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An hour doing my favourite approach, no fish but always worth a go.

Try again - Saturday night blah blah blah

Kites are beautiful birds for sure - the colours and the forked tail and a full adult is bloomin big with those wings fully extended - wow This weekend i was so lucky to see an owl fly past really close and in the last hour of light so I got a great view, obvs no pics. I'd like to get a good deer shot - they are all around the lake, one came out from the poke hole I was fishing earlier that day, prob there whilst I was and I had no idea. This place is something else tbh - so many swans, geese, ducks, herons, white crane things etc etc too many bird types it's unreal even a tiny tiny bird in the reeds by the river. Newts, frogs - toads and crickets in the bivvy (standard). It is a nature reserve and should defo be protected if not already. This is a stinky winky screen print off my Instagram of my best fishing pic ever - I had this young kingfisher on my rods for 10 mins practicing picking stuff up out the water- insects, twigs, pebbles it was a great sight and I had my decent camera there and ready. One in a million I guess. In the full shots you can see the slack lines brilliantly too

A lot of it is water dependent but on the water I fish: Location is always the most important bit but in winter more so as they're far more tricky to find. As we head into Autumn and temps drop they'll stop showing in the day and start showing at night, this is normally near where they'll end up for winter. Areas near (not in) the deepest water and central areas are worth keeping an eye on. Do a couple of nights when the temps start to drop and you should see/hear them if you're prepared to stay up late (very late in some cases). As soon as you think you know where they'll end up start putting a bit of bait in. Don't leave it too late as once they shut up shop for winter there's no getting them going again unless you get some seriously good conditions. If you can get the bait in before they shut up shop you can keep them going right through winter with consistent light baiting. Tactics/rigs etc are not that important imo, just don't go crazy with bait. The important bit is being on them and keeping them going with a little bait in the right area. Don't ignore zigs. Even if you keep them going with bait they'll likely only feed for an hour a day so zigs can increase your chances, especially during the day, significantly. For clothing, the Snugpak stuff was a massive game changer for me. SJ6 or SJ9 jacket and Sleeka salopettes are the ones. It's like wearing a sleeping bag, you can get away with just a T-shirt underneath. That Quantum winter suit is no good, it'll protect you from the wind but that's about it. DO NOT skimp on the clothing, spend proper money on proper gear (most fishing branded stuff is not what I consider to be proper winter gear). A decent sleeping bag is obviously a must of you do decide to do nights. Take plenty of tea. Enjoy yourself.

Love seeing the kites I've been a bit of a kite geek tbh - raving about seeing them getting closer and closer to where I live year after year from the rearing ground in northants. Now prob 10 years later they are everywhere. Best sighting an adult took a fish from swan lake on the wing - massive bird epic to see. Driving home I often saw columns of young birds spiraling on the wind on the country lanes - as many as 30 birds in a column - unreal. I must have nearly crashed a few times lol Got a pic of this Buzzard a couple of weeks ago - he was just sat on the lake track and flew into the nearest tree and checked me out - so cool. I remember when the birds were as rare as rocking horse stuff, so to see then making this massive comeback is so amazing, one of the highlights of my lifetime, told you I was getting geeky about it!

Arktis coat thin micro fleece and a thermal vest crag hopper winter lined trousers if it’s really cold long johns under or a pair of trakker bib and brace if it’s raining shoes are a big issue for me as I suffer with cold feet so Moreno wool socks and either my ankle muck boots if it’s not too cold or long chore boots if it’s really cold and likely to be flooded a woollen hat as fleece makes your head sweat. icant remember what gloves I wear but probably just a wooden pair and if it’s cold a liner pair under. I think fishmeal baits have changed over the years and not as bad for locking up as they used to be but I favour either a hi viz and leakage pop up and a small bag of something what ever is in the bucket. Or as said a zig I can’t be bothered to night fish in the cold conditions anymore age does that to ya in the end but will work harder on shorter day sessions. Sarnie from the shop and a bottle of water will do me on the days I do also carry a burner etc for a cuppa but it’s usually powdered milk and a coffee I will say though make sure your burner has a pre heat pipe or is a Coleman many a time waiting for an hour to boil a kettle because the gas is too cold…

Agree 100% with all this. Location is everything in all fishing but winter especially as in summer they are mobile and winter not so, so you need to be "on them". In my experiences the only times they were mobile in winter was when the winters were very mild. I'll also second the snugpak gear as well. I've got the softie shirt and sasquatch coats. The Antarctica sleeping bag and special forces 2 sleeping bag and you are literally like toast.

