A rapid fall in water temperature will cause a fish to stop feeding in most cases. This is often the reason why anglers prefer to wait until the weather warms up again before venturing back to the rivers and lakes. However, fish will start to feed again after a few days, if not as freely as before.
Freshwater usually does not fall any where near freezing point except for the cooler upper layers where ice can often form. The critical temperature is around 39 degrees Fahrenheit or roughly 4 degrees Centigrade beneath which you will be unlikely to make a good catch as the fish will be in a state of torpor. Most of the time the water temperature will be above this and cold weather fishing can be very productive.
You must be prepared to adjust your expectations. If you catch a handful of fish when the water is cooler this represents as successful a visit as a bag full in the summer months. If you accept that it is harder to catch fish in colder conditions compared to warmer ones you can have some great sport.
If it is cold enough to freeze the surface of a flowing river it is easy to find a spot to fish. Areas free of ice will dictate where you fish as these will be warmer at the surface than anywhere else. You might think of using a static bait rather than trotting with the flow, and let the fish slowly find you. Ground bait lightly as the fish will only eat sparingly and experiment with some highly flavored treats for the fish. Cheese works well in the Winter for chub and roach for example.
Because the fish only bite shyly, feeling for the takes with your fingers on the line may be your first thought. You may find it is too cold to take your gloves off to do this. Using a sensitive quill or stick float over-fished statically on the bottom can work well. Moving the bait around gently every few minutes covers more ground and often induces takes.
You must find deeper spots in still waters that will hold warmer water than in the shallows. This might mean that you have to cast further than you would like in conditions where the fish are rather sluggish. Bread flake or crust molded onto the hook, perhaps with a smelly attractant added, works better than maggots when it is cold. If you can find very deep water say over 20 feet this will likely to be much warmer owing to the temperature gradient in such waters and the fish may be feeding very freely here. In this case large juicy worms can be a good choice where perch inhabit the water.
Finally, although the angler usually shuns bright sunlight when fishing in the warmer months, preferring duller weather, a sunny day can help and marginally rising water temperatures by the afternoon can see many fish renew their feeding vigor. It certainly will lift the angler's spirits in the winter season!
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