Trip #4 – Swillington Park Lakes - In Meat We Trust!!!

It’s always exciting when you fish a new fishery, and this time it was the turn of Swillington Park Lakes. Having fished various sections of the canal I fancied a change so I Google’d “Fishing in Leeds” and it popped up straight away!

On arrival I had a walk around the lakes; there are 5 lakes in total some looking more established than others.

Trip #3 – 10/07/11 - Leeds-Liverpool Canal – Kirkstall Breweries.

After speaking to the staff at Leeds Angling Centre it would seem that the further out of Leeds you go  on the canal the better fishing, so again using Google Maps, I found a small car park off Wyther Lane, near the Kirkstall Breweries. On arrival, there was definitely less debris in the canal, and at first glance I saw a small school of large (ish) roach moving up the centre of the canal. The weed, although still heavy seemed to be more controlled. After walking the bank, I decided against fishing in between the ducks and choose a spot opposite the main brewery building; it was a wider area of the canal and gave me a opportunity to fish 2 swims.

Trip #2 - Leeds - Liverpool Canal - Redcote Lane, Leeds - Ready Steady Blank!

I had every intention of catching hundreds of fish in a short session after work session, however sadly this was not the case. I decided to visit the peg I had fished on the previous weekend, and finally set up shop about 10 feet from my original peg.

Arriving and setting up shortly before 6 meant the clouds opened just as I got comfortable, so I spent at least 5 minutes taking cover under a nearby tree. It was a very short session, and I’ll admit I only had 2 bites (missing them both). It was made even more frustrating by the fact that I could see the fish swimming around, but could do nothing to catch them. I had also forsaken maggots for worm and bread on this trip, tempted but the lure of catching a big roach on a ‘light’ elastic, as the angler I met on the weekend had.

There is something about a blank which leaves you feeling a bit saddened, so you quickly look for things to blame (well I do anyway), I will lay the entire responsibility for my non-existent catch on the fact that I didn’t have any trusty maggots or casters, and will certainly remember to bring some next time!

Trip #1 – 03.07.11 - Leeds – Liverpool Canal – Redcote Leeds , Leeds

How did I find this location? Google Maps! I’ve only walked the canal a few times, but anyone with eyes can see, despite the odd chair, television, traffic cone and bike, that the canal is full of life.

There are lots of fish whizzing about if you stand there and have a look. When I first investigated the swim I spoke to a local angler who was using bread and the 1lb+ roach in his net seemed to suggest he knew what he was talking about, although it was easy to see from the clarity of the water that fishing now would not be an easy thing. This coupled with the seemingly monstrous weed growth close to each bank meant it may be a trip fraught with tangles and weed.