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In reply to Post #27
If you fish south of Newton Harcourt from the top lock out towards Kibworth. Station Rd from Great Glen used to be a good few years ago. Low doubles back in the 90's. Not lived in the area for 20yrs or more so local knowledge about otters I'm not sure on.
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In reply to Post #27
Appreciate that thank you I'll take a look. I think I was pointing towards Staffordshire after Coventry so will see if they have stretches on my route.
Waterways wanderers look to have loads of options all the way up to Manchester so I've been using them as my initial route, then finding clubs as required.
Been great fun so far and learnt a fair bit about our industrial history too π
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In reply to Post #23
If you fancy a stop off south of Nottingham, Wigston Angling Society have a massive stretch of canal running from South Leicester up into the city
LINKY POO™ https://www.wigstonanglingsociety.co.uk/
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Ahhhh, my days of vlogging and article writing ended along with my sponsorships when I swore never to do them again, just fish for me rather than them who needed to be obeyed π¬. Maybe I can just post one or two updates and pics on here as I pootle up the country π.
More importantly, I've identified clubs and a loose route up to Coventry, so well on my way to the Bridgewater π.
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In reply to Post #24
Vossy is rarely seen near water
we're currently having our 1 vs 1 predator match.
I've only managed to get out once so far (blanked)
Vossy has purchased some new bits but I doubt they've been near water yet either π
 By the time I get round to going it'll be Pike spawning time and that'll be that  I have however had this strange calling from Tatton Park, I used to love Pike fishing there!
@ Onslow, teas maid at your service, I could even feature in your video...today I'm joined by my none fishing guest  
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In reply to Post #21
Vossy is rarely seen near water
we're currently having our 1 vs 1 predator match.
I've only managed to get out once so far (blanked)
Vossy has purchased some new bits but I doubt they've been near water yet either π
Canals: I don't think I'll have time to join you unfortunately. She who must be obeyed is trying to book family holidays I am not interested in attending! π’
If you do end up any video any of the trip (even photos/diary) I'm happy to help edit/host it
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In reply to Post #22
That sounds like some great angling π.
No too sure where my travels through the midlands will take me, I have a mate in Nottingham I might drop in on and there looks like there is a fair bit of free water around there too.
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Absolutely love canal carping there's an air of the unexpected in what you may catch in size of carp,before I moved south in 07 I had local canals fished them since I was a kid,had a few just under 20 and one over 20.
When I came home to midlands I started again we have a basin in town centre of Walsall and had a few out of there up to 26.9 with mostly doubles and another 20,then that pollution hit almost 2 years ago and a lot of fish died,I heard of a 20 coming out last year and saw a few low doubles but not tempted to fish it properly again until I saw this weeks angling times and a guy has had a 23 out from the basin Christmas time,so it's good to see they are thriving after that terrible poisoning incident which I believe was cyanide around 4 litres of the stuff leaked in from a factory in edge of canal,they had already been fined for same thing happening a few years before.
Anyway I had my best year on the canals in 2019 got told there were 3 known 30's in there2 mirrors and a common in space if a month I had 10,11,5,16,16 and icing on the cake a 32 common which remains my pb,I have heard since a 35 came out but with 14 miles of water between locks by me it's a needle in a hay stack.
There's great potential in the canals just not like it used to be unfortunately with predation and people taking fish.
But for me id still fish a canal over a busy day ticket water,there's a chance you will see no one during your session.
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In reply to Post #20
Yeah everyone has been really helpful with suggestions and advice so far π.
The more I look into it the more excited I'm getting, I can't believe how many waterways we have still got and I'm already thinking that this will become more than one adventure for me.
if you wanted to link up mate that'd be cool, good to have some company and share the experience for some or all of it.
Maybe Vossy can be there at the finish line with a brew for us too π.
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Some good advice/ideas in here people!
@Onslow: If you need a tea boy/photographer I'm half tempted to offer my help! Sounds as though it could be an awesome 'quest' 
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In reply to Post #1
What about the Chichester canal. Just down the road from you in Pompey. Not very long. Basin in the town centre. Terminating in Pagham harbour. Definitely carp in there as I've seen one. Funnily enough right beside the old lock in the harbour..
Also the Royal military further down the south coast at Hythe
Apparently some nice fish in there. Again a very short canal... good luck on your adventures.. 
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Might be an idea to do a bit of a circular route. Up the west side of the country and back down the middle or vice versa. You've got Oxfordshire and the GUC in Buckinghamshire which would be worth a look, especially around Milton Keynes, the GUC goes north up the Leicester way with various offshoots.
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In reply to Post #15
probably link all the canals to each other somewhere via the major towns and cities because of the Industrial Revolution.
