Hey ppl

Well im finally fully set up again with all the gear i will need for many great fishing adventures.

Thing is.......... I know shit!

Ive been out of the sport for some 18 years and although i have been fishing with my father in law many times, he has basically set up and done all the techincal stuff ive simply baited the hook and unhooked the fish.

So as the canal is only 100m away from my front door i figure best place to start as any (i have been warned that its not eassy to fish canals but im up for it) so has anyone got any tips at all for me to bear in mind that my noobness may well overlook?

i will be using my rod this time until i get a pole sorted out any tips would be hugely appreciated

PnM

Plumb the depth across the canal of swims you like like the look of, find out where the ledges are, on both banks, & feed two swims would be my tip. Where the ledges start to drop to deeper water are places to start, on both banks.

Cut fishing can be hard work on the busier boating & walker stretches, but can also throw up some big fish of all species.

If there's anyone else fishing down there, have a chat

Nice one Bish

I shall do just that

Took a bike ride along the towpath today and found a couple of decent looking swims so hopefully tomorrow i'll be beaming from a successful day

SS

Have a good day & let us know how you go

Well, ahem i wouldnt say it was a disaster i wouldnt say i caught anything either haha!

Too many boats to many dogs trying to tip over my bait and too many tangles however....... i learnt a hell of a lot ive also found a great tackle shop whos put me in touch with some local waters that are possibly a bit better suited for me.

every days a school day and all but just sitting there in the sun despite not catching i had the time of my life

More fishing adventures next weekend; hopefully this time with some fish

SS

practice makes perfect ...

and any ways its not always about catching .. the anticipation is as good to

as your so near to your canal ..it might be worth pre baiting a few spots on the qt
and going at first light or dusk (the magic hours) when the water is quiet


good luck with it

try fishing the near margin on a small lead a little distance from where your set up with 10 (approx) grains of sweetcorn. Works on my canal.

Yeah man, this time nothing.... next time loads

will take the advice on board dudes, really appreciate it.

My father in law fishes for his county and wins alot so has high expectations!

SS

If its been sunny for a while try finding a a shaded area. Maybe a boat that has been moored for a few weeks. They seem to like the shaded areas when its warm on the canal. Prefered baits for me on the canal are white magot, small red worms and sometimes bread flake. Look for features in the canal that ya think the fish might like, reeds and such, sunken tree or whatever. Canal is a good place to start fishing I think and canals are less busy midweek. Groundbait is great so try to get hold of one or make ya own. I use dog food mixer soaked and food processed with bread crumb and some sweetcorn. I also add some hookbait into it as im throwing the balls in.

Yeah i got a sweet spot with some trees overhanging, there were definately fish there i was feeding regularly, i think my rig let me down i think it was knots/shotting that were completly wrong.

SS

I use a waggler (float) and I put most of the shot up by the float using the shot to stop it from moving up and down the line, never tie ya float on. Then with the remaining shots just put them evenly on the line trying to get finer as you get closer to the hook. The weight up by the float helps you cast out better and stops the line from getting tangled. When the line hits the water and you have setup like this the hook will sink slowly down in like an arc from the float. This makes ya hook bait look more natural as it falls through the water. In a spot where fish are feeding well ya tend to find that ya will catch a lot of fish on the drop, so almost as soon as ya hook hits the water.

done lots of canal fishing in my younger days mainly the bridgewater in cheshire

The tactics we used were float fishing slightly over depth with the bulk of the shot around the float allowing the bait to sink slowly , spots like boats, trees, rushes anything slightly different for that matter, is worth a look............

carpingkid

Its never about catching is it? We only go for the smoke
My mate has a theory that 30lb+ carp are all animatronics and editing on behalf of the carp mags....when some1 does actually catch one danny fairbrass is stunned into a 6 month coma.....

Seriously tho, cant beat a day in nature, next to a bit of water, a few joints and a couple of fish on the bank. Top stuff

Peace