Fishing in January
January is the month the calendar stops telling you anything and the thermometer starts. Water is at or near its lowest, fish feed rarely, and the anglers who do well are the ones who find the fish rather than wait for them.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What the water is doing
In most northern-hemisphere waters January sits at the bottom of the year for temperature. Deep water keeps its warmth best, shallow water loses it first, and cyprinids and predators alike hold in the deepest, calmest ground they can find. A fish will still eat, but it will not chase far and it will not commit often - most takes come from something presented right in front of its face.
On the bank, look for
- Depth and shelter decide everything. The deepest channel, the far bank of a lake, the back of a canal - that is holding water now, not the shallow margin you fished in July.
- Stable beats bright. A run of mild, cloudy days with little change in pressure will produce; a bright, still, freezing morning usually will not.
- Cold water is clear water. Line and leader that went unnoticed in summer are easy to see now, so look at the water before you choose a breaking strain.
What to change this month
Scale everything down
Smaller bait, thinner line, lighter shot, a smaller lure. A cold fish has no interest in moving a large object for a small reward, and a heavy line in clear winter water is a visible obstacle.
Present, do not search
Accuracy matters more than coverage. Pick a small area of likely holding water, fish it thoroughly, and change depth before you change swim.
Fish the warmest hours
In summer the best fishing is at first light. In January it is usually mid-afternoon, when air and surface water have had the day to soften.
Fish worth chasing in january
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
- Banks are at their slipperiest - frost, wet clay and frozen weed. Footwear matters more than any other item you own in the cold months.
- Never walk on ice you have not confirmed is safe, and do not assume water that froze last week will hold your weight this week.
- Fish handled in cold air with dry hands lose their protective coating fast. Keep hands wet, keep the fish in the water, keep handling brief.
Questions about fishing in january
Is January a useless month to fish?
No, but the target changes. Coarse fish, pike, perch, grayling and cold-water sea species such as cod are all catchable, and there are far fewer anglers on the bank. What does not work is fishing a January water the way you would fish it in June.
Does water temperature matter more than the weather?
Yes. Fish respond to the water, not the sky. Two mild days in a row can switch a lake on even in deep winter, which is why a thermometer tells you more than a forecast.
Can you fish in frost and snow?
You can, provided the bank is safe underfoot and the water is not frozen over. Take care with your line - it stiffens and remembers the spool in hard frost, so wet it before casting.