The canal in Nottingham runs in and out of the River Trent between Beeston and Trent Bridge, it allows boat traffic to navigate around a fast, shallow section of river. The parts of the canal that most people are familiar with are the London Road section that runs between the BBC roundabout to Trent Bridge, or the Castle Boulevard section which runs in the opposite way from the BBC island to Castle Marina – both of these sections run parallel to two of the main roads in and out of the city centre.
The canal supports a wide range of species, but the main plan of attack should be roach, perch and skimmers with the hope that a few bonus fish may eventually show up – this is more likely if there is some colour in the water. There are some odd chub knocking around, and as with any canal, there are a few random big double figure carp, but they don’t show very often. Tactics wise, pole should be the main focus, just make sure that your feeding is adjusted to the time of year. Take a choice of baits and keep trying a piece of worm or caster to try to tempt a bonus fish. Flat floats and pole feeder work well for presenting a static bait.
The water often feels more like a river than a canal, it’s very uncommon for the water to stay still. Delicate canal rigs are often too light and hard to control in the flow. It can take a bit of getting used to, but heavier rigs with plenty of line between the pole tip and float should be a good approach.
A few other bits to think about. Some pegs are a bit of a walk, so ideally you need a barrow. Parking in the week can be a pain, but on Sunday you can park for free on Iremonger Road. There are some parts along the bank where space can be a bit tight. It’s a popular area for bikes, runners and walkers, which can make shipping your pole back tricky – you need your rollers next to the canal. It can get pretty windy too, you aren’t a proper angler if you haven’t had a top kit or pole section blown into the water! It’s a popular area for matches – so worth finding out if there are any on if you are planning a visit.
