Well the start to the new season has been a total washout. Both river options flooded and packed out with expectant anglers so I decided not to bother and to pick up the spinning outfit instead and head to the canal.

I arrived after dinner and started walking the banks and casting around. It was a nice day and I only needed to wear a t-shirt which has been rare of late. I fished a few likely looking spots with little joy. I was enjoying myself regardless though as for me just to be out with rod in hand is what it is all about.

I wandered down to a lock and perched myself on the edge. I set up with a small devils own sardine and began to work the water. Almost immediately I felt a thump but no fish on. Seemed like the perch may be in the mood today. I tried again and had a follow off a reasonable sized perch. I couldnt for the life of me tempt it into striking though.

I had a few more follows without success. I decided to slow the retrieve and speed up at the end. I cast the lure into the white water at the lock gate and worked it back. As I neared the end of the retrieve I noticed a shadow emerging behind the lure. It was a nice sized perch with a hungry look in its eye. As I twitched the lure it smashed into the back of it. Fish on. I played the fish a little to avoid it bumping (I always take the barbs off my trebles). I reached for the net and slid it under the fish. It was a nice sized perch and looked mean as they often do.

I carried on and had another small perch and a few follows. I decided to rest this lock and move to the next after having a quick go at a lilly bed. I had a few casts over the lillies and on one retrieved I spooked a good pike as the lure neared me. That would have been a nice capture.

I got to the next lock and began to work the water into a foam. I cast this way and that and had a lot of action. The perch were going mental. I had another good perch here and a lot of follows. Just before I set off back to the car I had another small one and another two fell off.

Overall it was a nice day to be out and I had a nice few fish. I really enjoy a few hours on the lures. I have also got the wifes sister into it but she is yet to catch her first fish. She has had follows and even two fall off so she will get there eventually. She had a follow off a huge perch last time out which I would have been very jealous of had she hooked it.