Why you’ve got to try one
Angers urged to take advantage of top sport in closed season
ANGLING TIMES is urging readers to get out and tackle a canal this closed season as fish stockings are helping to boost sport on a number of country’s finest navigations.
Angling clubs are at the heart of the initiative to improve canal fishing and with the help of the Environment Agency and Canal and River Trust, thousands of pounds-worth of silverfish have already been introduced into cuts across the country.
One club that is currently benefitting from a stocking programme is Wigston Angling Society, whose stretch of the Grand Union Canal at Glen Parva was nearly wiped out due to a severe pollution incident.
The society’s secretary Adam Nurse told Angling Times: “The Canal and River Trust had to remove fish from the canal out of fear of them dying from the pollution.
“It was a dire time for the club but both the EA and CRT have shown tremendous support and provided a comprehensive stocking programme for us.
“Since the pollution incident was resolved around two tons of quality roach, perch, bream and skimmers have been introduced – alongside a further 200lb of unwanted fish donated by Shearsby Valley Lakes.
“As a result the sport is starting to pick up – we’ve had a 30lb winning bag of roach in a match and some big-name competitions have now been booked onto our stretches of the canal – including the Angling Trust Pairs Championships.
“It’s certainly a great turnaround for Wigston AS.”
Other clubs who have also stocked fish include Wigan & District Angling Association, Bude Canal Angling Association and Luton Angling Club – but it’s not just silverfish that anglers can expect to catch. Luton AC has recently moved a number of specimen fish from an unfishable stretch of the Grand Union Canal into an accessible section.
The club’s fisheries management official David Murdoch said: “The club recently went out on the GUC to remove fish from a no-fishing, powerline section of the canal.
“With the help of MEM Fisheries and their electrofishing equipment we managed to move 30 carp to 25lb, 60 2lb-plus bream and a number of 2lb-plus perch alongside thousands of smaller silverfish into a safe, fishable part of the waterway. Now there is something for everyone to catch here with the real chance of a big fish on the cards.” The Bedfordshire-based club has been boosing canal fish stockings and has a number of licensed coaches..
The club’s goal for 2018 is to get more young people into angling. A host of free fishing events on the recently-stocked stretch of the Grand Union is planned.
David added: “We trialled a few sessions last year and they were very popular, so we’re confident this year will be even better considering the kids get to learn on a newly-stocked, natural venue.”
For information on angling club canal coaching days visit the website at www.lutonanglingclub.co.uk.