WHERE TO FISH EXTRA
IF YOU’RE a bit of a traditionalist, and like your venues to be on the wild side, our vast network of canals will keep you happy.
All of them are home to big fish – bream, tench, carp and even crucians – that are eminently catchable on a day session.
True, bites might be fewer, but when that float buries or the tip flies round, what’s on the other end might just change your opinion of canal fishing for good!
GRAND UNION CANAL, KILBY BRIDGE, LEICESTERSHIRE
Head from the main road down to the big turning bay, for years a hotspot with local anglers. Bream are the main target here, with pleasure catches approaching 100lb taken on the feeder or waggler – on some days, it’s even possible to catch a few on the long pole. The odd tench is also likely to get in on the action, along with the odd very big perch.
Location: Welford Road, Kilby Bridge, Leicestershire, LE18 3TE
Contact: 07860 112000
Tickets: £4, juniors and concessions £2
GRAND UNION CANAL, BROWNLOW BRIDGE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
A walk down to the pegs just before Seabrook Lock from the main road can see you doing battle with carp over 20lb. The brave angler will fish the pole with corn and pellets and strong gear, but a wiser move is to fish a small feeder across. There are also plenty of bream living alongside the carp.
Location: Marsworth Road, Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, LU7 9DY
Contact: 01582 728114
Tickets: Luton AC (members only), £105 per season
KENNET &AVON CANAL, LADIES BRIDGE, WILTSHIRE
Just outside Pewsey is this renowned area offering both the standard canal and a big turning bay to fish. Pegs with dense far-bank cover hold tench and perch that will fall to pole fished worms, while the bay is packed with bream and big skimmers, catchable on long pole or waggler. Much of the bay is shallow, so you don’t need to fish much further than 13m out.
Location: Cocklebury Farm, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 5PD
Contact: 01672 563125
Tickets: £5
LEEDS-LIVERPOOL CANAL, LEIGH, LANCASHIRE
The wharfside basin that used to be used to unload shipping in the centre of this famous fishing town is home to good bream and tench. Long pole will catch, but to find the bulk of the fish, get on the rod and line with a waggler or small feeder, fished to the far-bank buildings with worms or corn.
Location: Quayside, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 4HW
Contact: 01942 604125
Tickets: Leigh DAA (members only), £20 per year
LOUGHBOROUGH CANAL, LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE
Better known as a small-fish match venue, a couple of pegs in the town centre might not look much, but big chub hang around just below the swing bridge,
