Closed Season Zander Quest Pt.6 – The Good, the Bad and the Fifthly

I’ve really taken to targeting Zander, such an intriguing fish thriving in its gloomy diesel filled habitat after being illegally introduced in to the Midlands canal system 30 years ago. The schoolies despite their size are as tough as old boots and angry as hell, if you haven’t caught one, give it a go, it’s an experience that may get you hooked, like it has me. They are not like any other coarse fish and I’ve nothing but appreciation for them as a species. Whether it’s the ‘bang’ on the lure they give, the aggressive take on a deadbait or when handled, the Tasmanian devil within them, they are a great sport fish.

You would think from what you read on the internet that where there is Zander there is nothing else, but the reality if far from the truth. A recent match at a local schoolie filled stretch of the Grand Union every angler had around 20lb of fish. Nope, no Zander but bream, roach and perch, big and small, caught on the pole over ground bait with worm or caster. They’ve adapted since their illegal introduction and cohabit without major issue from what I can see.

Even in the most fifthly areas of the canal you will find Zander, I’ve put some decent hours on the bank fishing for them over the last couple of years and to be honest that’s where you mostly find them, the clearer areas I’ve had less success. I’ve never had problems with them shying away from any resistance either, I use a small lead but I’ve no doubt it’s lifted off the bottom when it takes a deadbait, even the weighted bobbin doesn’t seem to be an issue. Pike are few and far between in the areas I fish so 50lb Arma-Kord instead of wire, maybe that helps as my headless roach running rig really does do the business.

For this short evening session I wanted to try and area that is always coloured, I’d never wet a line before. I’d fished either side of it with some success but this was an area I’d previously overlooked.

Is there a monster hiding here………..?

Within 5 minutes of the deadbait settling I had an aggressive bite and it was a small schoolie of around a 1lb or so, with another bait recast for ½ an hour or so no interest on either the lure of the roach section so I moved. This swim was much bigger and wider and had the luxury of some oxygenated water from a leak from the locks paddles. Again within minutes I had a run on the deadbait rod and this fish was a little better,at 2lb 10oz. The bait was still intact to I positioned it again in the same area whilst unhooking and returning the fish. The lure wasn’t getting a look in so Heath Robinson style, I removed the lure and fitted a Raptor hook with a Roach head, the rod was then used quivertip style. As I’ve said before I’ve not found an issue with Zander and resistance and sure enough the tip started to twitch and bang and a fish was on. The smallest I’ve ever caught, around 8oz or, it didn’t fight particularly well but was certainly fast. 3 further schoolies made it 6 in total.

All disappointingly small, so the quest continues……

Closed Season Zander Quest Pt.5 – Glutton for Punishment

What, back to where I’ve already had two blanks and remained fish-less. Yeap, after the last session here when something large disturbed the surface it was playing on my mind, so much so I changed my plans and decided to put off my visit to the Stratford-Upon-Avon canal. This time though apart from fishing the same swim for an hour and a half or so to put my mind at rest, I’d fish the end of the stretch for the remainder of the session. It was an area I’d not fished before, it was narrower, had easier access and also had a few locks in the mix for much needed feature. If a half decent Zander was here as I’ve been told hopefully it would be easier to find.

The simple headless Roach rig.

The reality is with so much canal to go out and so few possible double figure amongst the plebeians I knew it was a herculean task. It really is needle in the haystack stuff and needs far more dedication than I can probably give. If I blanked again, I’d not be returning especially as next week after suffering 2 years of driving a mediocre Diesel car ( what was I thinking ) I’m back in gas guzzling petrol car again. I don’t think I can justify the distance especially as 10 miles less there are swims I know full of Zander where a blank is an impossibility. A mission on the scale of the 1986 Operation Deep Scan of Loch Ness probably wouldn’t even throw up anything, well maybe tyres, trolleys and dead bodies.

Big Zander are elusive in the Midlands canal system, schoolies aplenty. I need some luck, big time if I’m to catch a decent one…..

The session went pretty well to be honest, well with number of fish caught. The first couple of swims I tried I never had a nibble but then a 3lb 8oz Zander took a liking to a deadbait I had positioned next to an aerated swim next to the lock paddles. This swim actually produced 3 further fish and a most welcome Perch of 1lb 7oz on the lure.

