NORTHCONTINUED
the 4oz mark, with 25lb bags easily achieveable. Contact: 01924 498121
CASTLE BASIN, LANCASTER CANAL, GARSTANG, LANCS
Why? Full of bream and skimmers along with the roach. Very wide across to the boats, giving you lots of room and water to go at. How? Fish a small groundbait feeder or long pole with micro pellets or groundbait and fish pinkies or worms over the top. Contact: PAC, 01132 298789
DENABY MAIN, RIVER DON, SOUTH YORKS
Why? All the pegs have a bit of depth to them and the steady flow through this stretch attracts a lot of silver fish. How? The stickfloat scores heavily here and hemp and tares will produce stacks of roach to 1lb. If dace are your main target use maggots up in the water. Contact: 01709 862558
THE GUSHER PEG, HUDDERSFIELD BROAD CANAL, HUDDERSFIELD, W YORKS
Why? The first peg off the Leeds Road Bridge by the playing grounds is a banker, as the former mill it sits opposite offers a bit more width. It holds the odd tench, perch, bream and roach. How? Fish a pole with casters over a little groundbait or a chopped worm approach. Contact: Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle, 01484 545032
STANILAND MARINA, STAINFORTH & KEADBY CANAL, THORNE, S YORKS
Why? The canal widens out and the large number of boats that stay anchored up for long periods provide cover for the big shoals of roach, skimmers and pike. How? The waggler or pole with casters will produce fish averaging 3oz-6oz, while an oily deadbait such as mackerel could produce a pike over 20lb. Contact: 01302 846623
SPIKE ISLAND, SANKEY ST HELENS CANAL, WIDNES, CHESHIRE
Why? A marina where fish congregate and can be easily targeted on pole or waggler with lots of features to go at, including moored boats and reeds.
How? The long pole at 14m-16m across to the far-bank features or shorter just off the channel for a good net of roach and perch on caster or bread. There are also plenty of big carp in here. Contact: 01928 716238
TORKSEY LOCK, FOSSDYKE CANAL, LINCOLN, N LINCS
Why? Run by Lincoln DAA, the first two fishable pegs down from the lock where the canal joins the River Trent are alive with big perch. How? Catch them on lures or a simple worm and maggot approach on the pole close in. Contact: Harrisons, 01522 523834
PEG 41, ALTOFTS, AIRE & CALDER CANAL, NR WAKEFIELD, WEST YORKS
Why? It’s one of those mysteries why the fish shoal up in here as the peg has a similar depth to those around it, but holds stacks more roach and perch! How? The perch run to over 2lb and can be caught on chopped worm at 6m, while roach to well over 1lb tend to be caught on caster on the 11m line. It’s so good that Mirfield AC president Martyn Highe reckons you’ll catch 20lb through the ice! Contact: 01924 498121
PEG A2, MORTON BRIDGE, RIVER SWALE, NORTHALLERTON, NORTH YORKS
Why? Most pegs in the area are around 3ft deep but this fish-holding gem is around 7ft, and chub to 5lb can be found feeding here in even the coldest conditions. How? In clear conditions big bunches of maggots or slithers of steak work well, but bread, meat and worms come into their when coloured. Fish close to the far-bank features with either the waggler, stick float or straight lead. Contact: 07950 966928
PEG 219, HUNTERS LODGE STRETCH, YORKSHIRE OUSE, LINTON, N YORKS
Why? The bream sit here in big shoals during the winter and it’s not unheard of for 100lb bags to be taken under the right conditions. How? A groundbait feeder with worm cast halfway across should put you on the fish. Contact: Leeds DASA Membership Office, 01132 249721