GUC fishing & fish

[Clive_Rigden]

We're planning an extended cruise on the Grand Union Canal and perhaps the River Lee, and intend to live off what we catch. Needless to say, we can hardly contain our excitment . . .
We shall be onboard an horse-drawn barge (another mouth to feed!) and will have the usual collection of cruising fishing gear - fly fishing rods, game fishing rods & line, Walker trailing log, Semtex and a marinized electro-magnet.
Does anyone have any (useful) tips on what we may expect to catch and serious (please!) suggestions on how we should go about it - ie. what equipment for what cartch &c.
Incidentally, SWMBO is allegic to Fray Bentos and pilchards.

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[Althorne]

I doubt you'll need much in the way of anything if you are going to "eat what you catch". You'll be dead after the first meal from anything caught so it won't matter. However if you decide to "eat out" you may need a shotgun for when you pass all the gypsiy sites or when their kids come visiting, wanted or unwanted.
Enjoy your cruise.

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[Clive_Rigden]

That's encouraging; it's very much the local colour and customs we're after. Will a flare do instead of a shotgun? I do have a hunting horn incase of fog.

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[ChrisE]

Sadly, I spent a fair proportion of my formative years fishing said canal. The short answer is not a lot although some areas notably near the reservoirs at Tring and the Hemel Hempstead areas do have a fair head of fish notably carp.

If I was going to fish there I'd take a long light rod (possibly a roach pole), use lines about 2lb bs, float tackle and small hooks 18 or less for general stuff (you might catch roach, gudgeon, bream and the odd chub). Use maggots for bait and fish your bait right on the bottom. For the carp, I'd use heavier gear 5lb+ ledger rig and luncheon meat or boilies (if you don't know what bolies are ask at a tackle shop, they have a bewildering array)

Oh and I forgot some areas of the canal are alive with crayfish which can be caught a bit like crabs with a bit of fish or meat on string lowered near a deepish bit of bank.

Best of luck.

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[ChrisE]

Oh and as posted above at least a howitzer to keep off the pointy headed locals.

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[Clive_Rigden]

Very useful advice Chris - thank you.

Some points:
Where can I get charts for Tring & Hemel Hempstead (I may have an out of date one for St.Albans)?
Will the roach pole frighten the horse?
I've known some pretty odd chub in my time . . .
Bait my bottom with maggots? I hope I've got that wromg.
The carp advice should be good for SWMBO too - thanks!
Do I know what boilies are? DO I ! How do you think I got maggots on my bottom . . .
It's funny; the last time I had my meat out on a bit of string by the canal I caught crabs too. Ahem !

As for the luck - I'll need it !



<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[Twister_Ken]

Suggest trawling

A stout net attached to a beam and towed a few metres behind the boat will do well.

You can expect to catch eels, fridges, chub, bike frames, roach, supermarket trollies, perch, road cones, pike and Freddy Fingers Flanagan - complete with concrete wellies.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Clive_Rigden]

Re: Suggest trawling

Spose we'd better take a claymore too . . .

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[bob_tyler]

Re: Suggest trawling

Dynamite. Might blow a hole in the canal, drain it off and let you pick what you want from the mud.

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[Clive_Rigden]

Re: Suggest trawling

I like it - might also fiind an old bicycle to get home on . . .

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber

 

[Cotillion]

What's going on. Recently there has been posts about all sorts of fishing. Fly fishing, Ban Fishing and now Guc Fishing. I've no idea what the last two entail, but a friend who was on his fourteenth pint recounted a fly fishing trip where he caught a rather large moth. Doesn't anybody fish for fish anymore? What are Bans and Gucs anyway.

Confused.

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[Althorne]

In truth Clive it should be nice but I would only think about eating anything that came from waters well out of London. Wouldn't fancy any of the concrete jungle for cruising anyway.
Used to be on the Grand Union myself 35 years ago and came into Regents park and similar places regularly. These days the parts outside the big city are fine and very beautiful. Lower parts of the Lee are forgettable though.
Enjoy it.

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[BlueChip]

Close near where I live, there is a pub beside the GU canal at Marsworth where the fish are very tame. There will be several hundred all at least 12-15" long waiting for you to pass. Suggest you carry a spear and a freezer - should keep you going for a few months. Dont know what they are - may be inedible for all I know.


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[Clive_Rigden]

That's why I've got the Semtex.

<hr width=100% size=1>Khyber