Don't Neglect The Canals

[Ken L]

I'll wait till February. There'll be even less weed, still no boats (so it'll be clear water) and by then, the preds will have really thinned out the silver fish fry from this summer.

Then, out will come my newly re-built and re-designed side planer with a little size two or three mepps or maybe a soft plastic.

[Big Chub]

One from last winter. Venue GUC.

Edited December 18, 2005 by Big Chub

[LiamF]

Absolutley cracking Perch!!

 

Just goes to show that Canals can provide excellent sport in the colder months. In the past ive carp fished on my local canal loads in winter, as the fish seem to hole up together and you can get multiple catches if you can find them!!

[BoozleBear]

I love the canal. I fish the Kennet and Avon.

 

In afternoon sessions:-

 

My son Jack (9) regularly catches a dozen fish such as roach, rudd, perch, silver bream, gudgeon and once a dace.

 

In winter you'll catch 2-4 Pike, ranging from 2-10lb, sometimes higher.

 

In summer you'll catch 2-3 Carp, ranging from 11-18lb.

 

Can't beat it if you haven't a great deal of time and want to catch fish.

 

Don't fish too near train stations or car parks as you will fall foul to dog poo!

 

Cheers,

 

Simon

[Chris Plumb]

Read this post earlier in the week and thought - 'That's a good idea - if it's mild on Friday I'll have a morning on the Kennet & Avon'

 

Sure enough weather was perfick, but I had nothing from the 1st 2 swims and with light levels rising I thought I'd lost me chance. Not so 3rd swim produced the goods - 5 perch which went (in order of capture) 3.02, 1.13, 3.04, 3.07, 1.08). Second time this season I've had 3, threes in a session - the 3.07 is only an ounce shy of a PB. Barge came through at 1130 and killed the swim - was only gonna fishe till noon anyways.

 

Thanks Stewart

 

 

 

C.

[The Flying Tench]

Not so 3rd swim produced the goods - 5 perch which went (in order of capture) 3.02, 1.13, 3.04, 3.07, 1.08).

 

Well done, Chris!

[Chris Plumb]

Thought that would prick your ears - John! This wasn't NAA water though.

 

 

C.

[The Flying Tench]

Thought that would prick your ears - John! This wasn't NAA water though.

C.

Chris, is your 4lber campaign going to be simply a continuation of your admittedly successful lobworm tactics? I remember a thread involving Steve Burke where he argued that the normal food supply of big perch is fish, and that live or deadbait are more likely to get the really bigguns. Having said that I appreciate that Newbury and Thatcham don't allow livebaiting, and there are problems (not least crays) with deadbaiting. I still wondered whether you'd be trying any variation of tactics? Not that it will effect me. I'm still after a 3 (thouogh I haven't been out much recently because of coughs, colds and other reasons) and you've certainly shown how effective lobworm tactics can be. I do occasionally try lure fishing, but my real money is on the lobs at the moment.

[Chris Plumb]

John - I guess I'll be sticking with lobs mainly for the reasons you mention. Three things however. Firstly I've been using the very biggest lobs I can find/buy. Secondly where swims permit (eddies/canal) I've been fishing slow sinking bait - ALL my shot as been just below the float and thirdly - and I believe, crucially, I've been hooking my worm once through the very tip of the head - see how they sink through the water compared with hooking through the middle of the bait - much more natural - also it allows you to twitch the bait giving some natural movement. In fact it almost looks like a small eel moving through the water. Nearly all my recent fish have come on the drop or as a result of twitching. I DO miss the odd bite - but I console myself that these are probably small fish struggling to swallow the bait - a 2lb+ perch will have no problem sucking such a bait in one go.

 

Maybe a bit unorthodox but it seems to be working!

 

 

C.

[Steve Burke]

John - I guess I'll be sticking with lobs mainly for the reasons you mention. Three things however. Firstly I've been using the very biggest lobs I can find/buy. Secondly where swims permit (eddies/canal) I've been fishing slow sinking bait - ALL my shot as been just below the float and thirdly - and I believe, crucially, I've been hooking my worm once through the very tip of the head - see how they sink through the water compared with hooking through the middle of the bait - much more natural - also it allows you to twitch the bait giving some natural movement. In fact it almost looks like a small eel moving through the water. Nearly all my recent fish have come on the drop or as a result of twitching. I DO miss the odd bite - but I console myself that these are probably small fish struggling to swallow the bait - a 2lb+ perch will have no problem sucking such a bait in one go.

 

Maybe a bit unorthodox but it seems to be working!

C.

 

Not that unorthodox, Chris. It's exactly what I do myself! Mind you, I have been called unorthodox, and even eccentric in my time! I think I'll take that as a compliment though!

 

I used to hook lobs worm through the saddle, but these days prefer once through the head for exactly the same reasons as Chris. I also find I hook a rather higher percentage of fish, possibly because the worm is then less likely to wind itself around the hook and thus mask the point.

 

John, on rivers and clear stillwaters I find lobworms an excellent bait for perch. In fact, my best perch from such waters have all come on worm, even on one water amongst shoals of fry! On cloudier stillwaters I've usually done best on live and deadbaits. However, that's a very broad generalisation, and that's without mentioning lures.

 

Talking of lures, have you tried plastic worms, Chris?