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Fishing near me | Winter canals for silverfish

Find stretches of canal where you can expect excellent winter silverfish sport.

by Tony Grigorjevs |

Published on23rd January 2026 at 10.38am

Winter canal fishing can still offer strong silverfish sport, even when everything else feels slow. In cold weather, roach and skimmers congregate into predictable areas, they feed in short windows, and they respond best when there is little or predictable tow and the venue has a bit of extra depth and cover.

Get it right and you can put together a steady net of canal roach, skimmers and the odd bonus perch from the same sort of simple tactics you use all year. In this guide, we have picked out some of the best canals and canal stretches for winter fishing that consistently hold fish and offer reliable sport through the colder months.

Stainforth and Keadby, canal, Thorne, South Yorkshire

In the winter months, roach and skimmers pack into this poplar stretch of canal. You’ll catch on breadpunch, with hemp and casters also worth trying.

Contact: Independent Fishing Tackle and Bait, 01302 376689

Trent and Mersey, Sandbach, Cheshire

Although not an easy venue, good nets of quality roach are on the cards here. There are also gudgeon to be caught!

Contact: Dave’s of Middlewich, 01606 833853

Beeston Canal, Nottinghamshire

Good nets of roach can be had, with skimmers and decent bream likely to make an appearance too.

Contact: Matchman Supplies, 0115 9140210

Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Wigan, Lancashire

This historic canal is home to a mix of silverfish. Fish multiple lines and rotate them throughout the day.

Contact: Burscough Angling Supplies, 01704 896252

Loughborough Canal, Leicestershire

Near Loughborough town centre you’ll find plenty of roach. Start short with bread and prime a longer line with hemp and casters for later in the session.

Contact: Netbuster Carp and Coarse, 01509 260610

Oxford Canal, Kidlington, Oxfordshire

Kidlington AS controls a stretch where roach, perch and skimmers can be caught on pole tactics.

Contact: 07990 587379 Web: www.kidlingtonanglingsociety.co.uk

Shropshire Union Canal, Goldstone, Shropshire

Hodnet AC controls the area at Goldstone and Market Drayton, where superb fishing for a range of species is on offer.

Contact: 07974 535377 Web: www.hodnetanglingclub.co.uk

Monmouth and Brecon Canal, South Wales

This scenic venue is home to lots of roach. Numerous clubs control stretches, among them Merthyr Tydfil AA.

Contact: www.mtaa.co.uk

Kennet and Avon Canal, Devizes, Wiltshire

Sizeable roach on offer. You’ll catch on both the pole and waggler, with hemp a great bet for the better quality fish.

Contact: The Tackle Company, 01225 793463

Grand Western Canal, Tiverton, Devon

You’ll find all sorts here, with roach, rudd, skimmers, perch and even the odd tench putting in an appearance. Tiverton and District AC controls the fishing.

Contact: 07799 490508 Web: www.tivertonanglingclub.com

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