Fishing along the Shropshire Union Canal

The Shropshire Union Canal has a good stock of roach, perch and gudgeon with bream in the wider lengths and winding holes. There are lots of small fish with more skill required to locate the bigger specimens. Large carp can be found at any location but seems to prefer the Middlewich Branch where they grow to over 20lb. Tench are present between Chester and Ellesmere Port and unexpected fish can include chub, dace and even flounders.

Popular fishing spots include Marsh Lane, near Nantwich and Backford near Chester Zoo with some locations in Chester city centre particularly sheltered and accessible for disabled anglers. Lengths near Ellesmere Port are also well fished with easy parking near the Boat Museum. Whether you are a serious match angler or a casual pleasure fisherman, high-quality fishing can be found on the Shropshire Union Canal. Anglers require an Environment Agency Rod Licence obtainable at Post Offices) together with a British Waterways' day or season ticket.

The Waterways Wanderers Permit gives individual anglers the opportunity to fish on the 45 miles of the Shropshire Union Canal north of Audlem and on most of the Middlewich Branch. The Waterways Wanderers Permit is not valid on the canal from Audlem southwards.

Anglers wishing to fish between Cholmondeston Lock and Railway Bridge No.5 or Clive Green Bridge No.22 and Middlewich Junction should contact Venetian Marine village on 01270 528251 or Middlewich AA on 02606 832257 respectively. For more information please contact John Harding on 01828 732748.

The same waters are available to clubs through the Waterways 'Anglers Together' scheme. For an annual payment, clubs can run matches without paying peg fees and members can fish the length free of charge. The canal between Autherley Junction (near Wolverhampton) and Audlem is let to angling clubs, most of which sell day permits to the public. Those clubs which don't make provisions for visiting anglers have signs at the access points stating 'members only'.

Coarse fishing on the Shropshire Union includes roach, perch, beam, tench, chub and pike. Between Wolverhampton and Tyrley, fishing rights are administered by a number of angling clubs. From south to north, they are: Wolverhampton AA, Post Office AC, Dawley AC, British Rail AC, George Carter Ltd AC, Codsall Legionnaires AC, Penkridge Anglers, Swan AC, Brewood AC, Hazeldine AA, Izaac Walton (Stafford) AA, Marston Palmer AS, Market Drayton AC, Fusileer AC, Park AC, Stafford Hospital AC, Hodnet WMC AC, Palesthorpes AS, Crown AC.

From Tyrley Locks to Audlem, fishing is controlled by Crewe Pioneers AC. Audlem Bottom Lock to Ellesmere Port is managed by British Waterways.

Locations:

• Audlem Bottom Lock to Ellesmere Port Br No 147: Waterways Wanderers Permit/Waterways Anglers Together

• Middlewich Branch - Barbridge Junction to Cholmondeston Lock: Waterways Wanderers Permit/Waterways Anglers Together

• Middlewich Branch, Railway Bridge No 5A to Bridge No 22 Clive: Waterway Wanderers Permit/Waterways Anglers Together.