The Best Fishing Bait For Carp In The Winter

What is the  Best Fishing Bait to Use in Winter?

Fishing in the winter can be tough going especially if you don’t catch.
The water is cold, fish move less, and bites don’t come easy.

But one thing makes a big difference in winter, the bait you use.

If you choose the wrong bait this can mean you sitting all day getting cold but this can also happen using the right bait, as winter fishing can be very hard.
You need to edge your bets but mainly get your bait chose right and use a rig your confident in you have a chance of catching a fish.

Here I will go through some of the best fishing bait to use in winter and why they work to help you make a choice or just hopefully help in some way.

Why You Winter Fishing Approach should be different to Summer Fishing.

As the water gets colder, the fish will slow up and so will their metabolism making it difficult for them to digest certain foods. This means that if you give them big food types like 18-20mm boilies they will take longer to digest so the fish will only eat a couple then go off to digest them.

This is because the fish,

• Don’t move as much
• Don’t feed as often
• Don’t want big meals

This means heavy summer bait just doesn’t work the same. Fish won’t eat loads of food in winter, so you need to give them bait that is easy to eat and easy to digest.

One of The Best Winter Fishing Bait: Pellets

If you want one bait that works in the winter, is pellets or Pellet Paste

Pellets are:

• Easy for fish to eat
• Easy to digest
• Full of smell and attraction

They work well in cold water and don’t overfeed the fish.

That’s why so many anglers rely on pellets through the winter months.

Don’t add any oily liquids to the pellets as this can congeal around the pellets prolonging the breakdown time and holding in the scent.

Why Micro Pellets Are So Good in Winter

A Small bait work really well in cold water.
That’s where micro pellets really come into their own.

Micro pellets:

• Are very small
• Break down fast
• Let off attraction quickly

Fish can eat them without effort. They don’t fill fish up, so they keep them feeding for longer.

A small handful of micro pellets is often enough to get bites in winter so don’t over do it.

Soaked Pellets Can Work Even Better

Dry pellets can be a bit too hard in winter but soaking the pellets makes them:

• Softer
• Work Faster
• Easier for fish to eat

Soft pellets are perfect for:

• Method feeder fishing
• Short winter sessions
• When fish are feeding slowly

You don’t need a lot as a little goes a long way.

Pellets and Groundbait in Winter

In winter, less bait is always a better option.

A light mix of:

• Fine groundbait
• Micro pellets

This can creates a small feeding area that pulls fish in without spooking them to much.

Top tip:

• Keep the mix simple with no oil
• Don’t make it too wet
• Don’t use too much as you can’t take it back out

You want to have enough to attract fish in but not over feed them.

Are Boilies Any Good in Winter?

Boilies can still catch fish in winter, but you must be careful on the type you use.

If you use boilies:

• Go for a smaller size
• Use a boilie with low oil not heavy fishmeal
• Only use a few, perhaps use some chops
• Pre soak them to make them a bit softer.

Using a single hookbait or a small PVA bag works far better than heavy baiting.

Most of the time, pellets will out fish boilies in winter if used correctly.

What About Maggots and Worms?

Natural baits still work in winter.

Maggots, worms, and casters can all catch fish, especially in the winter.

Many anglers now do this:

• Use Pellets for feed
• Use a Natural bait like worms or maggots on the hook

Doing this gives you the best of both worlds and give the fish more choice.

So How Much Bait Should You Use in The Winter

This is very important and where a lot of people get it wrong.

In winter:

• Start with very little free bait, you can always add more but you can’t take it back out.
• Feed small amounts because if the fish aren’t there you can move.
• Only add more bait if you get bites but still keep the amount small.

If you over do it with you bait you kill your swim fast or the fish will eat what the need then move off without taking your hookbait.

Sometimes one feeder or a small pouch of pellets is enough but it you are using a swim feeder or fishing lead keep them small because if you do have fish in your swim you don’t want to spook them off.

Confidence Is a Massive Edge

Winter fishing takes patience.

Just because it’s the winter doesn’t mean you have to change your rigs. If you are confident in the fishing rig you use, stick with it. It’s not all about the bait your using, it’s about having the confidence that you will catch a fish.

Just to Finish Off

So if you want to know what the best fishing bait is for the winter that’s a hard on. But if you want to know what I’d use,

👉 Pellets – especially micro pellets mixed with natural baits like worms and maggots.

Why?

• Work in cold water
• They Are easy for fish to eat
• Let off attraction fast
• Help you avoid overfeeding

Winter fishing can be hard going but if you think about your approach, fishing in winter can be very enjoyable. But one of my Biggest Tip for Winter Fishing, is to fish on a water where the fish might still be moving around because if they are they will need to feed. Fish smaller waters, one where they have winter match fishing contests. These waters will have constant noise and bait going in so the fish will keep moving about and feeding.

At CPS Tackle, we believe using the right bait is about understanding fish, and how they will be feeding at a given time of year.

Fish smarter this winter, not harder and please remember to wrap up in warm clothes when you go out in the cold.