The next lock down I managed another 4 or 5 Zander, all on the lure this time, none on the deadbait. All schoolies though, so I walked another ¼ mile or so to another lock where I managed 2 on the deadbait and 2 on the lure. This area must be chock full of them. With 14 fish caught, and no big ones I got back in the car and drove back to the swim where a fish caused a huge boil in the water when it took an interest in my lure. I positioned a headless roach and used the lure again, it certainly looks like it holds fish, an area thick with near and far bank cover.

I think the mistake I made was that I should have started here instead, when a lock gate is open it literally turns in to a flowing river. The deadbait rod was useless as debris being washed down kept the deadbait off the bottom and kept on lifting the bobbin. I persevered with the lure for two hours and swapped the lead to a larger one, sadly a blank again, damn. Encouraging signs and just goes to show Zander are in small pockets and you need to do your groundwork. It certainly helps with the exercise as I walked 3 miles or so. I’m not sure if I’ll fish this area again, it needs more time spent on the bank and not sure I can justify it. I’m sure there are big Zander to be had. I might rope in a mate and give it one last go and try an evening session when the boats are less and the bigger fish might be more inclined to feed. I finished slightly earlier than planned so took a slight detour to local landmark.

Watch this space….

Closed Season Zander Quest Pt.4 – The Dark Side

I’ve walked past this stretch before but never wet a line, the overly large paddles provide a fish barrier and occasional gateway to a stretch of waterway that seemingly offers fish utopia. Not only is there more space for fish to spread their fins but as it’s frequented by the boaters and ramblers who regularly feed the ducks and geese it provides a buffet to the smaller fish and that naturally attracts and draws in the mysterious and sinister Zander. Or according to some people I’ve spoken to recently when fishing the cut, the merciless killing machine ,and must be put to death. Yes really….

They are here past the lock gates in numbers too but as the schoolies are a pack fish I’ve only managed a run of the mill sized fish, a pound and half the average with the biggest 3lb or so. All very mediocre considering I’ve spent decent bank time fishing for them.

Like my women, I prefer mine with a bit of timber, time for a change….

There was something about this passageway and short length of murky canal though; due to the dense overhanging trees providing lots of cover it’s dark and mysterious no matter the weather. Even in the sunniest of days it’s gloomy and the permanently moored and seemingly abandoned barges also add to the interest.

If there is a reclusive larger fish to be had, it’s got to be here. 

It was a short session but having blanked recently I wanted a fish on the bank. Upon arriving and walking to the swim I saw a couple of carp on the surface, not huge, probably 5 or 6 lb or so but a nice sight all the same. After 2 and a half hours or so in 5 different swims with a lure rod and a deadbait sleeper I hadn’t a touch so I made the decision to drive to an area a couple of miles away and spend the last half hour there. It was a swim where I’d lost something half decent on the lure a few weeks before.

A deadbait was positioned in an area of oxygenated water and I began to throw the lure around the swim. Within 20 minutes or so the sleeper rod was getting some interest and sure enough the bobbin started to rise in a vigorous movement. Strike, and a fish was on. It felt half decent too, they are not the strongest Zander but they give a reasonable account for themselves. With the fish in the net and the roach section still intact I cast out in the same area and weighed the fish. My PB canal fish is 5lb 4oz and this fish matched that exactly, damn, no PB but still a half decent fish. Within 5 minutes of the fish being returned to the water (oh, the horror) I had another bite, this time a really angry schoolie of a pound and a half or so that cut my hand. The small ones really are aggressive little bleeders.

I’ve another three sessions planned in the next 7 days, I’m enjoying this Zander challenge and makes a nice change than fishing a pool that you know contains big fish.

Off topic but the Royal Leamington Spa Anglers Association is a cracking club, well run and some excellent waters in their book. The secretary Anthony Simmons asked if he could use one of my pictures that I took for the125th Anniversary Edition Member’s Handbook. I received my new book and the picture is proudly shown on the front cover.Some printing issues as the colour is a bit weird but nice to see it all the same especially in another month or so I'll be trying to catch one of the old warriors that are in the reservoir.