Pole Craft
Working a canal swim with the pole is very much a case of keeping your options open and trying various areas or ‘lines with different rigs and baits. Effective pole anglers rarely put all their eggs in one basket, and instead use different lengths of pole to find the fish and explore alternatives. By trickling bait accurately into two or more areas, the angler can quickly switch to find the fish. The next bite could arrive right on the far shelf of the canal, slap bang down the middle or indeed just off the keepnet on the near bank. The best pole anglers on canals are experts at juggling different options to make the most from one swim or ‘peg’.
On busy canals, it is good practice to ship and store pole sections and top kits parallel to the bank, rather than onto the path where they might be damaged. A pole roller helps assist with shipping, as well as keeping precious pole sections raised where they won’t get chipped or dirty.
Voorne Canal Fishing Photo Gallery
While a top match angler might try up to half a dozen different ‘lines in a session, the easiest option for the pleasure angler is to start with just a couple of alternatives. For example, fishing light and close in for roach and perch on one line, while also feeding the far bank to try later for bigger fish such as bream and tench. Even if you’re only fishing for fun, it’s useful to have a plan B in case your first area doesn’t work or bites slow down.
A range of different baits and rigs makes perfect sense for the pole angler, who might start the session catching small roach on pinkies but might later switch to fishing casters or worms further out to add bigger ‘bonus fish to the catch. The skill is in knowing how to get the best out of the swim, feeding carefully and doing everything methodically and accurately.
The Right Moves
One of the biggest advantages of pole fishing is the sheer control and delicacy involved. There is simply no cuter way of positioning and manipulating a baited rig. Consider the difference, for example, between a waggler or feeder splashing down in shallow water; or a fine pole rig, gently lowered into position. Which is most likely to touch down in the exact spot every time, without scaring the fish?
