DEEP, WIDE & PACKED WITH FISH!
Enjoy action from big bream and roach
ATRADITIONAL canal is shallow and narrow, but you’ll find the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation is an altogether different animal.
Starting its journey in Sheffield, it weaves its way through Doncaster before ending its journey by running into the Aire & Calder. Countless fishing hotspots are dotted along its length, but it’s the area in the village of Kirk Sandall that’s getting more than its fair share of the rave reviews right now.
Deep, wide and packed with fish, it’s produced the goods on countless occasions, with roach to over 1lb and bream to 6lb dominating.
You also stand a chance of finding bonus eels and perch.
Renowned hotspot
The shoals tend to roam up and down the canal, only stopping if you give them reason to do so. But, as with any venue, there are hotspots that always produce, and this canal is no different.
Head for the swims close to the old glass factory and you’ll notice that it widens a little, with a 40m chuck to the far bank sometimes needed. With an average depth of between 8ft and 10ft here, you won’t have to wait long for the action to begin.
Local angler Andy Bailey wetted a line on the venue recently, and he told Angling Times: “It’s a brilliant canal that’s clearly full of fish because the bites came from the off.
Pack your feed into groundbait in a cage feeder, or ball it in.
You’ll usually catch small roach, perch and rudd on the pole to start with, but a big shoal of bream can rock up at any point.
“If they don’t, it’s time to pick up the feeder and introduce
“As with any venue, there are hotspots that always produce”
plenty of bait via a cage feeder around two-thirds of the way across to get them interested.”
Groundbait rules
As on most deep canals, the tow can pick up in an instant. That means loosefeeding via a catapult is unwise, because lightweight baits such as maggots and casters will drift away before they get to the bottom. Because it’s heavier, hemp can be fed with a catty, though.
It’s best to incorporate your feed into dark groundbait, balled in or packed into a cage feeder to ensure every morsel ends up where you want it to.
On the pole rig front, you’ll need a reasonably heavy float that’ll remain stationary in the current. A rugby ball-shaped pattern of around 1.5g-3g will usually suffice. Go with a grade 6-8 elastic, 4lb mainline and a 2lb 8oz hooklength to a size 18 hook and you’ll land everything that swims.