WINTER LRF TIPS
Great ways to boost your chances of a productive session in the depths of winter
Great ways to ensure a productive session.
1 DEEP WATER
Most of my light rock fishing (LRF) in winter is at marks with access to deep water, even during low tide. Harbours, docks, rock marks and sea lochs are good choices in winter.
Deep water holds fish throughout the tidal cycle, giving access to fish at any time. With limited daylight available, this can be the difference between getting a session or not fishing at all.
2 HARBOURS
When rough weather makes rock marks too tricky for LRF, I turn to the harbours, which not only have fish-holding capabilities, but also provide shelter from the elements for anglers.
With weed having died back, there is less structure in the harbour for the fish to utilise as hiding places, so they become concentrated either in deeper water or around pilings, walls, boats, docks and pontoons.
Look for a harbour with working fishing vessels because the discard from cleaning the decks and nets will create a food source that will attract fish into catching range.
3 LIGHT AND SHADOW
Harbours are often illuminated by streetlights, which help to attract fish, making life easy for fishing into darkness. Night time in harbours can be a great time to catch codling, pollack and coalies, which actively hunt in darkness and can be found shoaled around light sources in the harbour. It is always worth fishing under illuminated patches of the harbour.
Fish use the shadows to hide in readiness to ambush small prey attracted by the lights. Casting a tiny lure into patches of shadow between can be effective, too.
4 LIGHTEN UP
Because I’m fishing smaller, lighter lures and jigheads, I decrease my braid size. Not because the fish are smaller in winter, but for several other reasons. First, the kelp zones have died back and much of the weed has gone. Therefore, I can fish a lighter breaking strain because there is less chance of getting snagged, nor the need to stop larger fish burying themselves in the kelp. Second, the lower breaking strain helps get good distance and control with lighter lures.
In summer when fishing the snaggy ground, I use a PE0.6 braid, but in winter switch to PE0.4.
This also applies to using fluorocarbon as mainline. It’s easier to get away with fishing previously weedy areas with, say, 2lb fluoro. An LRF rod will cushion the fight from even a large fish, and a properly set drag will help stop the line from breaking.
5 SLOW DOWN
Throughout the winter my retrieves are low and slow, with metal jigs taking a back seat until the water temperature starts to climb. Twitching back a dropshot rig slowly and subtly is the most successful tactic.
6 LUMO TRICK
A twist to the standard dropshot rig is incorporating a couple of luminous beads to provide extra attraction, especially at deep water (30ft-plus) marks. I’ve experimented with and without beads, and with a mini starlight, and the beaded dropshot rig outfished a version without beads.
Tying the rig is simple. First, slide two 5mm lumo beads on the leader and attach the hook with a Palomar or any dropshot knot. After tying, thread the tag end (where you attach the weight) back through the beads. It gives the advantages of a rig tied directly to the mainline, and also pushes the hook out from the main body of the line like a short snood.
Ideally, you want the bead to butt against the eye of the hook without sliding on the hook, which can ruin the presentation and make it harder to hook fish.
My favourite lure for this in deep, cold water is a Gulp! sandworm. I use many sizes, but don’t be afraid to put a six-inch sandworm on a size 6 long-shank hook. I have caught some large fish on this set-up throughout winter, but also codling that are shorter than the length of the lure.
7 JIGHEAD RIGS
With much of my winter focus on codling and deep water, it’s easy to get carried away with using a dropshot rig. However, it pays to fish the rest of the water column with a very light jighead and tiny lure because a slow-falling soft lure can increase bites.
When I want to fish through the water column, I use a jighead of two grams or less and soft lures under two inches.
Of course, the strength of wind can dictate whether or not you can use this technique, but for the most part it is reserved for calm days. Cast out and let the lure sink on a tight line to allow you to feel a subtle, on-the-drop bite when a fish has grabbed the lure. Sometimes all you feel is a change in weight when the fish inhales the lure. Instead of the traditional tug on the line, everything just feels lighter.
Floating braid, which is the predominant type on the market, also helps achieve a slow fall in the rig. When the lure has gone down beyond the desired depth, you can jig it back up and allow it to fall again.
This is a great technique to tempt lethargic fish because they don’t have to expend much energy to intercept a slowly sinking lure.
8 COMBAT THE WIND
Even inside a sheltered area, you can’t escape the wind. Being high above the water when the wind is swirling only adds to the problem because the more line you have out means it is more likely the wind will catch the line and ruin your presentation.
Where you are able, try to get the rod tip as close to the water as possible to cut out the effects of the wind. Steps down to the water and floating pontoons are a godsend in windy weather. They are also a great feature, providing cover for those predatory fish.
Floating pontoons are a great place to negate the effect of strong wind because you can fish very effectively right under the rod tip. Dropping right under your feet means you can use the lightest of jigheads to get that deadly slow fall through the water column.
Dropshotting in windy weather allows you to use the maximum casting weight for your rod, yet still get a great finesse presentation.
9 EXPOSED HANDS
Lure fishing involves having to constantly hold the rod with no option to get your hands in your pockets for protection against the cold. Gloves are ideal for winter lure fishing. I prefer fingerless versions, rather than those with a fold-back thumb and forefinger because very light braid seems to be attracted to any snag on your hand. For instance, a patch of Velcro or a folded finger can create tangles and make tying or rigging more difficult.
10 CREATURE COMFORT
Stay warm by wearing the correct clothing in winter. Footwear with thicker soles reduces the amount of cold from concrete and rocks reaching your feet. Keep out the wind with salopettes, with a hooded waterproof jacket over the top. Wear a beanie hat or similar. Finally, a flask of hot tea, coffee or soup will perk you up on a cold day. ■