Mostonga

A canal is a straight, shallow water with its features under the surface, not on the bank. The cross-section is a shelf on each side dropping into a central track, and the bottom of the near shelf and the far shelf are the two lines where roach, bream and perch feed. Any bridge, lock, boat mooring or narrowing where the current speeds up is a magnet for fish, as is a bend with overhanging trees. Boat traffic stirs the bottom and, oddly, often switches on the bite. In summer weed and lily beds along the edge shelter tench and carp; in winter fish hold in the deepest, most sheltered lengths near bridges and towns, where the water is a degree warmer. Flow is usually slight but changes when locks or pumps operate.

Pole and float fishing is the canal method: a light float on the far shelf or the bottom of the near shelf, with small baits and little, regular feeding. Feeder fishing with a small cage or method feeder covers the central track and takes bream and hybrids. Ledgering close to bridges or boats catches carp and tench. Spinning with light jigs and small crankbaits along the far shelf and moorings finds perch and zander, while wobbling dead baits in the deeper lengths takes pike. Keep everything light — the water is rarely deep and never far away.

Spring warms a canal fast, and the shallow far shelf fishes well early. Early summer is the top time for tench and bream in the weedy lengths, and for perch on lures. Boat-heavy summer days push the fish to the edges and the fishing improves after the traffic stops in the evening. Autumn brings zander and pike into the open, and the clearest, coldest winter water keeps the fish in the deep, sheltered lengths near structure.

Plumb the far shelf carefully and fish exactly where it meets the deeper track — most canal fish move up and down that single line all day.