The Towpath Angler
Our monthly look at the angling scene
IF ALL goes well, early in 2023 I will notch up my 15th year as a contributor to Towpath Talk. Most of you will know that sometimes I ‘reminisce’ by referring to issues I have raised over the years. Sadly we are still flagging up many of these.
After often minimal action in the days of British Waterways I was extremely hopeful in 2012, when the Canal & River Trust with its new structure and new objectives emerged, that many of these issues would be given some priority but that has not happened either. It is so frustrating and, if I am honest, very disappointing.
Of course I am privileged to have been involved nationally with BW and now CRT for a long time so fully understand the reasons those issues which many of us users see as crucial are not given the priority we believe they deserve. Worryingly though, a good many apparently get no attention at all which does little for the trust’s credibility.
I have often been referred to as one of life’s true volunteers. Just last year I counted some 24 voluntary roles across numerous organisations. I have absolutely loved it all but as I get older I am dropping the odd role here and there. I do not intend to fully retire just yet so I will continue to press for improvements especially within the CRT remit until that time comes.
For example the trust’s push to increase towpath visits is to no avail if any such increase from one sector deters usage by another. Of course last month I expressed concern that the trust seems to be less mindful of its angling club customers nowadays which I find worrying since, as we know, fishing on our waterways became obligatory in the 1968 Transport Act. Perhaps it is time this was better acknowledged.
Winter leagues
All the big canal-based angling events are now complete for the year concluding with the final of the AT/ CRT Canal Pairs. That said, we must not forget the many winter leagues all around the country, most of which kicked off during October. It must be noted that many of the guys that participate in the leagues are totally dedicated to our canal network and genuinely care about it.
Personally I believe that because these leagues have so much history there is a strong argument to say that they are truly part of our canals’ heritage. In addition they ensure a regular presence on the towpath throughout the quieter winter months. This is essential in terms of providing useful intelligence to the trust about a wide variety of things and probably minimising any would-be antisocial behaviour.
The rainfall during October has unquestionably helped with water levels. Certainly it added some much-needed fresh water which, in turn, has improved catch rates in places which were becoming very difficult due to the length of the dry spell. Thankfully I think that the precautionary measures taken by both clubs and fishery owners have paid dividends by minimising fish fatalities.
Catches in excess of 20lb have been recorded on some canals around the Midlands in the past few weeks. I know that some of the aforementioned winter leagues around the country have also seen good weights. Indeed, a friend of mine fished in a recent league match on his local canal in Yorkshire and bottomweight in his section was well over 2lb.
The good run of results I enjoyed during October in particular has not totally come to an end but it is a couple of matches since I collected a brown envelope. However I am still catching pretty well and remain confident that I am not doing anything especially wrong other than not drawing on the most fish.
I am off to a venue tomorrow where I won twice during the good runs o fingers crossed I can notch up a hat-trick there.
The autumn weather is now upon us. Cooler nights, with temperatures into single figures, strong winds and increasing rainfall are all starting to impact on our fishing. We must also be close to the first frosts of the year too which will certainly take its toll initially. It is really interesting though to see extremes of approach and by that I mean lots of feed or virtually no feed both working on the same venue on the same day. Therefore getting the best from a session is not easy. Carefully reading the conditions, your swim and any signs of feeding fish are crucial at this time.
Tight lines as always.