Grand Western/Tiverton canal..

[Baz T]

Decided to try Grand Western canal at Tiverton/Sampford Peverell area yesterday. I had never fished it before, but had heard it holds pike, although they are mainly jacks. Didnt set off till mid afternoon, as I had just finished my last night shift that morning, so had a kip till just after mid day. My son and I threw the spinning/lure rods in the car, flasks of tea, some sandwiches -and no need for waterproofs today though, thank god, as the sun was beating down in a cloudless sky. Took us about 1hr 15mins to get there Turned off the M5 at junction 27 for Sampford Peverell/Tiverton. About half a mile from the junction is Minnows caravan park, and they sell day tickets for the canal, so it meant we didnt have to go all the way into Tiverton to get a ticket. £5 for me, £3 for son. We then set off to find somewhere to park and fish. Ended up at the village of Westleigh, east of Junction 27 and Sampford Peverell. Found some on road parking just outside the village, by a bridge over the canal.
We found the canal to be quite narrow here, and about 2ft deep with some areas up to 3ft. The fishing was also hampered by lots of reeds and flotsam at the margins (although reeds were cut down) and it meant on nearly every retrieve you ended up hooking some weed or reeds at the margin as it was difficult to get to the waters edge along this stretch in several places. I was also surprised to find lots of weed clumps floating past which meant we had to cast in between the passing weed. We had a few follows and lunges by some jack pike, but none hooked! Most of them seemed to be hiding under the flotsam/reeds by our feet.
We then decided to move further west in the general direction towards Sampford Peverell. Found another on road parking slot by a bridge. The canal was a bit wider and deeper here, plus not as much flotsam/reeds in the margins, nor as much floating weed. Once again had a few follows, and couple of hits, but neither of us managed to actually hook or land one. I suppose the bright relentless sunshine didnt help,though it did mean we just wore tshirts all afternoon until we packed up about 7.30 pm.
We found we were running out of time, having arrived late afternoon, and didnt have time to drive to another part of the canal. Despite no fish it had been a lovely afternoon and evening. Next time in the autumn we will try between Sampford Peverell and Tiverton, as in hindsight I think the canal, and fishing, is better along that stretch.
We did find a dead bream in the margins, must have been about 4lb or so, which was a nice size for the water I suppose.
On occasion we did see the odd swirl on the surface etc, and despite casting over them, no takes. On one occasion my son went ot investigate a swirl on the surface, and shouted over to me that it was a snake. I went down to have a look and sure enough there was a snake swimming on the surface. It must have been at least 2 ft in length and it looked quite comical as it kept stopping every few feet, and sticking its head up out the water and having a look aroiund, and then set off swimming again.I assume it was a grass snake, as I havent heard of any Anaconda in Sampford Peverell.
Another thing I have noted over the years is my son finding out, and taking interest in things that I have just taken for granted when we have been fishing. Like the first time we fished Exeter canal, he was surprised when a swan sitting on the water suddently started running along the water and took off, and he watched in awe as it flew gracefully past us about 2 ft above the water. I dont think he realised swans could fly = strange I know, but most kids I suppose just see them swimming up and down lakes, ponds etc.
Then yesterday we found a pair of swans nesting accross on the other bank. They had built a large nest and one swan sat on the nest while the other patrolled up and down in the immediate vicinity. My son was amazed at the size, and symmetry of the nest, and amused by the patrolling swan who was trying to look menacing to anyone that passed by that part of the canal. He asked various questions about the nest, the swan incubating and trying to hatch the eggs etc.
Similarly he was amazed by the swimming snake, and also when we saw a jet black mink on Exeter canal by the Lime Kilns. It just shows you that its not just the fishing, but the countryside and wildlife that add to the whole experience.
I did have to laugh though, because at one point he had a follow from a small jack pike. I told him to stop his lure and let if slowly float to the surface, by the margin. He did this, and the lure slowly lifted to the surface, and the jack sat there motionless watching it for about 20 seconds. Then all of a sudden it darted up, and smashed into the lure on the surface, before swmming off just as quickly. It all happened within a second. This actually startled my son (he is a young teenager by the way!), as he didnt realise pike did that, so was completely taken by surprise at the speed and violence of the attack, even though it was a only a small jack. I suggested to him he think about what a double figure pike would be like doing the same thing....and just as well it didnt do that yesterday or a change of pants might have been required by him..lol.
Despite no fish, it was a lovely day to be out with my son, and the canal is very tranquil and picturesque, and blew away the cobwebs from my previous nightshifts. We finished the day off by getting a bag of chips each at Plymouth to eat at home, followed by a couple of bacardi and cokes for myself. Bliss.

Some pics below of the canal, taken towards the end of the day...
[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[Banana Steve]

Great read there, lovely looking photos as well, shame about the lack of fish, but like you said the country side is a great place to be.

[devondave]

it seems nice up there baz

ive heard its not a bad place for good tench?

i would love to get myself a good tench this year!

[BaggieRich]

Nice one Baz. The size of the canal surprised me in places too. Like you say, it get better down towards Tiverton I think.

Still a nice day to be out.

[pingu]

nice one there baz, its def a canal for the rover from reports

next year i will target more

dave

[Gudgeonman]

Very interested to read your great report as I'm quite new to the Tiverton canal and still finding my way round. I found myself down near Sampford Peverell today and picked up a mixed bag of 30 or so rudd, roach, small bream (or roach-bream hybrids?) and perch. Nothing of any great size, but a fish is a fish... is a fish.

Highlight of the day was seeing a grass snake swim across the canal and then sit on a lilly pad (hoping for a passing frog?) So it seems the snakes are something of a local fixture.

Back to the subject of the fishing, it was a mainly bright sunny day, but it was very noticeable that the fish immediately went on the feed as soon as any cloud blocked the sun.

There were some big-ish perch cruising about, but they looked in a hurry to get somehwere and didn't have time to accept my hospitality.

[king01]

i enjoyed the read ! It can be very rewarding going fishing with my son. Nice having some time together away from the xbox, ps3, tv etc etc

[Baz T]

Hi Gudgeonman, and King01, thanks for yr replies. Gudgeonman - there were some decent pike caught in the canal last winter, in case you do go pike fishing. I bet it was a lovely day out at the canal yesterday - though perhaps too hot and bright at times, but at least you had fish to keep you occupied throughout the day.

[Martopp]

hi i use to fish there alot, your first photo if you go to the left of you by about 3/4 of a mile you will come to a narrow stretch of canal with over hanging willow trees, its about 6 foot deep there had pike to 16lb there on deadbaits.....Or follow the canal back into tiverton were the tea rooms and barges are, fish the first bay right in front of you,, the tighter your baits are to the far bank the more fish you will catch.. hope this helps

[Baz T]

Hi Martopp, thanks for the info, I will bear it in mind this coming winter.