In message , Derek.Moody
writes
In article , Steve Walker
wrote:
In message , Derek.Moody
writes
In article , David Comber
wrote:
Can anyone point me in the right direction?! I am new to fly fishing and
would like advise on where I can participate in this sport.

It used to be possible to take fish on fly from the clear-water sections of
the canal between the MSC and Worseley. Canals are often OK flyfishing
waters but in the city there will be too many people (and obstructions) for
a safe back cast :-(

There used to be a spot on the canal at Scout's Green near to Mossley
where you could catch small brown trout. Loads of the buggers, mostly in
the fast, shallow water of a filled in and overgrown lock. The open
water was only a foot or two wide, I used to fish it with a little stick
float and a 6' canal quivertip rod.

Well, I was assuming he'd be catching chub and roach on dry-fly and
practically anything (but mostly ruffe and perch) on wets...

I thought he'd just got the wrong group. I keep meaning to have a bash
at fly fishing for coarse fish myself, though. The local stretch of the
Thames has chub which rise freely for crust, and some of the club gravel
pits fish well for perch on lures. I think both could be quite
productive to fly tactics.

The section (from Stalybridge to Greenfield) has now been reopened to
boat traffic, and the lock restored, so they may have gone. There were
some great sections of canal along that whole length, with weird little
pockets of fish enclosed by derelict locks. It was all shallow due to
silting, and much of it had extensive vegetation. There was one section
where you could trot for chub where the flow came out from under the
road through a culvert. Another section had shoals of substantial bream
and tench. You could often see the bream during the day, but they
wouldn't take. Fishing in the evening, close to the snags with a pole, I
caught loads of tench and bream, both averaging about 3-4lb. It was also
an excellent section for catching pike on sink and draw deadbaits.

I once met a chap who specialised on flyfishing canals for pike. He claimed
to do very well and had photo's to prove it. The OP says he's a beginner so
he'd be better tackling fish that'll take a much smaller fly until he has a
bit of experience. Casting a wire mounted #4/0 requires practice.

Wouldn't fancy removing a 4/0 from the back of my neck )

I wonder where all the fish are now that the locks are open and they can
move more freely?

They must still be in there somewhere.

For sure. Trouble is, "somewhere" is now somewhat larger! I suspect the
tench won't have gone far, but bream are well known for wandering. The
chub were where they were because of the peculiar little habitat; much
the sort of swim you would expect to find them in on a river.

I was on a narrowboat a couple of
months back and standing on the bow it was easy to spot the ripples made by
large fish vacating the the track as we approached. If you have access to
the bank it might be worth blagging a trip up one of the sections you fish
and marking off the spots as you disturb them - maybe drop a nice big ball
of groundbait in at the same time and come back at dusk or first light the
next day.

Ah, I haven't lived there for a few years now. I still have a lot of
family in the area, though, and keep meaning to take my gear and give
the River Tame a go. Last time I fished it (about 6 or 7 years ago) it
was crawling with 3-4oz chub recently stocked by the EA. Some of those
must be a good size by now.

--
Steve Walker