When the colder water comes I turn my attention, at times, to jig and lure fishing – mainly for pike and perch. You can fish like this all year round but it’s better for the pike to catch them in the winter. Fishing with micro jigs and lures is great fun especially if you can only get out for short sessions. Carp fishing can be tricky in the winter months if you only have limited time. If I only have a couple of hours space I’ll grab my spinning rod and head to a quiet lake or take a stroll down a stretch of canal where I have a winter ticket. Find the right spots and the fish will keep coming.
Getting started – what you’ll need
If you are new to micro jig fishing then it is relatively easy to get a setup. If you have another smaller fishing rod or reel this could be converted to jig fishing if suitable.
Here’s a list of what I personally use for jig fishing –
- Rod: Korum 7′ 6″ spin rod (micro jog rods are available too, I just prefer a spin rod)
- Reel: SPRO freestyle smoke screen front drag
- Line: Berkley fireline – A mono, braid mix that is a personal choice of mine, the braid is the standard line for jig and lure fishing.
- Jigheads: 1 gram size 6 are ideal for this size of micro lure
- Rubber landing net – With this mobile type of fishing a folding net is a good option.
- Lures: A 38mm lure is a good place to start (I use these ones in the sliver and green mainly) Shown below
If you are looking for an entry-level rod then Angling Direct have an Advanta 7 foot spin rood and reel combo for around £18. You’ll need to swap the mono that comes on the reel for a braid.
Other things you may need
If there is pike in the water
- Forceps
- Wire trace
- Predator gloves
Micro Lure Fishing Tips
I’ve done a lot of micro jog fishing over the years and it as a tactic I go to for short sessions, mainly when the weather gets colder. If I don’t have long enough for a carp session I’ll grab my spin rod and go off for a roving session round a local still water or down a stretch of canal, I have a ticket for. This type of mobile fishing is great fun and with tiny lures, you can usually catch plenty of fish and a good range of sizes and variety, even more so on a good stretch of river.
1 – Keep mobile
Don’t weigh yourself down with gear! I have one rucksack that has a side pocket for rods and I keep my small lures and setups in it. If I want to go I can just grab it and go. Keeping moving helps you find more fish. If you’ve fished a feature or area for 10 minutes and not found anything move on to the next spots. Some times you’ll find the best looking spot hasn’t got the fish in it at that time.
On one of the still waters I fish for perch some spots work on some days and other days there’s no fish there. Keep moving until you find some spots. If a spot looks good but has no fish then either come back to it later or note it down to revisit on another day and have another try.
2 – Use decent polaroids
This should be a given for predator fishing. With a decent pair, you can often see the fish in the margins and in clear water. I’ve caught may fish that I’ve seen with my glasses but would not have seen with the naked eye. This includes standing watching perch take my bait and watching pike waiting in the margins too.
I use these (Fortis Eyeware overwraps). They are designed for glasses wearers but can be worn by anyone, the side panels really help block out the light making them more effective. The only downside is, as I’ve been told, they’re a bit, Lady Gaga, lol!
3 – Look at the local match results – canals and rivers
If you are lure fishing for predators you want to know where the fish are. Find the shoals of slivers and you’ll find the larger perch and pike. This is especially important when targeting canals and rivers in the winter. Check the local clubs and forums for the match reports and see which pegs had the biggest weights caught. These are likely to be the areas that are holding the fish. Head for these areas to start with and keep moving around them looking for signs of fish. This can make a big difference between a good session and a bad session.
4 – Ask around!
This seems to be overlooked
Best micro lures
Best Rods
On canals
Challenge ideas?
Winter
Species to target
FAQS