February

Winter is, and will remain, such a magical and underrated season to target big carp. Yes, it can be relentless pushing through the elements. But, if you are organised, prepared, and willing to persist no matter what, the rewards are there, and with significantly lower footfall. You can put those odds in your favour, and put something special in the album. A big target carp in the winter is an extra special carp. It feels especially earned. I have been blessed and managed to bank carp in December and January, but the special ones seem to have a habit of falling in February.

Picking the right winter venue is important. I always look for something with a few more carp to target, but I never want it easy. I still want the challenge, and of course it must have a target carp swimming within it. I always need to have a target in mind, it drives me. The obsession, also gives me focus and helps that push through those tough weather elements.

I live approximately half way between M4 junction 13 (Newbury) and M4 junction 12 (Calcot). As we know, the M4 corridor is littered with superb carp angling and I haven’t needed to venture far from home. I feel so blessed, and still have my sights on other local challenges.

In April 2023, I managed to book on to Reading & District Angling Association (RDAA) junction 12 (J12) lake with a group of friends. It was my first taste of what this fantastic 15 acre venue had to offer. Extremely secure, well thought through and spaced out pegs, loads of bank side space and tranquillity. Yes, it sits alongside the M4 and the train line, but the everyday hustle from those commuters disappears into the background when treading the banks. It becomes this tolerant hum that you forget about. It’s a magical place, and you can see why it’s so popular. Then the main attraction, is the stamp of carp. Some absolutely gorgeous lookers that travel over 40 pounds, with rumours of the odd one breaking the 50 barrier.

When on that initial social session, I was shown a picture of an upper 30 fully scaled carp that had been caught days before. What an absolute stunning carp. My cup of tea indeed. With a few carp caught between the few of us, I left J12 with a real urge to return. A few months later, I was presented with the opportunity to have a dabble through the winter. And of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

Like a lot of winter venues, J12 takes in an abundance of extra water through the winter. Sitting adjacent to the River Kennet, and with the volume of rain in recent winters. J12 rises by approximately 2-3 feet and most swims are fully submerged and the tree lined edges, move in and become part of the lake. All part of the opportunity and challenge, so you just run with it. Extra layers, decent waders and waterproofs, and go for it.

     

My first winter was good considering I was finding my feet, and mapping out most of the lake from scratch. A number of well-earned bites, and carp to over 40 pound. Not easy as I expected and I was out trying in some brutal conditions. The carp only give themselves away on those typically good weather fronts. During the bleak and freezing cold conditions, they would literally disappear into the abyss. With depths from 6-14 feet, it was far from uniform and there was plenty of nooks and crannies for them to hide away. The lake is also very weedy in the warmer months, so you can encounter lots of dying weed in the winter. Then obviously all the additional water capacity also adding another dimension.

With no nuisance fish and crayfish present, I didn’t feel any limitation to what my bait choice was going to be. When I use any bait, I need to feel like I have something the carp will crave. Almost impossible for them to ignore. I decided to put my faith in Handcraft Baits ‘Herb’. Carp don’t eat fishmeal in the winter, apparently. I went on to find out they like the herb, that’s for sure.

My mix is roughly 80% fresh herb boilies put through a crusher, so it’s very small chops/shavings and crumb. Then 20% a mix of hemp, sweetcorn and 4mm carp pellets. All hydrated with a decent dollop of herb primer. It smells and looks, amazing. Also very visual, being a dark red raspberry colour and flecks of yellow corn. To make life easier, and to make bait ups easier. This year I did make up batches of the mix in 5L buckets and dropped them in to freezer. It was then a case of taking a bucket from the freezer 24hrs earlier, and away I went. The only round baits I ensured entered the water, were my hook baits. Match the hatch, Handcraft Herb 20mm wafters.

                

I didn’t start my winter campaign this year until mid-December, despite the ticket starting in November. I did pick off a couple of carp in December and January, but nothing that gave me the momentum to push on and build something from. I wasn’t convinced those carp came from areas holding the majority of the stock. It felt like I just picked them off. I did move around a lot, trying to locate the bulk, but didn’t feel close.

Then literally as any confidence started to grow and all my early winter preparation complete, the weather had plans of its own. Torrential rain caused flooding including access to/from the venue and then a period of sustained arctic air temperatures and the whole lake froze solid. Thankfully I hadn’t committed too much bait at that point, but it wasn’t long until the lake had defrosted.

Then early February, I had a 36hr session planned and already had a preconceived idea to target an area of the lake that was productive for me the previous February. After a few flicks around with a 3oz marker weight. It was evident my previously marked spots were now areas of dense dying Canadian weed. But I was still keen to fish the vicinity, so I persisted until I found something hard (gravel or firm silt), fairly small and most likely not an established spring/summer spot. They are easy to locate.

