Canal Roach - The Sisyphean Task ? Pt.1

George Burtons Winter Canal Roach campaign came up the other day on our WBAS WhatsApp group and it got me thinking maybe that's something I could get in to, especially as the rivers at this time of year seem to be in a right state.

Also the canals in the winter are much quieter boat traffic wise than in the closed season aren't they. Not only that but the doggo landmines are less prevalent too, and that's always a bonus let me tell you. Footfall, well less of that as well which is nice. 

I know George was inspired to give the canals a go for big roach because of the antics of Jeff Hatt, and to be honest, it was Jeff's rambling that got me in to fishing for canal Zander and when after 6 years I eventually caught a double figure canal Zander I started to fish for other species on the canal with some reasonable success. 

Would a 2lber on a natural venue be a possibility ? !!

Now if you've not seen George and Eric's Youtube video it's well worth a watch as not only does it stand out from the humdrum, but it it shows the technique I've employed myself to target larger fish on the canals where Zander are established. It suits my kind of fishing too which is crude compared to how a canal is usually tackled by the angler. 

In my limited experience I've managed some nice fish too, with some decent sized bream as well as some big old hybrids (4lb) and my best roach to date going 1lb 12 ounces.

That fish was caught in March when the boat traffic is little more than it would be in December, so for this morning's session for some reason I decided to give the rivers a miss and head down to the canal instead. 

Obviously I'd have a zander rod out as well for some double dipping but Buffalo Si with his eyes and ears on the ground on the local canals has been struggling for Zander so they might not have quite woken up yet. 

However they are still well worth a go though especially when there is some nice fish to be caught on this stretch. 

This is the South Stratford canal btw which is my nearest canal and where most of this campaign will be from. With my limited fishing time maximising the amount of time the bait is in the water is key especially when those >1lb refins I've already caught have been from this canal. Like the Grand Union and Oxford canals George where Jeff applied their trade, this was my local patch.

Now During lockdown when the boats were shackled like we were when we were finally let out the usual coloured canal actually went clear believe it or not because of the lack of boat traffic, and I couldn't believe my eyes because there were decent roach milling around which you'd never spot before in its usual turbidity. 

Anyway as expected no boats for the near 3 hour session so the surface was nice and still and calm which was nice. The float was doing a sterling job as well and sitting nicely in the water. 

A good hour in the first swim with a really fast bite the only interest I got and I'm convinced it wasn't a proper bite anyway, almost like a fish brushed past the line or something. A roach passing wind would disturb the float it is that sensitive so not unexpected really.

The predator rod as well was motionless so in the end I decided to go and fish a couple of more swims as there was no point hanging around if there wasn't any fish in the swim.

The water was rather cold when I took the temperature and probably not surprising the fish were not having it large especially when you fish this method, when a big fish is the aim. Would I have fared better fishing a smaller fish and maggot ? 

Quite possibly but it was a decent roach I was after not an imposter, anyway another two swims fished with nothing doing whatsoever. The mornings sun was pleasant mind you it's just a shame that the fish were not showing at all, no fished topped either which isn't a good sign in my experience.

So a blank to add to ones growing tally for January !!!

To be honest if I look back at my blog apart from chub I often struggle this time of year when even the Stoltman Brothers would pass on swimming in the cold water. The temperature is going to drop again so maybe chub and possibly a pike should be the next target. So on to the next, this a most forgettable session.