easy. What I tend to do is bait up after dark and then return the next morning. If diving birds are feeding over my spot then I know that I am putting too much out. I think that you cannot over-bait as the ducks will clear up anything left, but for the sake of saving a few bob I prefer to cut back my baiting rather than keep the ducks well fed!

Like anything in fishing, this is not a method that will work all the time. Heavy sustained baiting relies upon having a decent head of fish present and no other anglers baiting up. In my experience, the first is more likely to be a problem than the latter. Anglers have become brainwashed into believing that fish do not each much in the winter. Give them the chance and they will eat plenty let me assure you, they will only switch off if they stop finding bait to be had. Go the extra distance, make the effort, do something different to the accepted norm and you will succeed.