Bait wise - start adding it now to the fishmeals. slowly change the ratio. start with 20% and gradually get higher 40, 60, 80%. Either go fully on to the winter bait or personally I like to keep at least 10-15% fishmeal. They'll still eat them. Also I would recommend the baileys over the bait, I have used it for a good few years now whenever im using nut or birdfood based baits. It'll work all year round. Buy the cheap stuff from Aldi or Lidl, it works the same. Also great in coffee on a winters day! Tactics - remember the fish wont be slowing down anytime soon, the weather isnt cold enough yet. Normally looking at late october/early november when they start really slowing down. All depends on the weather, we had a mild winter last year and they never really stopped for long. They'll be looking to pack on weight before winter so heavy baiting could pay off at the moment. Gear - The gas sleeves are actually worse, they'll keep the gas cold! I normally take mine out and tuck it at the bottom of my sleeping bag overnight. It's usually warm enough to work properly come morning. I also would say a small hot water bottle is essential! it'll keep you warm for ages and handy for cold feet when tucked in the bottom of a sleeping bag! Clothing - plenty of socks, changing in to dry socks has a big effect on your body temp and mentally too. Feet sweat in the heavy boots and no matter how good the socks are meant to be at wicking away moisture they'll inevitably be damp to some degree. Use the layering system to keep warm. It really helps if you have to barrow to swims and when setting up. As soon as you sweat youll be cold and its hard to keep warm.

I regularly fish through the winter, days and nights so here is my take on it. My bait doesn't change, the same bait summer and winter, although 1 rod tends to have a hi-vis high attract pop-up on it. No added bits and pieces, and fished over Vitalin and crushed pellets in a bag or mesh. Baiting up is done when I leave. I don't use particles much in winter except sweetcorn, which will get used sometimes if it feels right on the hook as well. One rod on a bit of bait, one just off and a rover, then when you find the fish with the rover, another one in the same area. A cast 3metres away from the fish may be too much for them to move onto it. My rigs are the same, i dont even drop the line breaking strain. Clothing for me is from Hoggs of Fife, a decent jacket and overtrousers over my combat trousers, and Norgi top. While bib and brace is good, getting it out for a pee is awkward... Boots, I have both combat boots and cold weather boots, shop around because TFG boots are obviously no longer available. Lace ups keep feet warmer than welly type slip ons. Walk to your swim in combats, change your socks and boots when you get there to prevent sweaty damp feet getting cold. A stove bottle sleeve is not brilliant, although if the canister is warm it slows down it cooling down. Use a decent canister, iso-butane, butane propane mix. ( ) Coffee, soup and warm meals!

They are all as bad as each other and none of them are worth voting for

Wow that's an amazing shot, I want one myself now, I also now want a good kite shot lol, I've got a monopod I might start taking that for a walk with me and see if I can't get some nice pics, My best owl moment was in my old volvo 440 (I came way to close to deer also but that's another story) , I was driving along late one night and this big white barn owl just flew right in front of me for ages before landing in a bare tree, I would quite often see it in that tree after that, That place sounds amazing you will have to tell me where it is😉😉😉

Provided you don’t have to walk far they are great boots and it doesn’t matter what foot they go on as they are ambidextrous hahaha

They are just amazing though something special about seeing a bird of prey I think, a bloke was walking his dog coming towards me I think it was him that got too close, but he barely even noticed it til I told him then when he saw it he thanked me for showing it too him, I was like wow that's amazing, look look, I do see quite a few buzzards now hovering over the fields, more so when they had just harvested but nice to see, I also see glimpses of kingfishers and green woodpeckers at the lake I visit, but they never seem to come close enough to get a photo, you just see blue flashes going from tree to tree, I'm not sure how people get kingfisher rod shots, they never seem to want to be close,

…and because nobody has mentioned’em the Skeetex boots get a huge 👍🏻from moi ✔️

Looks lovely, I was out walking the dogs yesterday and was lucky enough to see a red kite quite close up, naturally by the time I was ready to take a photo on the phone it was too far away but wow was so impressive being close enough to see it in detail

If you want gloves and socks look at window cleaning supplies can't get over they do gloves for window cleaners my old gaffer would of sent you home just for asking about gloves think they are the seal skin brand.

