With pay-lakes, just ask the owner - it's in his interest to give you good advice so you'll have a good day and return.
Tree-clad ponds tend to be a waste of time right now, because of all the rotting leaves, and big reservoirs and gravel-pits can be heart-breakers - you can't beat local knowledge, and the focus for that is your local tackle shop. Or follow the scales round if there's a match fished on any of your local waters. Some lakes do fish reasonably well in the autumn and winter, I just wish I knew a few more!
I can't help with canals, I hate them! Doubly so in the winter!
This really is the time to check out your local river, unless you're really lucky with your local lakes! River fish have to keep swimming, unless they want a one-way trip to the seaside, so they need to feed more.
Fill in your profile, and say which county you're in, and you may get some more precise pointers.