Far Bank England’s shortest canal...
While some of the nation’s cuts are still going strong centuries after being dug, others are a little ‘clipped’. None, however, can be any shorter than Somerset’s dainty Ilminster Canal, writes Dom Garnett...
IF IT seems like British canals have undergone something of a recent revival, there have also been a few casualties along the way.
These days they are beloved of National Trust members as well as anglers – yet not long ago the call across much of the country wasn’t ‘save our local cut’ but ‘fill it in!’.
Some canals disappeared altogether, and others were run pretty darned close. Such is the case with the Ilminster Canal, a tiny Somerset remnant of the now almost invisible Chard Canal, a white elephant project now all but buried. Once over 14 miles long, a mere 150 yards of fishable water now remain on the sleepy outskirts of Ilminster.
What’s left is undeniably cute. Nor does it ever disappoint on my sporadic visits. Usually this is on a whim or, more recently, following an email from local mum Emily, whose two boys Joe and Jack were keen to try some local fishing. What could be more perfect than somewhere safe, local and cheap as chips?
Turning up here always makes
me smile. Hidden away behind the local tennis courts, it’s the very picture of quaint, semi-forgotten England. It seems nuts to think that barges once ran here, using ambitious boat lifts and tunnels. The only thing missing is Sam, the friendly old tabby cat who befriended me on earlier visits.
As today’s young anglers arrive I’m guessing we won’t struggle to find the fish – after all, there isn’t a heck of a lot of water for them to hide in. But it’s awfully sunny.
Thankfully, starting off with short poles and wriggly baits is almost instantly rewarding. Perch are first to the party, muscling in on the loosefeed. At just four, Jack is as excited as I was at his age to see the float dip and these greedy, handsome fish arrive.
Elder brother Joe is a picture of patience, meanwhile, as he tries bread for the roach. Bites are slower and more subtle, but pristine little fish reward his patience. Time flies for the next two hours as we chat away and the family enjoys their first taste of fishing just footsteps from home.
Even on England’s shortest canal, there’s the chance of a surprise. There are odd tench and bream here, while a few carp run into double figures. It just shows that you don’t need miles of water to provide fun and genuine mystery. I can only hope that this plucky little canal has a brighter future than its industrial past.
FIND OUT MORE
FOR day-ticket outlets and fishing details on the canal, see Ilminster Angling Club’s website: www.ilminsteraa.co.uk Readers who enjoy exploring Britain’s canals are also sure to enjoy Dom’s acclaimed book Canal Fishing: A Practical Guide published by Merlin Unwin Books.