The deeper water has helped to keep the bites coming when it is cold and feeder and slider tactics are the best now. A lot depends on the weather of course but especially the water colour. Barry Morgan has won the last two matches by just taking it easy with a feeder and not throwing in balls of groundbait. 

A few skimmers are being caught but the small carp are still the most consistent fish especially when the water is clear. A small groundbait or maggot feeder with a 3ft long tail cast towards the middle will reach the deep water. Maggot bait is catching all species. Pole fishing is usually hard but sometimes it can work well later in the day.

There are still lots of bites for everybody, but when it's really cold the key is not feeding too much which puts the Carp off. Alan Taylor took the Top Pond record match catch by hardly feeding at all! In the coldest weather certain areas can be better than others, often pegs in the middle of each side are better than the deeper or shallower ends. If the going is tough, a move to another spot can see you catch lots more fish. 

Pole is most effective because you can use a small pole cup to drip in small amounts of micro pellet and maggots very accurately. Maggot often scores best early in the day with pellet getting more effective later on. Near the island is usually most productive but when it is quiet or overcast you can catch close in too.

Carp are naturally feeding less vigorously in the cold water conditions and this means that Ide, Orfe, Chub, Roach and Gudgeon are making up most of the catches at the moment. John Callaghan had the best recent catch last Sunday with a mainly Ide catch of 19lb. Gary McKay has been taking some impressive catches of big Ide to 1lb 4oz and he has found that the key is to feed very little using a small pole cup, search around a few areas and to stay patient until the fish start feeding.

Maggot, Pinkie and Caster are best baits, with micro pellet too as feed. Pellet hookbait is working mainly later in the day and is taking a few carp as the water warms and light fades. Worm is not so effective now so be careful how much chopped worm you use, though it can work well as a change bait. Bigger Carp and Tench up to 5lb are being caught but only occasionally.