Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
The canal with ton-up potential – Dan Jones
A 100lb net from a commercial is nothing to write home about, but do it on a canal and you’ll have bragging rights for ages, says Dan Jones
THERE has never been a better time to catch an 100lb-plus bag. Commercials are packed with a wide range of species and at this time of year their appetites will be at their peak. Amassing such a colossal haul has become much easier and perhaps less of an achievement than it once was due to high stocking levels on many of these fisheries. But imagine enjoying such delights on a natural water. Very few canals hold the size and quantity of fish required to make it even remotely possible. There are a few gems, however, that are capable of producing eye-watering bags of silver fish. The Grand Union Canal is widely heralded as one of the very best in the land and the stretch at Yardley Gobion between Milton Keynes and Northampton certainly contributes to such a sterling reputation. The vast majority of the length has all the hallmarks of a traditional canal. Narrow and
shallow with most pegs almost identical in appearance. But there is one area that doesn’t fit the uniform shape. This hotspot is a permanent magnet for bream and hybrids. Dynamite Baits and Matrix-backed Dan Jones has travelled the length and breadth of the country to fish the nation’s canal system and reckons you’ll be hard pushed to find anywhere better. “The canal widens just before the entrance to a boatyard and this area is stuffed with bream, skimmers and hybrids,” revealed Dan. “Big catches can be taken throughout the year because the fish never move from the spot. You are pretty much guaranteed lots of bites whenever you visit.”
Reach for the rods
If you are planning a canal session then there is every chance you will strip your rod bag of much of its contents to lighten the load. Fishing the pole will almost certainly be at the forefront of your mind, with conventional rods not even making the journey. “There aren’t many times when I use a rod and reel on the Grand Union but this is one of the few pegs where the feeder comes into its own. It is between 20m and 25m to the mouth of the Kingfisher Marina and although the fish will come within pole range to start with, they will back off as the day goes on. This is why I use a cage feeder for much of the session.” Due to the depth, piling in a big bed of bait to concentrate the fish isn’t a good idea on this stretch. Most pegs have a maximum of 5ft of water and a bombardment at the beginning will spook the fish and damage your chances before you’ve even baited a hook. A more negative approach with a tiny cage feeder is better. Cast every 10-15 minutes to build up the amount of food in the swim without the harmful effects of mass commotion.
Busy boatyard
Conditions were far from ideal when IYCF met up with Dan at the noted hotspot. The sun was beaming down on the Northampton Nene AC-controlled day-ticket stretch and there was not a breath of wind. Add to that an influx of boaters ploughing up and down the venue and it looked as though Dan would be in for a tricky session. Undeterred, he made the short walk from his car to the bank and set about preparing his bait. His groundbait consisted of Dynamite Baits Silver X Skimmer Mix, Silver X Canal & Lake and leam mixed in even parts. To this he sparingly added dead maggots and casters to boost the food content. Dan selected the smallest cage feeder he could lay his hands on before attaching it paternoster style. The mainline was 4lb Matrix Submerge Sinking Feeder Mono to a 2ft hooklength of 0.10mm Matrix Power Micron and a size 18 hook. Once tackled up, the feeder was cast half way across the canal. It was immediately clear that it had landed amid a shoal of fish as he noticed indications within seconds of the feeder hitting the deck. “I’m not remotely surprised to see fish here straight away because they are always here. But