Fishing along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal

If you would like to go coarse fishing on the canal, ask at British Waterways' Fazeley office (01827 252000) for information about clubs and the permits you must obtain. But fishing is also available at Earlswood Lakes, which were built as water supply reservoirs for the canal.

Set in beautiful surroundings close to Birmingham and Solihull, the three lakes known as the Earlswood Lakes have been popular for angling (and walking) since Victorian times. Recent improvements have transformed the Lakes into the premier fishery in the Midlands.

• Engine Pool is stocked with huge numbers of hard fighting carp, which have sent match records tumbling. Pellets, corn and luncheon meat are favourite baits using pole or feeder tactics.
• Windmill Pool contains huge stocks of bream, roach and perch. Most regulars tackle the bream with ground bait feeders combined with maggot or worm. Roach anglers favour the pole.
• Terry's Pool is a nature conservation area, so angling is restricted to season permit holders fishing only from the causeway bank. Terry's Pool is an excellent mixed fishery; the lake produces good numbers of pike during the winter months as well as the usual species.

For more information on the fisheries, you can contact British Waterways or the fisheries at Earlswood. Concessions are available for juniors, pensioners and the disabled.