The Northampton sections of the Grand Union Canal offers some of the best canal fishing in the midlands throughout the year but comes into it's own from late September onwards, when the heavy boat traffic subsides. With this years National being early September, returns should still be good. I'll try and give an Idea of how I would tackle this Canal in September, please bare in mind this is a long stretch and to cover all sections I could fill a book. So to keep it simple I'll just look at how I would catch a Kilo plus from all sections. That's me and a crayfish on the left, caught at Grafton Regis trees, but they don't count!

The one golden rule on this canal is get your head round the boats, because if you don't, you're beaten already! I was told many years ago the boats are there before you get to your peg there'll be there when you've gone and there'll certainly be there while your fishing, the fish are used to it, so sort a method to catch with boats going up and down the canal. Period.

If you have fished Milton Keynes sections, then this is much the same but with more bonus fish and not always on noted pegs. The mixed net of fish on the right consists of 111 fish in 3 hours for over 8lb. this will give you top 3 in virtually all sections come match day and even the Skimmers were caught while fishing for Roach. At the foot of this page are two thumbnails one a cross section and another my pattern choice. Now to the fishing! Being a positive minded angler my inside line in summer is generally no more then 2mtrs. out, but if I was fishing the National depending where I drew I might just opt for a line at the bottom of the near shelf, which you should be able to keep alive all match and nick odd fish throughout. If not on a feature peg I would have a line down the middle and feed either caster or big maggot and use this as my throw away line as it has a one in five chance of throwing up a big fish or two and when there's a lull in boat traffic it's always worth a look. As for across, feature pegs take care of them self (fish at least 0.1 Dia. line as lots of Tench are hooked and lost) but on the open pegs pluming up is crucial, Ideally you can find a flattish area of around 18inches deep and use this as you're main squatt line and to the side of this further down the peg or beyond in 6inches of water I would have a seed line which I would feed all match and expect to catch in the last hour on seed or at worst on the squatt.

Groundbait: My mix would be 50% Sensas Lake or Magic, 25% Supreme and 25% Gudgeon Black Mixed on the dry to fluffy side as the supreme content will help ferm up balls as it carries natural oils when mixed. On a Saturday boat traffic should be lighter then a Sunday and a 1 Kilo mix should do, But to be on the safe side 2 Kilo's is ample. To this I would add crushed hemp dry a good handful of seed same with caster and just a few squatt's, remember if there's Skimmers or Tench about you want them to settle. Feeding at whistle I would feed two hard balls on my bottom near shelf line (on top of each other) and between four and six hard ball across (in a line left to right) all tangerine sized and one full pot of seed on each line. If I was fishing a line to hand (2mtr's) I would slop up some of the main mix and feed this instead but just a thumbnail at a time and per every two or three fish with a pinch of squatt.

Rigs: All my across rigs for squatt/pinkie would be strung with N0. 7 styles, with the canal forever moving even the Skimmers come up and if you need to bulk just move styles to a semi bulk and a couple for droppers (That's why I prefer the London Squatt pattern to the Milton Keynes pattern in summer, as it offers more versatility). Caster rigs for across would be strung No. 10 shot. All deeper water rigs i.e. Whip/Short line and Middle would carry a semi bulk of either No. 8 or No. 10 Shot with a few droppers which would normally be No.7 styles.

Elastics/Lines: All my rigs are 0.08Dia. direct no hook lengths, for squatt/pinkie I never use less then a 22 hook (I use B590's) and No. 2 elastics. For Whip and caster lines I use 0.1Dia. Because even on whip lines in summer you can hook bonus fish (I also only use elasticated whips) Elastics from 3 to 6 depending on peg but if unsure a soft 4 should do.

Feeding: If I fish a short line at bottom of near shelf I would only feed this with groundbait, to try and keep fish tight and near bottom and only feed as top up or if boats go over top. My squatt line across, I like to loose feed but the roach sometimes shy away from this form of feeding and the only alternative is to top up with groundbait through the cup. If catching Skimmers never GB on top, Just a full pouch of squatt's now and then is best. Seed is best loose fed regular 6 to 12 at a time over a small bed.

Overview: Keep working the different lines, don't switch off. Ignore the boat traffic it's the same for everybody. And most importantly, "enjoy your self!!"

Click thumbnails above for info

Send mail to: mick@mbcanalspecials.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.