CANALS: IS IT TIME TO THINK AGAIN? THE ULTIMATE CANAL PERMIT
After years of neglect, canals are becoming increasingly popular with anglers once more. We look at the reasons behind the resurgence…
FOR MANY anglers, the prospect of fishing a canal conjures up underwhelming images of scratching around on narrow, industrial venues for fish so small you can barely tell what species they are.
Throw in towpath traffic from dog walkers, runners and cyclists, and it’s easy to see why canals have been largely neglected as fishing venues in recent decades.
But after a recent upsurge in match attendances and catch reports, it seems their popularity is finally on the rise once again. And in many ways, it’s little surprise. Canals offer more than 2,000 miles of cheap, accessible fishing across the country, and many contain nearly every species of coarse fish – prime silvers, big carp and tench, and specimen-sized perch, pike and zander.
Neil Latham organises matches on Cheshire’s Trent and Mersey Canal, and has witnessed some huge attendances this year.
“In the first round of our league we had 90 anglers turn up,” he says, “and people travel from all over the North West to get involved.
“Despite all the rain we’ve had this past winter we’ve still had some great catches. One match was won with 28lb of roach, including three fish close to 3lb apiece!” It’s not just the quality of the
fish on offer that has proved an incentive to anglers. There’s also a financial upside, Neil says.
“Some of the lads who fish our matches have come from commercial venues, because canal fishing is proving much more cost-effective for them. There’s more money available in the pools as peg fees are only a few quid, and your bait is much cheaper too. All I bring for a session is a liquidised loaf of bread, half-a-pint of casters and a few maggots.”
Top match angler Darren Massey has been fishing canals all his life and believes that high-profile matches have played a key role in boosting attendances.
“The Canal & River Trust Pairs event, and the Division One National that’s fished on a canal every other year, have certainly raised the popularity of these venues,” Darren says.
“It seems that events like this have swayed anglers back from the ‘dark side’ of commercials! I’d always prefer to catch a bag of natural fish than a load of carp, and it seems that a rising number of anglers feel the same way.”
Darren also says that some of the old stereotypes associated with canal fishing are no longer true.
“When I first started on canals, you’d be lucky to catch 3lb in a month, but now the game has changed. Tench, bream, big perch and quality roach are the target on most venues. The fishing has improved massively over the years, and I’d encourage anyone to give canal fishing a go.”
While typically associated with match fishing, canals also have untapped specimen potential too.
“They’re filled with mystery,” says canal fan Dom Garnett, “and are among the few venues in Britain where you can target truly unknown specimen fish. Carp, in particular, are thriving across our canal network.
“Having fished canals right across Britain, I can say that each one is unique. In London’s Regent’s Canal, for example, you can catch big carp, while in Scotland’s Caledonian Canal you can fly fish for wild brown trout!
“So many people would walk straight past them without a second thought, but they’re currently in a better state than ever before, with thriving fish populations.”
In addition to untapped specimen surprises, Dom says, canals are also perfect for people looking for a quick fishing fix.
“We all live such busy lives and often we can only manage to sneak in a few hours’ fishing. Canals offer the perfect opportunity. Many of them are so easy to access, as well as being very cheap to fish, with loads of affordable club tickets available. They’re also the perfect place for beginners, or anybody fishing on a budget.
“There’s probably never been a better time to fish canals, so why not give them a go on your next trip?”
“Britain’s canals are currently in a better state than ever before”
Want to give canal fishing a go? You’ll struggle to find a better ticket than the Canal & River Trust’s Waterway Wanderers Permit, which gives you access to 300 miles of canal for £20. If you’re over 65 or a member of the Angling Trust you can get a discounted £10 membership. Juniors costs £5. Call 0303 040 4040 or log on to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk for details.