Change of tactics

[Dubbed Squirrel]

We stopped to have a look at the river, or the lack of it, as the water levels, are the lowest i`ve ever seen. We`d already settled on the canal as our Fri. afternoon venue, so off we went armed with maggots, worms and some hastily tied flies. I took an old 5 piece 9`3" 7/8wt travel rod and 6/7wt Vision reel and an 11`0" match rod, thinking that`s me sorted. First cast took a perch about 1/4lb with a single maggot on a size 18 hook. At one point we were catching with almost every cast, really enjoyed it. Set up the fly rod, and selected the biggest fly, took a bit of getting used to casting a fly that big. I was thinking of giving up on the fly, when I saw the tip bend, a pike of about 3-4ish lbs hammered the fly. My mate came running with the "net", disaster, even extended, the bl**dy thing couldn`t reach the water. Pike splashing in the reeds just below and no way to land it, there was only ever going to be one outcome and sure enough splash and the pike was gone. Packed away the fly rod and went back to the perch. Coarse fishing? really enjoyable. Peter

[blackwater]

Well done Peter, nice report and pics, next time you will be more prepared and land that pike! They must be great fun on the fly.

Justin

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Had a few hours to spare, so back down to the canal, to finish off the rest of the maggots. Again loads of perch, but not a sniff of a pike. Me with my borrowed net too Arrived just as one of the barges disappeared round a bend, wanted a photo of one,next time maybe. 3hrs fishing, caught about 20+ small perch,biggest being just under 1/2lb. Packing the gear away, it started to rain and has been for 3hours now, so maybe back on the river on Friday hopefully. Peter

[dave fish]

lovely looks like a really nice stretch of canal not had a sniff of perch all summer just roach and skimmers ,well done

[Dubbed Squirrel]

Hi Dave, We`ve had a great time on the canal, considering it was only meant to be a diversion, while the river levels were low. The set up we used was very basic, 3lb main line, quill float, 1lb hook link, single split shot and #18 hooks (used a #20 on 2nd visit) and a single maggot. We were told there were perch of up to 2lb, but the biggest we caught was 1/2lb. We`re planning to go maybe 1 day in the month, really enjoyed it. good luck with the perch.
Peter

[dave fish]

chers tend to fish my local strech at least twice a week and does throw up many suprises fish the leeds and liverpool ,had perch to 2lb,roach to 1 lb 6oz,eels to 2half lb bream to 4lb so cant complain just not hooking the perch but will try a hotspot soon when i get time and hopefully that will change.

[guidefish00]

Whoa! what a great location. By the looks of the shots you had, it seems like you're really are enjoying. Now, I'd like to change my tactics too, invite my friends and explore other sites. I'm pretty sure there are places like in your pics out there unnoticed. But have to prepare very good fishing set up. Nice one!

[Baz T]

Nice report Dave, and nice pics of the canal. Is that the Forth and Clyde canal? I have been viewing various websites on the canal, plus pics etc, as I used to fish the canal near Dullatur/Cumbernauld area so have been checking out what it is like now (also using Google street map which is good too). I used to cycle from Lennoxtown to Kilsyth, then along the Stirling road, and turn off onto the lane to the canal towards Cumbernauld direction. It was about 8 miles, but seemed longer as bikes only had 3 gears then (if you were lucky). They have certainly cleaned up the canal, and towpaths etc, which is nice to see. I never caught any huge pike from it though, but as a young lad with little money, I used to make my pike traces from stripped electrical cable, and used to twist the wire together to make my traces, and then catch a couple of perch on worm for livebait, or if we were lucky we would sometimes find an angler with a keepnet and ask for some roach for live bait. Chuck it out under a bung, set to 2/3ft deep, and it used to amaze me when the float would start to tremble, and then slowly move off along the surface before disappearing. Still get the same buzz now!!
A lot of people fish Tiverton canal using fly, as it is a fairly narrow, and shallow canal, and they get quite a few pike too. Makes a change from wild brownies, and sounds like great fun

[Baz T]

Peter, apologies, just realised I called you Dave in the last post - I had been replying to some of Pingu's (Dave) posts and was in automatic mode.
Barry

[Dubbed Squirrel]

That`s ok George, we all make mistakes sometimes.

Hi Baz, how are you doing bud. You`re right,that is the Forth and Clyde canal. The first pic. is at Westerton, just along from the Station, the rest were at Maryhill, near Firhill football ground. We hadn`t been coarse fishing for years, but what with the river levels being so low, but thoroughly enjoyed it. Still haven`t managed out to the Glazert yet, but maybe after I get back. How`s your fishing?

Peter