Think canal fishing is all tiny hooks and small fish? Not on these stretches. This guide highlights some of the best canal stretches for big fish in the UK. From big bream and chunky perch to solid tench and proper canal carp. If you want a canal that can throw up a big ‘un, they’re right here in this guide.
Grand Union Canal, Loughborough, Leicestershire
Head to swims close to the end of Canal Bank Lane and you’ll be in with a shot at catching some huge perch that run to over 3lb. Worms and casters are a brilliant combination, and fishing three-quarters of the way across will help you find these big fish.
Contact: 01509 260610
USE THE BEST FISHING POLES TO FISH THESE CANALS.
Chesterfield Canal, Worksop, Nottinghamshire
The short pounds at Shireoaks are home to a good head of big bream and chub, examples of each species going beyond the 4lb mark. Fish in the deeper water for the slabs, and target an area close to far-bank cover with casters if the chub are high on your agenda.
Contact: 01909 472904
Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, Durston, Somerset
Tench to 6lb and perch to 3lb are on the cards here, as both species are willing feeders right now. Shallow water means the fish rarely settle in one spot for any time. Swim rotation and fishing at an angle away from you is the answer.
Contact: 01823 282518
New Mainline Canal, Birmingham, West Midlands
The area close to the Sea Life Centre in the middle of the city is home to a head of big perch. Roving around with a drop shot rod and tiny lures can help you find fish approaching the 3lb mark, as can a more stationary attack with maggots and worms on the pole.
Contact: 0303 0404040
Trent & Mersey Canal, Stafford, Staffordshire
The Izaak Walton AA-controlled water close to Hoomill Lane can produce nets of big roach, and fish over the 1lb mark are not uncommon. Settle in a swim with some far-bank cover and regularly trickle a few casters in with a catapult to elicit a response.
Contact: 01785 226720
THE BEST CARP FISHING RODS ARE IDEAL FOR TARGETING CANAL CARP.
Gloucester Canal, Gloucester
This wide and deep shipping canal is renowned for its big bream, and fish to over 7lb can be found congregating around the Saul Junction area. Set up a cage feeder to fish three-quarters of the way across, laying down a bed of groundbait, dead maggots and chopped worms before you start
to fish.
Contact: 01453 791417
Kennet & Avon Canal, Hungerford, Berkshire
Half-a-dozen 2lb-plus perch could be on the cards if you get your tactics right on this prolific area of the canal. The wide bay just beyond the lock is a hotspot, and fishing down the middle with a big lobworm over finely chopped offerings will soon stir a response from the resident predators.
Contact: 01635 871450
Stainforth & Keadby Canal, Thorne, South Yorkshire
There’s a real mix of species on the Stanilands Marina section of this Yorkshire water. With far-bank boats, a marina and a good depth close in, it’s popular with anglers after perch on lures, while for those who want something less predatory, bream and chub are present. The former are well spread, and while the chub are more elusive, they are big fish should you hook one.
Contact: 01302 846623
WOULD LIKE TO CATCH YOUR FIRST TENCH? THEN THIS ARTICLE IS THE BEST PLACE TO START.
Moira Canal, Swadlincote, Derbyshire
Roach to over 1lb and perch to 3lb are lurking beneath the surface of this tiny, pretty canal. Set up one line with maggots over groundbait and use two grubs on the hook to pick out the bigger samples, and another where casters are frequently loosefed to try and draw more fish into the swim.
Contact: 01283 224667
Grand Union Canal, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
The Globe Inn stretch is renowned for producing big fish, with chunky carp to double figures, perch to over 3lb and bream to 5lb. Fish close to far-bank cover, where corn over 4mm pellets or worm and casters are the two combinations worth a try.
Contact: 01582 728114
Bridgewater Canal, Leigh, Lancashire
Tench and bream to 4lb regularly contribute to 25lb-plus netfuls, and the swims close to the bridge at Marsland Green Lane are especially prolific. Try to select a swim with a bit more width than those around you. Set up lines to the left and right and rotate them.
Contact: 01942 604125
SET UP A STABLE PLATFORM ON THE CANAL WITH THE BEST FISHING SEATBOXES.
Aire & Calder Canal, Goole, East Yorkshire
This canal is a light lure angler’s dream, with perch to over 3lb spread from Great Heck to Goole. The depth drops off sharply, and working brightly-coloured lures close to the towpath wall could help you to a new personal best. Have three or four casts in each swim, then move a short distance.
Contact: 07523 184554
Droitwich Canal, Droitwich, Worcestershire
The canal at Mildenham is home to plenty of quality bream, with fish in the 3lb-6lb bracket not uncommon. Worms and casters in groundbait will pull the fish into your peg, with small top-ups the key to reinvigorating your swim if the shoal backs away briefly.
Contact: 07910 231005
Grand Western Canal, Tiverton, Devon
Big bags of tench dominate the action on the canal in and around the village of Sampford Peverell, and individual specimens in the 3lb-6lb bracket are commonplace. Target lines both down the middle and close to far-bank cover using dead maggots, casters and worms.
Contact: 07799 490508
POLE FISHING ON A BUDGET? HERE IS OUR PICK OF THE BEST FISHING POLES SUB £1000.
