I hope you are all well. The second instalment of my hints and tips was going to follow on the first one, looking at pop-ups again and how they can give us an edge when we are fishing. A lot happened both at my end with a hectic guiding season, and at Mistral’s end with exciting new baits in the making and the complete refurbishing of the website, so that when all was ready to post the article, it had become everything but seasonal. If there’s one thing I have in common with the Mistral baits Gaffer, Allan, it is a no non-sense approach, and so instead of blagging it or posting it anyway, I thought I’d keep the feature for late spring, when it will be of much more use. Let’s get seasonal then, as in my part of the world winter has certainly been bright and early this year, and successive snowfalls have set the stage for my winter campaign kick-off. It always is a tricky one here, as your tactical dilemmas change from the type of hook link material to use to the pros and cons of snowshoes versus Nordic skis to get to your swim! Although I doubt you will be faced with such problems often in the UK, there are a lot of things to be applied regardless of the location when winter fishing. It is a whole different ball game, and everything has to be considered from another perspective if we want to be successful. Before getting into baits and tackle, here are a few hints and tips that I believe are worth recalling at this time of year. Those who know me from coaching sessions, press features or my carp pages on the Fox website know I am a bit carp safety mad, but this time it is the angler’s safety I want to concentrate on, so that we can all go out there and safely enjoy a season that I personally really like, as every catch is most rewarding and because many a big fish lower their guards then…

Hot winter tips: Angler welfare

Cold temperatures affect us greatly, as we spend much more energy just keeping warm, let alone moving around, setting up, casting, etc… It is therefore vital to:

• Dress accordingly. The clothing we choose has to keep us protected from wind and rain, provide thermal insulation and still allow for perspiration to evaporate through. Leading tackle manufacturers have finally caught up with the technical leaps made in outdoor and mountaineering gear, so you can now get great protection without wearing glowing orange kit! You need to build your clothes in a three layer system: a thermal, wicking under layer next to the skin, an intermediate layer made out of fleece material (insulating, breathable and light) and a waterproof and breathable outer, using a Gore-Tex type membrane on a Polyester shell. Finally, the head is where we loose most heat from, so be sure you have adequate headgear.

• Get a shelter. Even if it is just for an afternoon, it makes all the difference to be able to shelter from biting frosty winds behind a brolly. It probably is the only chance to be able to build a rig or re-bait without losing your fingers!

• Have some food and hot drinks with you. A flask of hot tea and some hearty snacks will prevent energy loss, one of the causes of hypothermia. Personally, I stock up with homemade mince pies stolen from the fresh stock, and as for the Glühwein in my flask, I swear it is all a myth!

• Be more careful than ever on the bank and when landing fish. If an average swimmer can get out of tricky situations in warm water and wearing summer clothes, it becomes very tricky in cold water and wearing heavy clothing and boots. These are simple guidelines to follow, and will ensure you can concentrate on your fishing and reap the rewards for braving the cold. Believe me there is no better Christmas pressie than landing a good size mirror in her full winter colours.

Hot winter tips: Carp welfare

• It is always best to keep the time a fish is out of the water to a bare minimum when temperatures fall below 0°, as we all know the fish depends on its mucus for protection and that gaseous exchanges take place between the water and the skin, so this should not be altered by frost.

• Keep the baiting low key, and avoid oily baits at all costs. Trout pellets are not great at the best of times, but really reveal their full lethal potential in cold conditions.

• Tales of winter fish fighting much less than at any time of the year have always left me bemused, and I can only think they relate to venues where fish are tame throughout the year, or to anglers who don’t really go out there when the going gets tough. On the other hand the energy put in the fight is much more costly for the fish at this time of the year, as it will be much harder to restock because a) there is less food available, b) it is energy consuming to refuel and c) the fish’s metabolism has slowed down.

Team mate Chris with a winter gem

• My advice here is to reduce the duration of the fight as much as possible, and to ensure the fish has fully recovered before setting it free.

• To summarize, tenfold your normal fish care routine and you will be fine! As you say in the UK the proof is in the (Christmas?) pudding, so I’ll be going out there to try to prove that providing you are well prepared, Winter carping is simply not to be missed. Oh and one last thing, food does not only get scarce in the water but throughout the countryside also, so keep an eye for wildlife, it is not rare to see roe deer or, over here anyway, wild boar venturing closer and out of cover

Tight lines (actually, slack is much better winter time) and rendezvous next week for a report on my first winter outing and some hints and tips on strategy and presentation for the colder months!

Stefan Hanff, Mistral Baits team