Sharpness Canal - Venue for Zander

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Sharpness Canal Zander Fishing

Linking Gloucester Docks to Bristol the Sharpness Canal was a transport link between the two.

Conceived in the 'canal mania' period of the late 18th century , the 'Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal' scheme (as it was originally named) was started by architect and civil engineer Robert Mylne , but rapidly encountered financial difficulties - to such an extent that Mylne left the project in 1798 . Some 20 years later, Thomas Telford was appointed to bring the scheme to completion, and he moved the southern junction to Sharpness Point. After these significant delays, the canal opened in April 1827 .

Now the canal is more used for pleasure boats although commercial shipping still does use the canal.

Approximately 17 miles long with 16 bridges , you have plenty of places to fish with Zander running though out the Sharpness Canal.The only down side with the canal is that parking can be hard and you will have to walk up to 1 mile plus to get to some good pegs , but that's why they are good !

Season tickets are £26.00 and day tickets are £2.50 which you can pay for on the bank ( Prices may change )

The Sharpness Canal has both the typical canal bank side up around gloucester but goes a bit more wild below Quedgeley.

The photo below is looking down stream to the Pilot Inn



This picture is of the Sharpness Canal below the Pilot Inn Bridge where the banks get more wild and much less fished as its a bit of a walk.



The Canal is approximately 16 to 17 feet deep in the middle with the inner shelf being 10 foot, Like all zander venues you need to find were the bait fish are. Keep an eye on the match results as this will indicate were the shoal are thus were the zander will be.

Good zander fishing can be had on any stretch from Quedgeley up to Gloucester Docks. Zander here run from a few pounds up to 14lb with live bait Roach float tactics seeming to work best for me.

The Canal has virtually no flow but when the gates are opened you will need 2oz lead to hold. This does not happen often.

On the Sharpness Canal there is a cull system in affect which is totally beyond me ( they are stuck in the 80s ) But I will never kill a zander because some idiot has read some information 20 years out of date.

I will update this page as more information comes to hand as I've only just started to fish here and am still trying new areas and tactics out

[baitmaster]

good informative venue report richard

tightlines
kevin

[Twiddler]

great venue information/pics looks a place worth visiting once I'm confident enough to go zandering

[Rob M]

Great thread, report and pics Rich!

Rob

[Norfolkboy]

Looks a lovely piece of water Rich

[pingu]

nice bit of info there rich

[Barrie C]

Great read Richard,

I like the stretch with the overhanging trees on the far bank - do you get any large eels?

Barrie

[fishypaul]

great looking venue rich

[Fishing Forum Admin]

I like the stretch with the overhanging trees on the far bank - do you get any large eels

I do get eel knocks but the truth so far is that above the pilot pub is better at the moment as thats were everyone pumps in bait over the weekends and the roach are there in good shoals. The wilder end seems to get a lot less fish but bigger

[Greenheart]

Useful info Richard, I think I can feel the urge for a winter Zedding trip comming on