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WHERE TO FISH<br />
NORTH<br />
SPOTLIGHT<br />
ON PROLIFIC<br />
LINDHOLME,<br />
LAKES<br />
P14<br />
MIDLANDS<br />
WHERE TO<br />
CATCH CARP<br />
ON YOUR<br />
LOCAL CANAL<br />
P18<br />
16 PAGES OF THE MOST IN-FORM STILLWATERS AND CANALS<br />
FISHERY<br />
OF THE WEEK<br />
MOIRA CANAL,<br />
SWADLINCOTE,<br />
LEICS<br />
WELCOME<br />
TO THE UK’S<br />
LONGEST<br />
SNAKE-LAKE<br />
...where 40lb is possible right now<br />
W<br />
EAVING through a quiet<br />
Leicestershire village<br />
is one of angling’s best<br />
kept secrets... the<br />
Moira Canal.<br />
In the early<br />
1800s this historic<br />
waterway was a<br />
Mixed nets are on<br />
the cards from the<br />
current form pegs.<br />
working passage for the nearby<br />
Moira Iron Furnace but it is now<br />
more commonly known as the<br />
longest snake lake in the UK.<br />
Boasting nearly two miles of<br />
locked-in water, the canal boasts<br />
dozens of features including a<br />
deep track-line, numerous<br />
basins and an array of reed beds<br />
and underwater vegetation that<br />
provide a superb habitat for the<br />
resident fish.<br />
And what fish they are – with<br />
stunning roach, bream, tench and<br />
carp – most of which have never<br />
seen a hook before.<br />
Right now 40lb nets of these are<br />
being caught, but how can you<br />
catch them? Well, the first key lies<br />
in the location.<br />
FIRST, FIND YOUR FISH<br />
This being a canal cut off at both<br />
ends the fish stocks have limited<br />
space to roam, so finding a few<br />
bites isn’t necessarily diffcult.<br />
On the other hand there are<br />
certain areas of the canal that are<br />
flyers. The water is monitored<br />
by a bailiff and his knowledge is<br />
paramount and should be sought<br />
before you set up. Typically the<br />
bream and roach can be found in<br />
most areas but prefer the middle<br />
reaches. On the other hand the<br />
tench and carp love the open<br />
water found in the basins, and<br />
these should be targeted if you<br />
want to catch the largest of the<br />
fish in here.<br />
PLAN OF ATTACK<br />
As on most canals most of the fish<br />
can be found along the deep track<br />
line or in the far-bank margins –<br />
and the same can be said here.<br />
Start by feeding two balls of<br />
groundbait at 10m but make<br />
sure some of your hookbaits are<br />
included in your groundbait as<br />
well. Corn, maggots, breadpunch,<br />
caster and chopped worm work<br />
superbly on the hook here so it<br />
pays to lace your groundbait with<br />
these additives.<br />
WHILE YOU’RE THERE...<br />
THE Moira Furnace Museum is just<br />
a few feet from the canal and is<br />
well worth a visit if you’re into your<br />
history. Here you’ll discover the<br />
importance of the canal and local<br />
tramways and railways during the<br />
Industrial Revolution. You’ll learn<br />
12 APRIL 26, 2016
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