RIVERS & CANALS
RIVER THAMES, OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE
The Oxford & District AA stretches at Medley, Iffley and Folly have produced fish to well over 3lb. Pole or waggler-fished worms work well, especially over a bed of chopped dendrobaenas and casters, while drop shotting tactics can be deadly. Contact: 07990587379 Postcode: OX4 4EL
Website: www.oxfordanglers.com
AIRE AND CALDER NAVIGATION, GOOLE, E YORKS
Perch are plentiful here, and roving tactics with light lures should get lots of bites. Chopped worm and caster on the pole or feeder can also work. Pollington is a great place to start, but Heck and Beavers Bridge are worth trying too. Day tickets are £6 on the bank, or £3 from the Costcutter stores at Rawcliffe Bridge and Rawcliffe Village.
Contact: Fishing Tackle Direct, 01405 767614
Postcode: Fishing Tackle Direct, DN14 6JY
RIVER OUSE, STONY STRATFORD, MILTON KEYNES
Link-legered lobworms work a treat for perch to 3lb at this Milton Keynes AA-controlled venue. Keep moving and target likely-looking areas with a light quivertip or a small running rig. Loosefeed red maggots, or use a bait dropper to lay down a bed of bait and fish the baited swims in rotation. Day tickets cost £7. Contact: 01908 374400, Milton Keynes Angling Centre
Postcode: MK11 1AS
Website: www.mkaa.co.uk
RIVER WHARFE, WETHERBY, WEST YORKSHIRE
This stretch has produced fish to 4lb-plus. The Ings section is a great starting point. Further downstream at Grange Park and the Sewage Works the overhanging trees and deep pools hold fish, with legered worms or bunches of maggots taking good catches. Day tickets are £5, and annual membership to controlling club Wetherby and District AC is £30.
Contact: 07742 942990 Postcode: LS22 4HH
Website: www. wetherbydistrictanglingclub.co.uk
RIVER BURE, HORNING, NORFOLK
Not a well-known perch venue, but it has produced fish to 5lb 12oz, and from a ‘free-to-fish’ stretch too! It’s located on a bend in the river where small baitfish shoal up, so livebaiting or a small lure are sound bets, although you may have to get through the numerous pike first. If that fails, try light quivertip tactics, using groundbait, maggots, chopped worms and casters. Contact: Angling Direct Wroxham, 01603 782679
Postcode: NR12 8AA (closest) Website: www.herbertwoods.co.uk/ norfolk-broads/fishing/fishinglocations/
GAS STREET BASIN, BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE
If you’re a drop shot or jig angler, this intimate basin stretch is perfect for you – with perch to 3lb a definite possibility. It’s also incredible value because it’s fishable on the Canal and River Trust’s Waterway Wanders Scheme, which opens up hundreds of miles of fishing on the canal network for £20 a year.
Contact: 0121 344 3333, Fosters of Birmingham
Postcode: B1 2JT
Website: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk