venue 2 ( The cut off channel )

[baitmaster]

The cut off channel


this is by far one of the most prettiest drains i,ve fished with it being lined with poplars trees but in some section they,ve been cut down due to disease the drain also has a fair few bushes and in some area along the drain over hanging tree and bushes which are good area to explore .
this again has Lilly beds along the shelves and really does look a picture in the summer months .

the drains runs from Denver sluice and continues through to the river lark sluice now not all the cut off can be fished and KLAA does not run all either .
klaa actually runs the cut off channel from Denver sluice to wretton fen drove .
some part is controlled by LDAA (London and district angling association)
how ever also the EA controls parts where the banks are very deep and because these are dangerous there is no fishing on these sections .
its a fairly narrow drain being only about 30 yards wide but the depth do vary from 7ft to 16ft .
unlike a lot of the other drains that run straight with maybe no bends or just one or two the cut off has considerable more bends and winds through the lush farmlands of the fens more like a river .

you some time can be forgiven to thinking you are on a river than a drain but how ever the cut off is a drain and when its pulled during the winter like other drain you realise you are on a drain .
also they do back the water up from the relief channel when we,ve had some wet winters and sometimes the lower banks to become flooded and i,ve actually had to pack up and move to higher ground when the water started to rise and entered my bivvy .
construction of the cut of channel was finished 1969 and it main use is to transfer water to Essex's via various pump and a series of under ground pipes
again there is good access to this beautiful drain via the many bridges that cross it but the most popular ones are,s fordham bridge, roxham farm bridge and the most popular bridge is hilgay bridge this is probably due to the A10 given good access to the drain too and also this is where the winter matches are held and also the banks are flatter than other area,s .
now again on the zandering side of the cut off channel its a relatively easy drain and does seem to be the drain a lot of novice zedders start on.
as they can normally catch a lot of smaller zeds and get to know how to handle zeds quickly like this example below .

but on occasions and not surprisingly it does throw up some big zeds and zeds over 16lb have been caught from the drain .
and i once netted a 15lb plus zander for some one else on here so it can through up some surprises if you are lucky enough .
my own best from the cut off is just shy of 14lb so if you are prepared to also put the time in and investigate the drain you can be rewarded .
i rate this drain highly and i think is worth the price of a KLAA book (£34.00) on its own as it offers the general angler some excellent fishing for most species to specimen sizes .

tightlines
Kevin

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Cracking artical Kev

Think these articals are tops as give great info and pictures bring them to life

Keep them coming

[Norfolkboy]

Great write up Kev and having seen it in the daylight from Tuesday I have to agree, it is a very pretty looking drain.

[Twiddler]

Fantastic write up/pic again Kev, makes me more determined to try zandering one day.....keep the write ups coming, always an enjoyable read

Claudia

[Rob M]

Great stuff as always mate, keep 'em coming!

Rob

[pingu]

another good informative thread
well done

[Barrie C]

Kev,

spot on! Makes me realise how lucky I am to be no more than 15 minutes from these great waters.

Still waiting for the Well Creek!

Barrie