Fishing in December
December is cold, but not yet the coldest it will be. Fish have settled into the deepest, calmest water they can find and feed rarely, usually during the warmest part of the day on a mild, settled spell. There is little company on the bank, and the fish that are there have not seen many anglers.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What the water is doing
Fish are in the most comfortable water available and are not leaving it. Feeding is infrequent and takes place mostly during mild spells, when the water softens and a fish can be persuaded to take something easy. Everything else - the swim, the depth, the bait size - is in service of being there when that happens.
On the bank, look for
- Look for the deepest, stillest ground and fish it slowly. Fish are not moving far, so they will not be found by covering water.
- Mild, slightly coloured, settled weather is the December trigger. Bright, still frost is usually the worst day of the week.
- Water clarity is at its highest of the year in many places. Everything you present should be as small and as thin as you can get away with.
What to change this month
One rod, one swim, one depth
With short days and slow fish, a spread of tackle is wasted. A single well-placed presentation, worked carefully, does more than four rods fanned out across the water.
Keep bait minimal
Cold fish eat little. A small bait on a fine rig, presented accurately, catches more than a big bed of feed does, because the fish has to be found rather than drawn in.
Use the downtime
December is the month for maintenance: re-spool, check every knot, sharpen hooks, sort the box and plan the coming season while the fish are uncooperative.
Fish worth chasing in december
Photos from Wikimedia Commons under free licences - credits on each species page.
Techniques that suit this month
Conditions that decide the day
Where this shows up
Guides worth reading first
Watch out for
- The shortest days of the year mean arriving in the dark and packing in the dark. A head torch and a light for the car park are essential, not optional.
- Frozen or half-frozen water, and the edges of it, are a genuine danger. Never walk on ice to reach a fish or a landing net.
- Fish in very cold water are fragile. Keep them in the water, keep handling to seconds and keep them wet; a fish dropped on a frozen bank is easily injured.
Questions about fishing in december
Can you catch fish in December?
Yes, but on the fish's terms. Carp, roach, pike, perch, grayling and cold-water sea species are all catchable, mostly during mild, settled weather and mostly with a small bait fished slowly near the bottom.
Is December the worst month of the year?
For stillwater fishing in much of the northern hemisphere it is the quietest, though not always the least productive. Some of the biggest fish of the year are taken in December, because there is almost nobody on the bank.
What should I do with my tackle over winter?
Clean it, dry it and store it out of the weather. Wash salt-water kit with fresh water, check line for nicks and memory, and re-spool anything that feels tired before spring.