FISHING NEAR ME | BEST URBAN PERCH FISHING LOCATIONS

Drop shotting, light lure fishing, jigging or street fishing whatever name you wish to call it, this style of fishing is as exciting as angling gets.

From catching big perch and zander on urban canals to wrestling with pike and chub on small rivers, light lure fishing or drop shotting is a great option especially during the cooler months when species like carp go into hibernation.

If you're not sure how to fish the method read our guide here..

Need inspiration on where to go drop shotting/lure fishing? Try one of our venues…..

NORTH

Beverley Canal, Beverley, E Yorks

The boatyard at Beverley is a winter hotspot which contains pike perch and odd zander.

Contact: Hull DAA, 07976 779983

Prices: £3 on the bank, Hull DAA

Huddersfield Broad Canal, Huddersfield, W Yorks

With old mill houses and railway lines you don’t get much more urban than this but the fishing here is excellent with a huge head of jack pike and big perch to go at.

Contact: Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle 01484 545032

Prices: £3.50 from Chris Roberts Fishing Tackle, Mirfield AC

Huddersfield's industrial Broad Canal is ideal for a spot of street fishing

Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Wigan, Lancs

The inner city section around the DW stadium is full of bream meaning predators will not be far away.

Contact: Harry's Fishing Tackle, 01942 728532

Prices: £2 on the bank, Wigan DAA

Rochdale Canal, Chadderton, Oldham, Lancs

The Broadgate Length through Chadderton Industrial estate is a popular match venue which also contains plenty of predators.

Contact: Heywood DAS, 07905 906261

Prices: £3 on the bank, Heywood DAA

Salford Quays, Manchester

Now under the control of Salford Friendly Anglers the Quays are renowned for their quality fish and numerous lure fishing competitions are held on it each winter.

Prices: Free fishing, anglers must join Salford Friendly Anglers, Contact: Salford Friendly Anglers, 07985 733969, Sat Nav: M50 3AZ

Salford Quays is a great lure fishing venue

Shropshire Union Canal, Chester, Cheshire

The L-Shaped Basin is a wide section of canal in the centre of Chester offering typical canal species including big stripeys.

Contact: Chester Tackle Locker, 01244 345069

Prices: Part of the £20 a year Waterway Wanderers Scheme, see Canal and River Trust Website

MIDLANDS

Cauldon Canal, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs

Amongst the chimneys and buildings from a bygone pottery industry the canal around Lichfield Street offers easy access and some great fishing too.

Contact: Goms Mill AC, 01782 318173

Prices: £3 a day on the bank, Goms Mill AC

Grand Union Canal, Loughborough, Leics

Lined with red-bricked industrial buildings the canal through Loughborough in known for its head of perch particularly the Albion Wharfe pegs.

Contact: Smiths Angling Supplies, 01509 239136

Prices: £5 a day from local tackle shops, Quorn AS

Loughborough Canal just screams street fishing

River Welland, Spalding, Lincs

Known for its huge shoals of roach in winter meaning the perch and pike follow them in.

Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Granz Angling, 01775 712206, Sat Nav: PE11 1XA

River Trent, Nottingham Embankment, Notts

Big perch and specimen pike have been caught in previous winters making this a popular water for predator fans.

Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Matchman Supplies 01159 813834, Sat Nav: NG2 5FB

Nottingham Canal is a great venue to rove with light lure setups

River Derwent, Derby, Derbys

The Earl of Harrington's club run, Pride Park stretch is as urban as this river gets. Most people target the barbel leaving the predators as an un-tapped resource.

Prices: £5 from Nathans of Derby, Contact: 01332 515353, Sat Nav: DE24 8XL

River Wensum, Norwich, Norfolk

Another classic urban waterway which holds plenty of predators thanks to the big shoals of bream and roach which flock here in winter.

Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Lathams Tackle 08432 891368, Sat Nav: NR1 4LH

Soho Loop Canal, Birmingham, W Mids

The Winson Green stretch sees few boats and anglers despite contains plenty of fish. Pike can be found to over 15lb along with perch to over 3lb.

Contact: Black Country AS, 07813 618819

Prices: Free fishing

SOUTH

Basingstoke Canal, Ash Vale, Hants

Located close to Gold Valley Lakes, this section of canal offers plenty of features including lock cuts and bridges where big perch lie in wait.

Contact: The Creel Aldershot, 01252 320871

Prices: £4 on the bank or £3 from local tackle shops, Basingstoke Canal AA

Gloucester Canal, Hempsted, Gloucs

A wide deep canal holding plenty of big predators particularly perch which go to over 4lb.

Contact: Lobby’s Tackle, 01453 791417

Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Winget Angling Club

Grand Union Canal, Little Venice, Paddington

just a stones throw from the skyscrapers of London, big perch and odd pike like to hide amongst the house boats. An urban havenin the middle of the capital well worth fishing.

Prices: £20 a year, Canal & Rivers Trust Waterways Wanderers Scheme

Contact: First Tackle, 02084 557778

London's Little Venice is great for perch and pike fishing

Grand Union Canal, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Over 5 miles of inner city canal with plenty of locks, bridges, wharfes and wides to explore. A big perch hotspot can be found between the factories at Wolverton.

Contact: Gone Fishin MK, 01908 313158

Prices: £6 on the bank, Milton Keynes AA

River Medway, Maidstone, Kent

The Law Courts area is a hotspot for silverfish so pike and perch also reside here but predators can be found all the way through the town.

Prices: Free fishing, Contact: Maidstone Angling, 01622 677326, Sat Nav: ME16 0GB

River Ivel, Biggleswade, Beds

The town stretch is lined by houses and is well known for its huge perch to over 3lb which are caught all year round on lures. The river is also worth a try at Langford and Blunham.

Contact: Ivel Protection Association, 01234 823959

Prices: Vary from club to club which are included in IPA

Drop shotting brings rewards like this plump perch