I've enjoyed December sessions in recent years, lots of fish in short spells of feeding activity. Observation is absolutely key in winter as they are not moving about, find the fizzers and fish bang where they are, probably just the one rod will go off time and time again, regardless of how near you get the other rods, real accurate spot fishing. Just a handful of washed out baits that I break up and a handful of low oil pellets and a few grains of corn - works for me, cant wait until this December to have a go on the usually busy day ticket big fish waters - I may also be going France then as well coz I like it so much. Good waterproofs are essential as is spare clothes just in case and a hanger for your coat so your not dropping it on the floor or on your bed whilst its still wet. Good food is key, eat well and you'll be happy. Very long nights so you might want something to read or watch. Back to observation, if you do manage to find the fish it is most likely they will stay there all winter and do this every year!

I have voted for both parties before i voted tory when cameron won obv my mp stayed labour, that vote went due to me not liking blair and his lacky they stiched the hunting act into a GE really not fair that if we was a republic it would be a tyranny the masses form of democracy. I voted for every lefties pin up girl last time out Zarha Sultana will next time as well

Saturday night - what a view, also saw an owl, kingfisher, 2 buzzards, deer and all the usual birds etc

This proves my point! I'm so sorry mate. Please, please verify the media source. Do you believe that tripe!! As Elmo said, he met these people to try and achieve peace😔 The majority of his policies would of benefitted the majority of the country. Right wing media waged the biggest media war on him, to be unelectable. So as, not to see their huge profits being taxed. Yes, but it's people that don't vote, that has allowed our country to be run into the ground. Vote green, lib dem or raving looney party. Any way to get a change. I see this thread being deleted, but this is my only social media outlet, so I hope not

Because he was an absolute disaster and practically gifted the Tories the biggest majority for many years. This was the bloke who invited the IRA to Parliament when they were still bombing us. The bloke who is so blinded by the Palestinian cause that he is anti semitic. The bloke who only days ago was lecturing us that supplying weapons to Ukraine is prolonging the war and we would should be looking for peace. But at what cost! I remember the day he was elected and a bloke who I worked with was pleased as he had voted for him. I shook his hand and congratulated on electing Britain's most electable man! I think that a lot of Labour voters had the sudden realisation that they had made a huge mistake. If Andy Burnham would have got the top job, Labour could have won the last election.

Yep, New New Labour won't even be seen on picket lines?? The majority of the political system is corrupt and outdated. Not acting in the best interests of the people?? Other successful countries have coalitions. But, look at how that went with Labour and the liberals 😭

Here's my quick thoughts on winter fishing. Layer up. A good base layer (preferably long enough to go well past your waist.) Wear a belt. I've seen enough builder's cleavages in my time and also it exposes your skin to the elements every time you bend down. For my goretex over trousers, I bought a set of braces from Woolworths and they also stop the aforementioned condition. My winter suit has salopettes i.e trousers that already have loop over clips that go over the shoulder and the higher cut doubly protects your core. Wear a hat. Actually I wear 2 in really cold conditions. One's a tighter fitting woolen hat and the 2nd a larger tea cozy style and nobody knows I'm doing it!. Who says you only to wear one? Gloves are essential. Most woolen or nylon style gloves when wet will make your hands feel colder. Divers use neoprene and wet suits work by trapping a layer of water and your body heats that up and you stay warm. https://www.prologicfishing.com/products/clothing/gloves/neoprene-grip-glove I've used a similar pair (prologic) and the fold able finger and thumbs mean you don't have to take them off to rebait or tie knots. A scarf or neck gaiter to seal your neck area to stop heat escaping. Like you mentioned, a good pair of moon boots because your feet will be in contact with the ground and the cold will travel up.

Finally out again for the first time in months after another little lad arrived and moving homes, hopefully some catch pics to follow.