The 5oz Section Win: Trauma, Tactics, and Tough Canals
Bit late putting up the match low-down from Sunday, but it's taken me a few days to get over the trauma! LOL. In all truth, it was great to be back out with the lads, even though we knew the conditions were against us from the off.
The Draw & The Venue
As this is a pairs match, there are two hats to draw from—a totally random draw. I pulled Peg 9 at Shardlow, while my partner Jacob drew Peg 26 at Swingbridge. With all the recent rain, both canals were carrying a lot of colour—Swingbridge was especially bad, looking more like "builders tea" and really pushing through.
Shardlow is actually a lovely, picturesque venue. It was once a major inland port and is quite a tourist spot in the summer. The canal has nice easy access and the towpath isn't too narrow, which makes a change!
Peg 9 is just below Dobson's Boat Yard, sitting just outside what is usually the "hot" area. I had a moored boat to my right and one across from me at 11m. There was also a boardwalk across at 13m, giving me plenty of "features" that could hold a fish or two.
The Plan of Attack
I kept it simple to avoid over-feeding in the cold:
The Bread Line: Up and down the "slop" (top kit plus two). Simple punch over my Spiced Canal Crumb.
The Groundbait Line: A mix of Van Den Eynde Superblack & Mole Hill Soil. I cupped this down the peg and around 11m, hoping to draw fish up into the peg.
The Perch Line: Looking for a bonus under the boat and the boardwalk across.
The Reality Check
By midday, it was grim. The boat yard was fishing ok but where we were there was 'Not a knock, not a liner'. Reports coming in from Swingbridge were even worse—total silence. Then, while on the phone with a teammate, the float finally did the disappearing act.
When you're on such light electrics and fine gear, even a small skimmer can give you the run-around! I was all over the shop trying to net it, but after a bit of "show-boating" to worry the others, I finally netted it and slipped it into the keepnet. 'Slide On!'
That one fish was enough to secure a Section Win with 5oz! Swingbridge was brutal, with only 3 fish caught in the entire section. Jacob unfortunately blanked, but he wasn't alone. It's a reminder that winter fishing is just plain tough.
My Tips: Fishing in "Builders Tea"
When the water is this coloured, your presentation needs to change:
1. Movement Over Stealth
Light rigs are still required, but not because the fish are "line shy"—they can't see the rig anyway! You need movement so that any fish close by spots the bait falling through the water.
2. The Power of Spice
In these conditions, groundbaits like my Spiced Canal Crumb come into their own. Spices are legendary attractors; they disperse well in cold water, creating a scent trail for fish to home in on when they can't see. The light-coloured cloud gives them a visual target once they get close. With next to no food content in the mix, they are forced to snaffle your hook bait.
3. The "Lure" Method for Perch
I keep it simple: finely chopped dendrobaenas placed with a small bait dropper or cupped in with Mole Hill Soil to leave a scent trail.
The Tactic: Flick the rig out and hold the line tight as it falls. This acts like a lure; if a Perch is nearby, they'll often snatch at it before it even settles.
Warning: This can attract big Perch (and the odd Bream), so make sure your gear is strong enough to control them if you're fishing tight against a boat or other features like moorings etc!
Next round: As the league is run on a rotation the next round will see me on Swingbridge and Jacob at Shardlow. Just hope the conditions are a lot better and there's some fish to be caught!
