RIVERS & CANALS

GREAT OUSE, LITTLEPORT, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

The roach along this stretch of river are beginning to feed in earnest, and a hemp approach can work particularly well. Fishing the long pole is productive, when continuous feeding will get the fish feeding with increasing confidence. If the boat traffic is bad, a whip will work better, as this saves you having to ship in and out all day. Contact: 01353 721009 Price: £5 a day on the bank

GRAND UNION CANAL, GLEN PARVA, LEICESTERSHIRE

Following extensive restocking last winter the Grand Union Canal at Glen Parva is in excellent form. On the County Arms section pleasure anglers have had bags to nearly 20lb of quality roach and skimmers. Breadpunch is a good bait to start on to get quick bites from small fish, and feeding a line with casters can result in some quality specimens. Contact: 01162 412 633 or 01162 788 768 Price: Day tickets £4

STAFFS & WORCESTER CANAL, WOMBOURNE, STAFFORDSHIRE

On the stretch between Wombourne and Alyesbury some good chub can be found in pegs 53 to 56. There are some brambles on the far bank, and fishing towards these with caster will bring bites from good fish. It is also worth feeding groundbait heavily laced with squatts in open water to bring bites from a wide variety of species. Setting up a second line in the deepest water you can find will give you swims to alternate. Contact: 01922 413491 Price: £15 a season