Then all of a sudden, a very firm donk. A very firm thump down and loads of feel making its way back through the braid and rod. All the vibration pointing to a hard gravel spot, and not very big. Not easy to get more than one rod on from my swim choice, but that was one rod set. The other two opting for silt and slightly away from this spot.

With the clock ticking down with minutes to spare, the rod on the new hard gravel spot was away. This mint ice cold carp validated a hunch, and it became the start of a short and successful early-mid February campaign.

We all know tuffties can be a menace. They can also tell you things. After that carp validated the hunch, I went back to the lake with my spod rod and a 4oz distance weight. I was very keen to map out this spot but from another swim. Slightly closer, but an awkward cast. After I parked up the van, I walked to the swim and was greeted with about 30 tuffties all huddled in a tiny cluster and doing nothing. They were not directly on my spot, but they were not far away. Not one of them dived, and it looked very odd. It really stood out.

After they eventually drifted away, I spent a few hours mapping out the spot which ended up to be approx. 3m wide and 2m deep. I popped up the marker float to ensure my free bait was going to land directly on the spot. Using horizon markers, I mapped out everything to ensure I could accurately get three rods on the spot, each only 1m apart.

Daytime bites are common in the winter, and J12 was no different. After dropping in 5L of free bait, then again two days later. It was then time for an early February day session the following morning. 5:30am dark arrival, my spod and three rods all clipped up and ready to go. When I had enough day light to confidently pick off my horizon markers. I dropped another 5L bucket of free bait, then all three rods safely deployed 1m apart, fluorocarbon settled, and alarms set.

What happened next was way beyond expectations. Between 10am and 3pm, I had 10 bites and landed 10 carp to 29lb. 8 20s and 2 doubles. Approx 230lb of carp. All absolutely pristine and in full winter colours. I was clearly bang on top of them and they had really homed in on the bait. But still, with 15 acres of flooded ice cold water to myself it was still a crazy winter day session that I will never forget. The wind was unfavourable south easterly, and the air temperature was bitterly cold.

     

     

With confidence now sky high, it was a case of maintaining consistency and accuracy, and just making time to get rods on the spot. It did start to feel like it was a matter of time until some of my winter targets would turn up.

Another 5L bucket dropped in at first light the morning of my next day session. Three rods soon in position and it wasn’t long and a rod was away, but unfortunately my first lost carp. A much larger carp too. With the lake heavily flooded, peg side vegetation was more precarious than normal and this carp knew how to capitalise on it. Absolutely gutted, and I couldn’t help but think if I had lost my ultimate prize.

Despite the loss, I sat out the day but the bobbins remained motionless. But, I didn’t see this as a bad thing. I could sense maybe the bigger carp had moved in, and were maybe feeding more cautiously and sparingly. Then 20mins before pack down, a one toner and after another heavy battle one of my winter targets was safely in the net. What a carp. 38lb 6oz and again, absolutely mint perfect in full winter colours. It’s dorsal constantly up throughout all the photos.

My No1 winter target remained the big fully. It’s not a frequent visitor to the bank, which made it even more appealing. With the 38lb’er a massive tick in a box, I created one final day session window to have another go before heading to the Big One show to support Evolve.

Again, another 5L bucket dropped in at first light and three rods in position. It was a more favourable south westerly breeze and overcast, and forecast to remain as such until lunchtime onwards and then bright warm sun most of the afternoon (the first time in ages). With the morning almost ticked away, the bobbins remained motionless. But then, out of nowhere, another one toner and battle commenced with another decent carp. The fight this time was nothing too tricky, and before long it was in the net. A very straight forward fight, thankfully.

Littered with dark mahogany scales on both flanks, and after several cross checks with the photo I had on my phone. I had it, the fully, which tipped the scales round to 40lb 10oz. A very lean, but LONG, winter fully. It looked incredible. My No1 target, done. The sun came out on forecast, pics done, drove home buzzing. What a climax to an extraordinary February. A huge run of carp all inside 10 days.

After doing a spray of great on the bank shots, with my tripod set up in around 2ft of water, I snapped a cluster of water shots when the dark mahogany winter fully was safely returned.

It’s been hard to move away from my trusted 4.5” multi-rig with a 20mm wafter. The conversion rate and hook holds has been incredible. All dead centre and bottom lip, 10mm back, and most needing forceps to prize out the bend of the hook. A spray of the Evolve Tackle components, including a Medium Straight Aligner, long Anti Tangle Sleeve, Weight Clip and “-“ Tail Rubber and 3oz Distance Swivel Weight. I find clear and firm hard spots, as this is a must for this presentation to be laid out flat and optimum.

All my luggage and kit was tested to the extreme. I packed down and set up in some of the worst weather I have fished in. A lot of drying things at home, to then have everything soaked again days later. I also had waders on for hours, which was an endurance in itself. But, all part of the challenge.

Then finally, the bait. I went through approximately 45 litres of bait in total, which is around 30kg. When you are confident you are on them, feed them.

Be lucky, Carl.