Des Taylor’s January Angling Tips

Fish to the Weather Conditions not the Species.

Well I am not being flippant here when I say the best tip for barbel in these conditions is simple DON’T GO.

Common sense will tell you it’s going to be hard going and those barbel will not want to feed in such conditions BUT if you pick a still water venue that is ice free and a species like perch or trout that feed in cold conditions then you have a chance of making a good catch.

Early this week as I write the local rivers were out of their banks in flood with ice cold melt water but a local still water I had been waiting for the ice to clear suddenly with the higher temperatures and warmer wind blowing the ice started to break up and I knew this water once clear of ice would fish well for perch and so it did. For in a 6 hour session I had 8 perch all over 2lbs the best going 3.08 all on small roach livebaits, in anyone’s terms a red letter day.

Then yesterday I went for the other species I mentioned and that was the rainbow trout a fish that loves cold water and low temperatures and again I caught a heap of trout and some big ones as well.

Now I’m pretty sure had I have sat on the river full of salt and grit I would have blanked for barbel but because I fished for the species that suits the conditions I caught.

That for me is the big advantage to being an allrounder for whatever the conditions in river, stillwater or sea there will be something willing to feed the skill then is what the species and where.

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