Stick a pin in the map time I think lol
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In reply to Post #7
I would walk the GUC figure the furthest spot from the carp park then bait a spot and walk back, repeat and fish from the spot and walk back to the car. Use to work but with less results as the year went on.
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In reply to Post #12
Yes, I'll almost certainly start on the Basingstoke, then onto the Wey Nav - I've already have tickets for them.
It's what happens afterwards is where the adventure probably starts and how far north I travel before my next stop. It looks like from Birmingham upwards is where there are so many waterways to pick from.
Almost a waste of time staying down south because I can do them anytime
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ππ
London isn't on the list for certain.
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In reply to Post #11
Yes, please stay away from London. Places like Walthamstow etc are way too scary for anyone from outside of the North / South Circular.
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In reply to Post #1
Being based in Portsmouth, theres surely opportunities closer to home such as the Basingstoke and Wey canals. Both linked to the Thames via 263829822 different locks if I'm correct.
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In reply to Post #10
Maybe avoid London then 
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In reply to Post #8
Agreed, I just don't want to end up in an inner city war zone ππ
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In reply to Post #5
The bridgewater at Dane Road is the most fishing friendly place, have a look at Google maps. Between the tram station and M60 fly over you can, or used to be able to, park in or behind your swim.
Brooklands to Timperley stretch, Walton Road, just off it is a fitness place with car park right on the canal (in Walton Road Park ish) but the towpath is typical canal (not a lot of room).
There's also a good area between Timperley and Navigation road, just after Timperley bridge. My father in laws friend is a match angler and he practices on that stretch, there are still plenty of fish to be had but they can be quite time specific, ie, late avo early evenning.
Dunham way there's more room behind the towpaths and there's some parking near the canal, Old No3 pub layby and a layby near Dunham Fisheries, virtually next to the canal bridge, again Google maps is your friend.
If you think you may do Dane Road stretch give me a shout and I'll do a recce for you, I'm in Sale Moor most weekends visiting the inlaws
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I'm not sure you will get the same satisfaction from spoon fed locations, even if people are willing to give them up. If it's a road trip just get out there and see what you find. There is plenty of information on clubs and stretches that can be fished if you take the time to do a bit of research.
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In reply to Post #4
That is a shame, I will want to catch carp. But this will be more about getting away from busy overfilled lakes chocked full of bivvy dwellers watching love island whilst tic tocing and getting out there to see what else we have on offer in England.
Birmingham looks to have loads of canals and plenty of free water, don't suppose anyone would give up a certain area to look at?
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In reply to Post #3
Thanks for the info too π
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In reply to Post #3
Ahh, small world! I was brought south when I was 12, it was like my world ended at the time ππ.
Up there, my neighbour used to take me to lymm (sp) dam he'd fish for pike but I'd talk to the crazy men under little umbrellas and roll out mats and as a young kid growing up in quite a dump I thought that outdoor life was a bit of me, and so it began π. Would have probably been '83/84.
My neighbour would lend me a few bits to get started and I'd be off up and down the cut on my bike. Used to try for the carp, but I thought they were uncatchable so used to fish for what ever would eat my crust.
Looks like Warrington Anglers run the canal now, so the end destination is sorted.
I'll start somewhere on the Basingstoke canal, it's just finding a few stops between them and sorting tickets or free stretches for a night or two.
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If they are like ours around here, they have been decimated by Eastern Europeans, Otters and fish thieves. No longer the carp filled Eutopia's of my youth.
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In reply to Post #1
The Bridgewater, where it all started for me in the 80's, not far from Timperley, the Dane road stretch  The old NAA matches.
Used to be some very special fish in the general area (Not there) for the time, high 30 Carp and low 30 Pike.
Would you believe about 10 years ago I went back to a place I knew used to hold a big Pike in winter and in the very same spot I hooked a very big Pike, but sadly lost it, was it the same one, or one of it's off spring...hmm...still want to go back and see.
Lymm Anglers have a canal card. The C&R trust ticket is worth it for none club leased river and canals, Angling Direct have/had discounted membership.
I used to live in Sale but I've moved further out toward Middlewich now, some good fishing on the canals around here. I used to work in Runcorn and there's some good canal fishing around there. Made me laugh, they said it was a bit hush hush, but the hawthorns other side of the path had perfectly semi circular bivvy holes cut into them
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In reply to Post #1
I would start here
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/
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I've watched a lot on YouTube on fishing around the canals in Europe and it has lit up a bit of a fire for me to explore our canals on a bit of a road trip down to memory lane.
But I have no idea where to start.
Being based in Portsmouth, there aren't many options near me, so I fancy working out my own UK road trip focused only on canals getting as far north as the Bridgewater canal on the stretch in West Timperley near the tram station where I caught my very first fish (assuming it's fishable)
Anyone have any pointers or tips on areas and clubs that have lots of canals for me to explore online and any to avoid?
Thanks
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