IT is that time of year when most anglers have already put their tackle away for the winter, but is that the best of ideas?

Winter fishing can be very rewarding indeed and although it will not provide the action that warmer parts of the year do, that is why a great more thought has to be taken when selecting your tackle and target species.

At this time of year species worthy of attention include pike, perch, bream, chub, grayling and large roach.

Specimen roach seem to like short dull days and this may be due to them picking up baits more often due to the smaller fish being less voracious in colder weather.

It is important to fine tune your tackle as bites tend to be very shy.

Use lighter lines and smaller hooks, especially when the water is clear.

Smaller baits can bring on better action, so choose pinkies or even squatts over rough maggot.

Use more natural baits such as worms, if you use bread use a small bread punch and do not overfeed with loose offerings or groundbait.

Specialist anglers will continue to fish for carp and do have a good success rate, but this is partly due to them having less competition.

This is the best time of year for specialist pike anglers and the roving spinner specialist can also help keep themselves warm by their on-the-move tactics, as moving from one swim to the next can be very successful.

River anglers have to take special care when venturing out, so newcomers need to seek good advice before roaming on to the slippery banks of rivers that are often flooded at this time of year.

Visits to the rivers can be well rewarded though, as river fish, unlike their stillwater cousins, can't lie low as the currents require them to work just to stay still.

Therefore they are constantly expending energy reserves, which requires them to feed more to replenish them!

What is very important at this time of year is to remain safe.

If rivers are in flood perhaps rethink your outing and choose a stillwater instead.

Make sure your car and mobile phone batteries are fully charged, park where there is no chance of getting bogged down, wear extra warm clothes and don’t forget to leave a spare set of clothes in the car along with a torch, drink and some spare food.

If you are short of any specialist winter clothing, now is a good time to put them on your Christmas list.

If in doubt as to what you may require visit a local tackle shop where you will be offered good and sound advice on the sort of clothing and items you will need.

Finally, don’t forget to let somebody know where you are going fishing, and what time you expect to be back home.

Neil Jupp