Gloucester & Sharpness Canal - Fishing from a small boat

[Fentiger001]

Evening Chaps, Ladies,

Quick question, would I be ok to fish from my boat on the Gloucester Canal or are there rules that state otherwise? Its only a small 'Sniper' which is suits my lure fishing perfectly. In addition, is there a closed season on this water?

I wish to take my boat down, its a very easy one man launch and I fancy doing a bit of lure fishing this spring / summer on the Canal. Any advice would be very welcome, I had a couple of fairly successful evening trips bankfishing on the Canal but that was way back in Nov 97.

Kind regards,
Dave

[Twiddler]

Hi Dave,
Usually there are no closed seasons on canals, as they class as still waters but wait until the Boss Richard is back online, the Sharpness canal is his local, so he'll be able to help you.

[Fentiger001]

Hi Twiddler,

Many thanks indeed for your prompt reply, I suspected that the 'closed season' wouldn't apply for the Gloucs Canal but thought I'd ask. In fairness mate - I've had such a busy year during this season that I haven't done a quarter of the Zandering I'd like to. I've just gotten into the old lure fishing routine and reckon the Gloucs Canal is a very suitable venue indeed and hope to have a few evening sessions there later on this spring.

I've been a bit closer to home this week fishing a fenland venue for a whacker. Unfortunately no Zeds as yet but in fairness, I haven't been using lives / deads, only lures and have had a few Pike and an 8lb 14oz Bream <shock> which took a 4in Shad but I still await a Zed! Next week I shall be bivvied up with lives and deads, after a decent Zed come what may............

Kind regards,
Dave

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Hi dave - there is no closed season on the canal and yes there are a few people who use boats on the canal . Dont know how well the get on but they seem to be out a bit so cannot be that bad

[Fentiger001]

Hi Richard,

Many thanks indeed mate - I intend to take my boat down and have a bash probably May time when they've 'hopefully' finished spawning. I'd imagine they'll be ravenous after all the frantic activity!

My boat is a little 10ft Sniper so I can throw it in at any car park etc, the Canal will be a much more serene environment methinks than the large fenland rivers I've currently been hammering away at, methinks I'll just bring the elecky engine! Is the venue still fairly prolific or have the populations quietened down a bit? Have to say, I'm quite excited and well looking forward to hopefully a new chapter in my Zedding.

Tks again,
Dave

[Fishing Forum Admin]

THere still there but all this winter they have been targeted by spinners who then take them home for the pot

The guys Ive seen all have electric motors and seem to do trolling by the way they rig there little boats

Oh if you have a boat do not forget the severn and avon

dam wish I had a set up like your mate sound get

[Fentiger001]

I wish there were something someone could do to deter the 'spinners', I take it they are foreigners??? We get the same problem in the Fens.

My boat set up, although probably not the most 'fashionable' I'd say, is actually a decent little package for what I paid. The elecky engine is sweet as a nut because the boat is so small, I bought 2 top of the range batteries, one a 110 amp leisure battery from Halfords and 1 a top of the range car which I use for the fishfinder / backup for the engine. It just means I don't often have to take my little 2stroke with me.

I am hoping it will be just the job!

[suffolkzander]

Hi Dave,
ref your Sniper, how big is it??.... i mean do you move it about on a trailer or can you roof rack it on your own?

i cant use / store a trailer and boat so i have a BiC boat that i use on Roswell and it suits me as i can lift it up on the roof rack but its very tight for space such that i dont fancy putting an elec eng on plus battery as there is so little room so i just use the oars, but i'd like to go electric and perhaps to venture onto the river, but i am not going out there in the BiC with that wash from passing speed freaks!!!

Tony

[Fentiger001]

Hi Tony,

My sniper is 10ft (I gather they are getting quite collectable now too) mate I use a trailer but that is down to having a Volvo 850 motor which doesn't really suit a roofrack. The boat itself is an easy one man lift onto a roof and I'm an average built bloke of 5'8". Things can be a little bit of a tight fit but then again, I fit in the following:
2 x Pred Rods, Smallish Tackle bag, 110 Battery (heavy bit of kit!), 2 buckets (1 livebait bucket), 2 x oars (in case of drama's), fishfinder (all enclosed in a childrens small toy box, also containing car battery), unhooking mat / sling (large bit of kit but awesome which zips up and doubles as a bag), packed lunch, flask, little old me! Normally I simply put the elecky engine on but I also have a 2stroke motor which due to its rather cumbersome nature, unless I am 'travelling', I won't take but I've had them both bolted up to the back at the same time. + dont forget the lure kit and the bait catching kit!!!

I absolutely love the elecky engine, I've taken mine out on the wide welland for testing many's a time, the waves etc don't bother the boat and surprisingly, the engine will push it along nicely - perhaps due to its diminutive stature? I bought the biggest elecky engine of the lot, I'm a motorcyclist and simply thought, 'Bigger engine, small boat = less effort!' Be careful if purchasing though, I have a 54lb thrust 'Rhino' (made by Zebco), it cost me £154.99 on ebay including P&P. At the PAC 30 doo last year, the first trade stall I happened across was attempting to sell the exact same engine for £349.99! At that price I can happily replace it each year or so if it cocks up. No noise, no hassle and dead light! I work on the premise that the car battery which is working the fishfinder will provide a back up to get me out of trouble if I need it.

Kind rgds,
Dave

[suffolkzander]

thanks dave, good idea about putting the battery in a plastic box, that could work for me as space is tight in front of me as i sit in me dinghy, might be the thing that persuades me to shell out loads on an electric motor, thanks for that !!!!

like you i minimise the gear, a bag for essential tackle bits, trace bin, pack of custard creams and a flask, weighing unhoooing stuff, short pole landing net and rods in the boat rests off the back, a bucket of lives over the side and a nash seat to sit on as the BiC supplied seat (£25!!!!!) is just slats of wood and after 3 hours oooooohhh me bum was numb lol

i'll check out the sniper range as well

have a goodun