so the fishing I enjoy is roving with minimal tackle on local rivers and streams however with the close season in forced to rush canals and lakes. Now I'm happy to rove a round a lake but now how would you approach a canal using roving tactics. Would I pretend it's a river and drop in next to features with a link leger or float?
Yes, a canal isn’t a lot different to a slow moving river apart from the flow rate changing continually when the locks upstream are opened and closed.
Look for similar features that you can find on a river like overhanging branches, side streams entering or running out (NB. Most locks have short overspill streams which often run back into the canal downstream of the lock). Wide turning bays, bridges, weedbeds etc.
Most canals have near and far shelves and knowing how far out these shelves are is a good starting point as these are often good places to find your shoal fish, also if you have Chub or Carp in your canal it’s often worth fishing tight up to the far bank as these often browse along the silk weed and the insects and freshwater shrimps living amongst this silk weed.
On my local canal (the Grand Union) the Bream can often be found either on the deepest centre of the canal or in the slower turn-around bays, the Perch are often found near to wooden piles or around bridge supports or moored barges or along the near shelves chasing minnows and small Gudgeon; and we often find shoals of Roach patrolling along the top of the far shelf and down its slope.
Overhanging trees are usually places which hold Roach, Chub, and Carp all keeping out of the sun feeding on whatever insects fall out of the branches or big perch looking for anything edible including small fish in the dappled light; and the Chub seem to hug tight to the far bank and rarely venture away from there or amongst tree roots and under overhanging vegetation.
best of luck
Keith
