Canals – for me a cut above the rest

IF YOU were born in the 1970s or 1980s, the chances are that canals formed a big part of your formative fishing years.

Back then venue choice was pretty limited. Aside from the ‘cut’, the only other options were the river or the odd ‘natural’ stillwater, and both of these posed problems.

The issue with the river was that it held running water, God forbid. Trying to control a float using my beloved Shakespeare Strike rod (paired with a Woolworths’ reel) was beyond my skills. I don’t know what action that rod had, but I’ve used sea fishing rods that are more forgiving.

The few stillwaters in my home county were more trouble than they were worth. Getting there required parental transport, but more importantly, I felt intimidated by the other anglers, who were clearly better than I was. I plucked up the courage to go just once. After setting up, I cast out and sat down, a bag of nerves. I had a bite and stood up to strike, only to lose my balance and fall in, head over heels. A chorus of ‘Nice One Cyril’ broke out, as the anglers on the far bank fell about laughing. I packed up and went to the phonebox to request a lift home.

The canal posed no such problems. It was free to fish, just a bike ride from home, and almost always devoid of other anglers. Small perch were the main quarry, but once I managed to fluke a 2lb 2oz roach. More than 40 years on it’s still my pb and, although the fishing on that canal deteriorated in the following years, I’ve heard rumours that good roach are now returning.

As the story on page 12 suggests, it seems the situation is similar on other canals, and I find the thought of these venues once again helping youngsters to fall in love with the sport heart-warming in an age where many seem so obsessed with pounds and ounces.

So, if you’ve got a canal near you, why not give it a second look this closed season? There might be a personal best waiting…