Grand Union Canal, Leighton Buzzard

The canal is a unique prospect compared to lake fishing, because you can be fishing for the relatively unknown. The Leighton stretch is long, but each section between locks is its own venue with little families of carp in each, so much so, that you often catch the same residents.

It important to fish the canal early in the morning because this is when the boat traffic is at an all time low. You rarely see a boat early morning and it can often be the best time for a bite also.

Travel light, as it will often require a lot of walking to keep on the fish and locate them. One of the best methods in summertime is to travel with a bucket of floaters and tackle to allow you to freeline. Ensure you have a loaf of bread too because this can be a great hook bait to freeline with as it is heavy and allows you to cast it better than a biscuit hook bait.

Walk the canal spreading floaters, stand and watch the stretch for signs of fish feeding. These aren’t pressured fish so literally stick your bait in its mouth and it’ll normally have it. This is also a great method to work out what fish are in the stretch and if it’s worth you targeting.

On days where you are not fishing, it can pay to go for a bike ride or dog walk along the canal, this way you will never stop learning and may stumble across a few more fish.