Should you fish the margins in winter?
Someone told me the other day that fish tend to spend most winter nights in the margins, as the water temperature is warmer than in deeper parts of the lake, is this true? Andrew Scott, via e-mail
Tim Childs says:: “Great question. Having fished for carp in the winter for as long as I can remember, I have to say I’ve never seen evidence of fish preferring the margins at night during the colder months. Whilst I have caught them in the edge, it’s usually been other factors i.e. the lake size, bankside features and marginal depths etc. that have influenced my captures.
“Once we move into November and December, the water temperature on the lakebed stabilises at 4-degrees Celsius. And whilst shallow areas may warm up in the day when the sun peaks, at night these areas cool quickly. If the margins on your lake are 10ft deep and the middle of the lake is roughly the same then, the temperature on the bottom is consistent at 4-degrees. I’ve caught fish at over 150yds at night on a 20-acre lake with a pretty even depth of 6-8ft right through the cold months in both daylight and at midnight, proving in that case the fish preferred to be at this range.
“Smaller waters with overhanging trees or undercut banks maybe areas that hold fish during the cold but in my opinion other factors other than water temperature play a part here. Carp love the cover of all types of snags, branches, reedbeds and dead lily pads in the winter and it’s no different if they are in the near margins or off an island at 100yds range. My advice is simple, as every lake can be different, find where the fish are comfortable on YOUR specific venue and fish to then accordingly.”