It's that time of year again, and although it poses the best chance of catching a specimen, there is also a distinct nip in the air. This small article is designed to aid the angler with some tips and tricks regarding fishing throughout the winter.

Before we get into the fishing sides of things, the main thing to remember when fishing during the winter is that if you can stay warm then you will enjoy your fishing more, there's only one thing worse than blanking and thats being cold or wet or both and blanking. Ensure that you have adequote clothing on before you go fishing, thermal base layers etc. You can always remove a few layers while on the bank but if you are not equipped with enough in the first place you will struggle to stay warm. Always take a spare set of clothing these don't have to be on the bank with you, but should be available ie left in the car. I have experienced falling into a river mid winter and with the fenland winds whipping across the fields you can become very cold very quickly. Hot drinks are always a bonus, so i always take a small selection of brewing equipment or if on a short session i will take a flask. As for food "just add water" type snacks or soups are my pick, and i always carry a couple of chocolate bars in case i need an energy boost.

Your mobile accomodation, if you intend to fish through the night then it is a good idea that you have a shelter from the elements. This can be provided by means of a bivvy, brolly or similar. There are soooo many types this has really got to be down to personal prefferance. I would like to give you a few things to consider when thinking of purchasing a shelter and they are, How often do you intend to go, What time of year do you intend to fish, How quickly do you want to be able to move and will you be regulary sheltered by natural structures on your choseen venue. I ask these questions because firstly if you do not intend to go to often you should probably look towards the budget range of shelters, if you wish to be able to move quickly then a simple bivvy or brolly and wrap will probably suite you better. If you intend to go during the deepest winters then i suggest you spend a bit more and even contemplate purchasing an additional "winter" skin.

For sleeping requirements you must try and sleep off of the ground as this will become moist and cold, Bed chairs are the modern anglers choice and can be picked up from as little as £50 but do increase up to around £350 for a top of the range, again it will depend on your circumstances, another thing to bare in mind is the weight. Also equip yourself with a good sleeping bag, various tackle companies do a range of sleeping bags and cover's or try your local camping shop to maybe save a few quid.

Fishing tactics in the cold................. Coming Soon!