Carp Fishing Near Me | Canal venues with big carp
If you like a challenge when you go fishing then there will be nothing better to you than going out to your local canal or river and trying some carp fishing. To help you in your pursuit of carpiness we’ve decided to put together a list of great canal venues where you are likely to catch a carp from.
North
Bridgewater Canal, Leigh, Lancs
This North-West canal holds its fair share of twenties. The basin at Mather Lane, Astley wide and the boats at Agden are known spots. The Kraft Arm controlled by Warrington AA is also a carp hotspot.
Contact: Leigh Tackle, 01942 604125
Prices: £2.50 a day on the bank, Leigh DAA, Kraft arm is £20 a year, Warrington AA
Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Bingley, W Yorks
Few anglers fish this stretch of canal and those who do are matchmen targeting the bream, meaning the big carp to over 20lb which are known to reside here are left untouched.
Contact: WH Kershaw, 01274 595574
Prices: £2.50 from WH Kershaw, Bingley AC
Rochdale Canal, Todmorden, W Yorks
The club hold regular matches here which see the odd big carp banked from time to time but few anglers actually target them making this a potential untapped carpy goldmine.
Contact: 01706 639373, Todmorden AS
Prices: £36 a year, Todmorden AS,
Sheffield Canal, Sheffield, S Yorks
The free ‘Plumpers’ stretch at Tinsley is one of the country’s best canal carp hotspots. Anglers here boast catches of up to six or seven fish per session on baits like pellet or corn on the Method or pole.
Contact: Billy Clarke Tackle, 0114 255 1145
Prices: Free fishing
Shropshire Union Canal, Chester, Cheshire
The L shaped basin and the section of cut running off it is full of carp to over 20lb, making it popular amongst local carpers.
Contact: Chester Tackle Locker 01244 345069
Prices: Part of the £20 a year Canal & Rivers Trust Waterway Wanderers Scheme
Trent & Mersey Canal, Northwich, Cheshire
Anderton Marina and the Saltesford Wide stretch are well worth a look as this area of canal can often produce multiple hits of fish in a session.
Contact: Northwich AA, 01270 662487
Prices: £5 a day from Vale Royal Angling, Northwich AA
MIDLANDS
Ashby Canal, Hinckley, Leics
Trinity Marina contains a big head of carp so fishing at the marina entrance (you are not permitted to fish within it) will provide you with the chance of enticing them out and banking fish to over 20lb.
Contact: JD Tackle Supplies 01455 633069
Prices: Part of the £20 a year Canal & River Trust Waterway Wanderers Scheme
Grand Union Canal, Northampton, Northants
The canal arm at Gayton Marina is worth a try for carp as the marina itself holds fish to nearly 30lb. These fish leave the sanctuary of the marina during periods of low light.
Contact: Northampton Nene AC, 01604 761173
Prices: £5 on the bank, Northampton Nene AC,
Shropshire Union Canal, Pendeford, W Mids
A match record of 107lb was taken here by an angler catching just 13 carp! Fish below the lock using baits like pellets and boilies and you shouldn’t go far wrong.
Contact: Ian’s Tackle, 01785 715744
Prices: £2.50 from Ians Tackle, Wolverhampton AA
Stratford Canal, Lowsonford, Warks
Renowned urban carp angler Alan Blair recently showed the capability of the carp fishing on the Stratford cut in his Urban Banx series of films catching high doubles and odd fish over 20lb.
Contact: Alcester Sports & Tackle 01789 762200
Prices: Part of the £20 a year Canal & River Trust Waterway Wanderers Scheme
Trent & Mersey Canal, Derby, Derbys
The Shardlow area has produced a fair few specimen carp in recent years. Carp up to 20lbs are frequently caught in the area below Swarkstone locks.
Contact: Fisher Mania, 01332 752500
Prices: £25 a year canal only ticket, Pride of Derby AA
SOUTH
Basingstoke Canal, Ash Vale, Hants
A carpy hotspot Ash Vale
Contact: The Creel Aldershot 01252 320871
Prices: £4 on the bank, Basingstoke Canal AA
Exeter Ship Canal, Exeter, Devon
The Lime Kilns section of canal and Turf Locks marina is not just a bream and tench water as carp to a staggering 40lb have been landed off the record.
Contact: Exeter Angling Centre 01392 435591
Prices: £5 from Exeter Angling Centre, Exeter AA
Grand Union Canal, Ivinghoe, Beds
The Luton Angling Club stretches are renowned for their excellent carp sport and they arent many better in the UK than the area around Ivinghoe boats.
Contact: Luton AC, 077044 62635
Prices: £5 on the bank, Luton AC
Grand Union Canal, Little Venice, London
Big carp hide amongst the moored boats here so the trick is to find a gap and feed tight to the barges. Big carp are also rumoured to exist on the canal around Camley Street Nature Reserve near Kings Cross.
Contact: First Tackle, 02084 557778
Prices: Part of the £20 a year Canal & River Trust Waterway Wanderers Scheme
Grand Union Canal, Marsworth, Herts
Another known carp hotspot on this waterway; the locks area at Marsworth holds some monster fish which can be stalked by fishing tight to features like boats or the locks themselves.
Contact: Tring Anglers, 077961 78313
Prices: £5 on the bank, Tring Anglers
Royal Military Canal, Hythe, Kent
A known big fish canal, the Ladies Walk area holds some huge fish to near 30lb. In the past they have been caught by imitating the bread which is fed to the ducks. Try a washed out white mainline cell boilie.
Contact: Cinque Ports AS, 01303 891450
Prices: £5 on the bank, Cinque Ports AS