Midlands Zander

[Dave Smith]

Question more for the West Midlands based Anglers. I know that Zander are in most of the Midlands Canals. But is anyone aware if they've managed to populate the BCN network of Canals. I'm thinking Daw End, Rushall, Walsall, Tame Valley wryley and Easington etc. Not looking for locations, and at this moment in time I'm yet to decide if I'm going to cast a line for them... just interested to know if they're there... feel free to PM if you'd rather.

Ben and Bailiffs sorry if this breaches the locations policy I've kept it as vague as I can but feel free to delete of you feel the need.

[ecko]

I'm not from there but water fowl forage in all the waters spreading fertalized fish eggs from water to water.
I think it is more a guestion iff the population is big enough /rewarding for fishing it, and the ones who know are not going to tell i supose.

[Dave Smith]

Ecko, you probably right. I'm not too worried about fishing it. I'm just interested to know if they're present. I live a 2 minute walk from the canal and apart from the odd "pleasure" angler you hardly see anyone fishing it. So there's not much opportunity to ask the guys on the bank.

[Christian97]

I'm from the West Midlands and I've never heard of any zander in the local canals but would be happy to be proved wrong.

[Dave Smith]

Christian97, I know they're in the Fazeley which I guess would be their natural passage into the Tame Valley and from there the rest of the North BCN There's a few locks granted but I doubt they're anything that couldn't be negotiated.

Might have to put a couple of livies out and see what happens!

[Ovi]

Trent and Mersey canal, from Fradley to Burton and Coventry canal from From Fradley all the way.

[Dave Smith]

Yeah, the Fazeley comes off the Cov. And heads into Brum then it joins the Tame Valley but to the best of my knowledge they're not in there, certainly not in any numbers.

They're also in the Oxford, Ashby and obviously GU and
I think the Staffs/Worcester, they're all connected to the BCN in some way.

[Neil_M]

Hi Dave, I was going to suggest that they're in the Fazeley (after speaking with a guy jig fly fishing there a few months back) but you've already mentioned that. I've not caught any myself but as the rivers are all up I might try the canal for a change.

[Fentiger01]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

[Mike J]

It is normal for the largest fish to pioneer new waters first simply because they can withstand greater temp ranges, their size allows them to go without food for longer periods, and the distinct advantage of being first to a new food source for contunued survival of a species.

With the water so close I would not be asking.

.

[Steve C]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Surely the Barrett book already covers what can be written ?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/474 ... er-fishing

[Fentiger01]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Surely the Barrett book already covers what can be written ?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/474 ... er-fishing

Although a good book, the canal section only covered about half a page iirc. There's much more could be written by a dedicated Canal specialist.

Locations, tactics such as baits or lures, results, approach to fishing them, canal Zed history, who's doing/done what etc,....

I think it's an area ripe for someone to pop up above the parapet and offer an insight into a great section of the sport Steve.

There's some pretty serious lure specialists been working them for a lot of years now.

[Steve C]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Surely the Barrett book already covers what can be written ?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/474 ... er-fishing

Although a good book, the canal section only covered about half a page iirc. There's much more could be written by a dedicated Canal specialist.

Locations, tactics such as baits or lures, results, approach to fishing them, canal Zed history, who's doing/done what etc,....

I think it's an area ripe for someone to pop up above the parapet and offer an insight into a great section of the sport Steve.

There's some pretty serious lure specialists been working them for a lot of years now.

I've not got the book Dave - I was tempted some years ago but I like to figure things out and ' discover' as best I can what works, when, how etc etc. on the places I fish.

I think you are right, supported by my own observations too, that lure angling techniques for Zeds have come on leaps and bounds. I'm personally still very much a bait angler - at the moment

[Fentiger01]

I spent a fair bit of time a few years ago dabbling with both lure fishing and bait fishing for Zander on the Midland canals Steve and learned some interesting stuff about them. There is a lot of water to cover and some interesting fishing to be had but I'd love to read some proper stuff that a serious canal specialist might have to say on the topic.

Dom Garnett wrote a small chapter on Zeds in his canal book but again, it didn't really do more than scratch at the surface of it.

[Dave Smith]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Think its John Glover thats writing the Canal Zed Book

[Mike J]

I was culling Zander in the '80's and never used bait.
Lure colour, available light and being active were the keys to success.

The big fish I knew about (returned) rarely moved from a small location and would only take one very specific bait but never a lure after their first capture.



.

[Fentiger01]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Think its John Glover thats writing the Canal Zed Book

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L6nohstcxsg

50/50 and I picked the wrong name Dave.

Got there in the end bud.

[Steve C]

I'm sure I heard a year or two ago, that a Midlands Canal Zander specialist (Mark PB?) was working on a book on Canal Zandering?

Great idea to me and I'd definitely be snapping up a copy. Anyone else heard anything in this regard?

Think its John Glover thats writing the Canal Zed Book

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L6nohstcxsg

50/50 and I picked the wrong name Dave.

Got there in the end bud.

I enjoyed the watch

I feel for those who's local waters are being electrofished to remove the Zeds

Interesting view on the cause of cheek scaring - I have it in my head that these scars are the result of aggressive fish defending the 'nests' from other Zeds, but could well be from rooting around for food

[Fentiger01]

Eric Weight's blog is a great read if you're interested in lure fishing the shallow Midland canals for Zeds.
http://www.artificial-lite.co.uk/

[Don’tTellEmYourName]

Zander are on my target list. One day maybe

[Harper]

Iv spent quite a lot of time on the canals around Walsall,Wolverhampton,Stafford area but never heard of any zander coming out.

[Fentiger01]

Zander are on my target list. One day maybe

Do it mate, you'll never look back.

[Don’tTellEmYourName]

Zander are on my target list. One day maybe

Do it mate, you'll never look back.

Cheers, I’ve mainly sea fished and a little fly fishing for Trout. 2021 is going to be a species hunt and I’m hoping to try to catch as many different species as I can. Caught some nice Pike this year and that’s got the enthusiasm cranked up.

[Fentiger01]

Zander are on my target list. One day maybe

Do it mate, you'll never look back.

Cheers, I’ve mainly sea fished and a little fly fishing for Trout. 2021 is going to be a species hunt and I’m hoping to try to catch as many different species as I can. Caught some nice Pike this year and that’s got the enthusiasm cranked up.

Sounds good mate. I've had many enjoyable sessions on the Midland Canals. They're great Zander venues.

[dropped_run]

Eric Weight's blog is a great read if you're interested in lure fishing the shallow Midland canals for Zeds.
http://www.artificial-lite.co.uk/

I wish Eric would write more. He is absolutely brilliant. Some great info on there as well

Love the new profile pic Dave

[Fentiger01]

His blog stuff is ace James, really really good. Eric's stuff would make for a fabulous book for sure!

[spincityfan]

Was Eric the one who wrote a Zander canal article in Pike and Preds magazine?

[Fentiger01]

Not sure Spin but it wouldn't surprise me if he had. The best bit about his blogs for me, was the way he and his mates constantly experimented with their approach, even using poles to help them reach and present artificials to fish in likely looking spots.

I did quite a bit of very light lure fishing on these canals a few years ago, taking tips from Eric's work as well as other sources. I managed a good few Zeds on tiny Crank's and shads, including two sixes of 6.0 & 6.2 which were really nice fish for the canal. However, I noticed a bit of a change immediately after I started bait-fishing the same waters.

Biggest I've seen on a Midland Canal came during an LAS match and went 9.6oz falling to drop-shot. Mega-fish that one.