stevetheangler

Monday, 18th November, Liz and I set off for a couple of hours lure fishing our club’s stretch of the local Shropshire Union Canal (aka The Shroppy) setting off from home at around 0930 and arriving at 1030’ish… and after a walk up to the area at which we intended to start our fishing and tackling up we made first casts at around 1115…

Tackle: both rods used were Okuma ‘G-Force 240’ lure rods – 2.40 metre (7ft 10.5in) rated to be fished with 10g-30g lures, reels were Okuma Electrons loaded with 15th braid terminated with 6” wire spinning traces.

Lures: Liz elected to fish her favourite spinner – a Shakespeare ‘Devil’s Own’ 7g bladed spinner in fish scale patterning whilst I elected to jig with small paddle tailed jellies with jig heads of around 4g.

The canal was quite clear with the slightest colouration due to the rain that we’d had – boats were moored up as usual on the far bank at the start of the stretch but our fishing started beyond those and no boat traffic passed at all during our session.

We walked for an hour up the stretch (the stretch is 1.2 miles in length so less than halfway in reality) casting around in likely looking places without joy … and indeed with some sorrow as I snagged on some overhanging brambles which objected to releasing my lure and thus it ended up with me snapping off and retackling.

After a short rest for a couple of cups of coffee we headed back down to the car… again fishing our way back … and I again lost another lure AND Liz lost one of hers spinners… and again, a biteless walk.

Usually we walk to the furthest point at which we are to fish and then fish our way back – that way we fish more water as the walk out is easier and as the back muscles are less tired its easier on the body on the return trip.

I also discovered, when replacing lost lures, that most of the jig heads I was carrying were too heavy for the job in hand for the shallow waters of a canal and that I need to sort that out for the next visit.

The canal looked very nice and I’m planning a return trip – probably early in the New Year now due to the time constraints of the season – with the float/light leger rods fishing with worm and maggot, chiefly for the quality perch and chub that exist in the stretch along with others…