Canal fishing is best in areas with cover, such as the far shelf (1m from the far bank), under overhanging bushes, near trees, and around lily pads. Top locations include the Llangollen Canal, Shropshire Union Canal (Croughton), and Regent’s Canal. A rod license is mandatory, along with a permit from local angling clubs or the Canal & River Trust.
You can't fish: in lock chambers or within 25m of a lock (that's about one boat length) within 25m of a boating water point tap. near overhead powerlines (there's usually loads of signs warning you about these anyway)
Probably the most productive place on a canal is on the far shelf about 1 metre from the far bank. Overhanging bushes and trees are also very good areas.
Fishing rights on canals are privately owned, mostly by us, because we own most of the canals in England and Wales. You'll need a permit. Either: a temporary day permit from or yearly membership of the controlling angling club, or.
Many die-hard catfish bait makers have their own special recipes they swear catch big whisker fish. Here's one that includes WD-40 as one of the main ingredients.
A wide variety of fish can be caught in most canals
They also provide a very good habitat for many species of fish including, gudgeon, roach, perch, bream, chub, carp and tench, with many stretches also holding good sized pike and zander.
No single bait catches the most fish universally, as effectiveness depends on species, location, and season, but live worms, shrimp, and corn are consistently top choices for freshwater, while shrimp, cut bait (oily fish), and prawns excel in saltwater; artificial lures like grubs and spoons also catch nearly everything, making them versatile for all species.
To fish on any of the 2,000 miles of canals, rivers and commercial fisheries we look after, you will need a rod licence and a permit. A rod licence gives you the legal right to use a fishing rod or pole. You can buy a licence: Online from the Environment Agency.
What is the oldest you can fish without a license?
All anglers 16 years and older are required to have a valid California Fishing License to fish, including at Fishing in the City Programs (except on Free Fishing Days). CDFW's portion of Fishing in the City is entirely funded from Federal Aid through the Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
Anglers use lots of different types of bait on canals: large maggots (fly larvae), casters (pupae), squatts and pinkies (small maggots), bread and worms. The best baits for beginners are squatts, pinkies, maggots and bread. When putting a maggot on a hook, you must thread the hook through the flat end of the maggot.
So, you can definitely fish the canals all year round, and like any fishing environment – some days you'll get lucky, and other days willbe less productive. Some anglers prefer to fish at dawn and dusk, and they can certainly be highly productive times to fish.
You must always carry your rod fishing licence when you're fishing or you could be prosecuted! Anglers who fish without a rod licence could be fined up to £2,500, so it really is worth the investment.
Do you have to pay council tax if you live on a canal boat?
Yes, you usually pay council tax on a canal boat if it's your sole or main residence on a residential mooring, as it's treated like a land property, often falling into the lowest Band A; however, if you're a continuous cruiser with no fixed home mooring, you're typically exempt, but must pay boat licensing fees instead. The key factor is having a permanent, fixed residential mooring, not just living on a boat.
Studies show that fish are primarily attracted to a few general scents - garlic, salt and anise. They are drawn by either action or noise in the water, then the addition of a positive scent can seal the deal for getting them to commit.
Fish have eyes on either side of their head so they do get quite a good range of vision but the majority of the time, factors such as colour and ripple make seeing anything with any clarity difficult unless they are very close in, high in the water, and the day is a clear one with little ripple.
Canals can be temperamental, requiring methods that carefully suit their characteristics. Fish might be close in, shoaled in the deeper boat channel, or tucked tight to far bank features. You need to search your way across to maximise catches. Working through a selection of different baits is another key to success.
A better way to fish bait at the Canal is to allow the bait to drift with the current. Sometimes you do not even need any weight. If you do want to fish lower in the water column, try adding a rubber core sinker.
