CANALS in the Midlands where zander haven’t been removed are in their ‘best form ever’, producing both big predators and bumper nets of silvers, according to the controlling clubs.
Earlier this year, we revealed proposals for a ‘zander safe zone’, stretches where it was hoped that the Canal & Rivers Trust (CRT) would stop electrofishing and allow anglers to return the non-native species without fear of prosecution.
While the CRT is yet to make a definite decision on zander management on the canals, it has a verbal agreement in place with the Tusses Lure Division and the Lure Anglers Canal Club, under which some of its waters on the Coventry, North Oxford, and the Grand Union Canals would be left alone, so long as the clubs paid their rent and catches weren’t flaunted on social media.
Tusses bailiff Mark Powell-Bevan explained how well the stretches have been fishing since the agreement was put in place:
“I landed two double-figure zander of 10lb 4oz and 10lb 8oz in a week, and other anglers have had similar results,” he said.
“Our canals really are in the best form ever, with pleasure anglers catching silverfish every chuck. Big eels have been caught this season too, plus carp, perch and pike.”
