Basingstoke Canal's Bottom Flash Is Stuffed With Bream

One of the few stretches of canal where the traditional closed season still stands, the Basingstoke Canal at Bottom Flash in Aldershot is now open once again and anglers have been returning to this unique water to enjoy some excellent bream nets.

Pleasure anglers can easily catch 40lb of slabs on a good day here and due to its width of nearly 120ft, it is one of the few areas of canal where boat traffic is irrelevant. With this in mind the bream tend to shoal up as do the specimen carp which are in here in good numbers and have been previously caught over 30lb by specimen hunters. As this venue can be night-fished at weekends it makes for an exciting prospect for carp anglers looking for a change of scenery. As for the silverfish, there are also good bags of roach to be had on the maggot or caster with fish to 1.5lb in good numbers. Of course hemp and bread may also be worth trying for the bigger stamp fish, however, most anglers who visit the venue, tend to opt for the groundbait or micro pellet feeder for the bream. The depth in the middle is around 6ft and it is here where the bream tend to sit. They can be caught using worm, pellet or corn on the hook with a sweet groundbait mix or softened micro pellets in or on the feeder whichever you prefer.

Whilst the fishing is already fairly prolific here the club are try to re-stock the venue with more silverfish to improve things further and anglers who visit the venue can seek further advice on the fishing from either of the club bailiffs who patrol the banks.

Tip: A pellet feeder can often outscore a standard groundbait one during the summer months

Prices: £4 on the bank or £3 from local tackle shops Basingstoke Canal AA

Contact: Fisheries Officer, Steve Meyer, 07786 663921, www.basingstokecanalaa.co.uk

Location: Basingstoke Canal Great Bottom Flash, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Surrey, GU12 5LP

Rules: Barbless hooks only, no carp in keepnets