Zander on Gloucester/sharpness canal

Hopalong · #1 03-23-2008, 09:26 AM

I can catch plenty of Zander on spinners, but spinning's not really my thing. I keep dead baiting with small roach but i haven't had any luck. Does anyone have any tips that might help me catch a few. Also i would like to try live baiting, but it takes me so long to catch small fish on the canal that by the time i've caught some it's too late to bother setting up my zander rod. Does anyone know how i could catch some a bit quicker on the canal.

Fentiger001 · #2 03-23-2008, 10:55 AM

Although I have fished it a couple of times many years ago - I'm basically not current on the actual 'Gloucester & Sharpness' Canal but when baitcatching on the Fens, it often pays to find a feature like an inlet / bush or bridge. When the baitcatching is a bit tough, I like to use a little groundbait and pinkies etc for bait. I always go down to a really fine hooklength of perhaps 12oz and a size 22 / 24 hook and if I can, use a short whip because in my opinion, its the quickest way to put a few small fish together. Unwanted livebaits are always put in the freezer as soon as possibly as this ensures that when the chips are down at least I have a supply of bait.

Fentiger001 · #3 03-23-2008, 11:00 AM

PS I wouldn't turn my nose up at using Perch as a livebait if you can get them, I read an article yesterday where a guy was fishing for bait and put about 40 small Perch back before managing to scrimp a few Roach together. I rate Perch livebaits very highly - in fact some of the few Zeds I managed on the Canal about 10yrs ago came to Perch. Never caught anything on a Perch deadbait though.......

Hopalong · #4 03-23-2008, 01:33 PM

Thanks for that i'll give it a go next week. I ussually use a quiver tip and bread punch. I don't star getting bites for about 2 hours.

Fentiger001 · #5 03-23-2008, 01:39 PM

No worries Hopalong, mate I've just moved with work into the area and was wondering if you could PM me with a half decent area to start on the Gloucs Canal please. Not too fussed about a massive 'hotspot' merely somewhere where I can park and leave my car and trailer in relative safety but also somewhere I can throw my small boat in - preferably a grassy bank no need for a slipway.

Good luck with your baitcatching.

Fishing Forum Admin · #6 03-23-2008, 03:21 PM

Hi mate

Your bait has to be small and fished with as little resistance as possible as zander get spooked easy. Dusk into evening is when you will get them. As for catching bait well the couple of times Ive been Ive really struggled to get live bait myself as with the canal the roach shoal up in the winter and finding them is the key. But if you get live bait the zander will def be slamming into it.

I will hope to get out in the next month now my back is better so never know we could meet up and have an evening session.

Hopalong · #7 03-23-2008, 05:18 PM

Fentigeroo1 the best place for you to park would be the the sculling centre at Frampton. it cost £1 for 4 hours but it is safe and it has a ramp for boats. There is a big layby at "castles" bridge at morten valance but my mates car got broken into there. And there is splattbridge which has a small car park but that is ussually full.

I ussually fish between the sculling centre and castles. There is old bay half way which is good and a bit further on there is a bend, you can always catch small pike a rod lengths out there.

I have fished splatt bridge the last 3 saturday nights and not even had a bite.

Those are the places are like to fish but like i've said i dont catch much, so either the pegs are crap or i am.

Hopalong · #8 03-23-2008, 05:22 PM

Hi richard thanks me and my mate fish the places i said the my other reply every saturday night from about 6.30-11pm.

terrysmart · #9 03-23-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hopalong

I can catch plenty of Zander on spinners, but spinning's not really my thing.

catching plenty of zeds on spinners is my thing , how is it fishing at the moment been told it is full of the severn flood water and not fishing at all.

looking to go there on tues 25/03 , so would be greatfull on quick replys

Hopalong · #10 03-23-2008, 08:00 PM

i haven't been spinning since christmas. I have been quiver tipping and dead baiting most weeks and haven't done much good at all. I was told that there is loads of bream at splatt, 3 of us had a go and caught nothing but to be honest i'm not the best angler in the world so probably still worth ago

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