Each year I take part in the Sensas Challenge on the Gloucester Canal with my Welsh team, and I love the challenge that such a wide, deep and wild venue throws up.
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It can be hard at times, but it’s also very rewarding and, once mastered, it isn’t too difficult to catch a few fish from. The same can be said for most of the big shipping canals around the country, whose deep water is often the stumbling block that puts people off fishing them.
Here's six tips for how I approach pole fishing on these deep canals...
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The smell of success
If the water is coloured, I’m a big fan of putting extra smell into my feed. For the groundbait, that’s a capful of sweet Sensas Aromix Brasem to each kilo of mix.
Drop the bomb
As a session goes on, the fishing can get harder. To revive the peg, I introduce a worm bomb, a nugget of chopped worm held together with a little groundbait.
Fish a big hookbait
A bunch of bloodworm is a great skimmer bait. If not allowed, try two dead pinkies or dead maggots. Deads are best as they don’t fold over the hook on the strike.
Go for a light float
I’ll fish as light a float as possible, and that’s down to the presentation it offers especially for roach. I’ve even dropped to a 0.6g float in perfect conditions.
Fish well overdepth
For skimmers and bream, don’t be afraid to lay a lot of line on the bottom. Deep canals can tow a lot, so going 8ins or 9ins overdepth is not unusual.
Use a bump bar
To nail the bait completely static on the bottom, I don’t think you can beat a bump bar. It’s also less tiring when fishing the pole at 13m and waiting a while for a bite.
Read the full article from a recent issue of Angling Times magazine, here.