Fishing in November
November is the month winter arrives. Water has dropped several degrees in a few weeks, the weed has gone, the fish have moved off the shallows, and the light is grey and brief. Feeding is occasional again, but fish are in good condition and will still take a well-presented bait.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · Editorial policy
What the water is doing
The shallows are effectively empty. Fish have concentrated into the deepest, calmest, most sheltered ground available, and they will not move far for anything. A November session is therefore a search for a small area of holding water, followed by a slow, careful presentation into it.
On the bank, look for
- Deep, calm, sheltered ground holds the fish now. The shallow you fished all summer is empty unless the sun has been on it for hours.
- Stability matters more than anything else. Three mild, settled days in a row will often produce; a cold north wind will not.
- Cold water is clear water. A thin line and a small bait are not a preference in November, they are the reason you catch anything at all.
What to change this month
Small, slow, on the bottom
The whole month rewards a scaled-down bait worked slowly along the bottom. Big, fast presentations are a summer tool.
Fish the warmest hours
November sessions are best from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Dawn is cold, still and rarely good, and the light goes early.
Fish one swim thoroughly
Fish are holding in small areas of comfortable water. Covering a whole lake in a short day wastes daylight; finding one holding area and working it does not.
Fish worth chasing in november
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
- Frost and short daylight make for slippery banks and difficult packing. Take care with your footing and get off the water while you can still see.
- Closed seasons start and finish at different times of the year depending on the species and the country. The dates are published, so check the water you intend to fish.
- Cold water and wet clothing are a real risk to the angler. Waterproofs, a change of socks and a hot drink are part of November fishing, not luxuries.
Questions about fishing in november
Is November worth fishing?
Yes, if you change the way you fish. Pike, perch, roach, grayling and carp all remain catchable, and there are far fewer anglers on the water. What stops working is the summer approach.
What bait works in cold water?
Small ones. A caster, a single maggot, a small wafter or a small deadbait fished slowly on the bottom outperforms large, showy offerings through most of the month.
Do fish feed at all in November?
They do, just less often and with less energy. A fish in cold water will still take food that is right in front of it and easy to take, which is exactly what a careful presentation gives it.