We head out with a new club on the Oxford Canal
Join Tusses Lure Division for brilliant predator sport
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LURE fishing on canals has never been more popular, with new clubs appearing on an almost weekly basis to cater for fans of rubber and plastic.
One of the most recent is Tusses Lure Division, run in partnership with Tusses AC. TLD is just a few weeks old but with 17 miles of towpath under its control, small wonder that nearly 100 anglers have already paid their £25 a year membership fee.
Brains behind the organisation is American Tackle-backed David Warren, who is helping run the fishing on sections of the Coventry and Oxford Canals.
We teamed-up with David and two-times Zandermania champion Greg Bafia on the banks of the Oxford to find out just how good the sport really is.
BANKSIDE TACKLE
We agreed to meet on a stretch just off Alderman’s Green Road in Coventry, where the pair had enjoyed sport from perch and zander a few days earlier.
There’s plenty of parking on the road bridge here, and a 30-second walk sees you on the towpath. Buy your day ticket from Tusses Fishing Tackle on the bridge.
Immediately in front of the shop you can fish under the road bridge, and it’s here where David and Greg began casting their lures to the far and near banks in hope of an early take.
When lure fishing it’s important to cover as much water as possible, so after a couple of casts in each swim it was time to move on and repeat the process in then next likely area.
On a straight section with overhanging brambles on the far bank, David was casting just a foot from the bank and within a few twitches a huge perch had engulfed his Realistic Shad offering. We all watched in despair, however, as the stripey – which looked to be easily over 3lb – spat out the lure as it came to the surface. David was gutted.
Nonetheless, they were clearly in the right area as the next few casts produced a number of good perch for both anglers, as well as a decent pike for Greg.
This went on for the next two hours, with plenty of bites forthcoming, but most of the action came when a deeper hole in the canal was found.
David told Angling Times: “There are a number of deeper sections here going down to 7ft, and when it’s cold you’ll find zander and perch here.
“Sport is fantastic once you’ve located them, with double-figure weights possible in a short space of time.”
And this is exactly what happened. The session ended with well over a dozen fish caught between the two anglers,
including perch to just over a pound, pike to 5lb and a creche full of baby zander.
As you imagine, given the abundance of predators in the area, good shoals of roach can also be found here, along with lots of bream averaging 5lb apiece.
Carp anglers visit the canal too, and specimens to 30lb-plus have been taken.
Looking for a new club to join? Seriously consider giving Tusses Lure Division a go.
PRICES: £7 a day in advance, £25 a year
CONTACT: Tusses Lure Division, 07450 974366 or visit Tusses Lure Division on Facebook
LOCATION: Oxford Canal stretch runs from Hawkesbury Junction to M69 Bridge, Coventry Canal stretch runs from City Centre basin to Bridge 34
RULES: All tickets to be bought in advance from Tusses Fishing Tackle or Specimen Fishing UK. No fires, no littering, all anglers must have a landing net, no catapulting maggots next to moored canal boats
FACILITIES: Oxford Canal tackle shop – Tusses Fishing Tackle, 02476 365635. Coventry Canal tackle shop: Specimen Fishing UK, 02476 239 650