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0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #21 17 Jan 2026 at 8.28am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #20
Yeah everyone has been really helpful with suggestions and advice so far ðŸ‘.

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 😀.
Karlos
Posts: 13730
Karlos
MODERATOR
   Old Thread  #20 16 Jan 2026 at 11.31pm  1  Login    Register
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'
kells
Posts: 5716
kells
   Old Thread  #19 16 Jan 2026 at 10.56am  0  Login    Register
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..
Greekskii
Posts: 3347
Greekskii
   Old Thread  #18 16 Jan 2026 at 7.50am  0  Login    Register
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.
framey
Posts: 5106
framey
   Old Thread  #17 15 Jan 2026 at 5.44pm  1  Login    Register
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
808
Posts: 156
   Old Thread  #16 15 Jan 2026 at 4.27pm  1  Login    Register
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.
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #15 15 Jan 2026 at 2.49pm  1  Login    Register
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
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #14 15 Jan 2026 at 2.44pm  2  Login    Register
😂😂

London isn't on the list for certain.


RKB
Posts: 1597
   Old Thread  #13 15 Jan 2026 at 12.15pm  1  Login    Register
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.
AideyKaye
Posts: 954
   Old Thread  #12 15 Jan 2026 at 12.07pm  0  Login    Register
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.
Karlos
Posts: 13730
Karlos
MODERATOR
   Old Thread  #11 15 Jan 2026 at 10.30am  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #10


Maybe avoid London then
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #10 15 Jan 2026 at 9.58am  1  Login    Register
In reply to Post #8
Agreed, I just don't want to end up in an inner city war zone 😂😂
vossy1
Posts: 7912
vossy1
MODERATOR
   Old Thread  #9 15 Jan 2026 at 8.26am  1  Login    Register
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
Beyonce
Posts: 1587
   Old Thread  #8 15 Jan 2026 at 7.50am  1  Login    Register
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.
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #7 15 Jan 2026 at 7.30am  0  Login    Register
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?
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #6 15 Jan 2026 at 7.22am  1  Login    Register
In reply to Post #3
Thanks for the info too ðŸ‘
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #5 15 Jan 2026 at 7.20am  0  Login    Register
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 😂😂.

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 🙂. 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.





808
Posts: 156
   Old Thread  #4 15 Jan 2026 at 5.26am  0  Login    Register
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.
vossy1
Posts: 7912
vossy1
MODERATOR
   Old Thread  #3 15 Jan 2026 at 0.00am  0  Login    Register
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
framey
Posts: 5106
framey
   Old Thread  #2 14 Jan 2026 at 8.43pm  0  Login    Register
In reply to Post #1
I would start here

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/
0nslow
Posts: 1242
0nslow
   Old Thread  #1 14 Jan 2026 at 8.10pm  0  Login    Register
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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