Hi Jon,
Firstly, my canal carp fishing was fairly limited, but I am happy to give you pointers from whatever I learned during that time. Most of it is common sense and standard fishing practice anyway, but still, it may help....if only by provoking contradictory responses from those more experienced in canal carping, but who have not yet bothered to post
I know it's a bit late for location talk, as you have already started your baiting, but anyway.....the bankers are :- Overhanging trees/bushes/brambles etc. on the far bank (It is obviously invariably better in areas where the far bank is inaccessible to anglers or the general public) Long term moored boats/marinas. Incoming rivers/streams. Any cutting into the far bank, such as drainage ditches, remains of abandoned and/or filled in canal arms, especially if the inlet has tree/bush cover.
If the canal you are fishing has not seen much in the way of carp angling, then the carp may not recognise boilies instantly as food. In that case, were you just doing one off trips, then attractor baits (I had good results with Richworth
frozen tutties for instance) work well...but do not attempt to use these as feed on long term campaigns . I suppose it goes without saying that the old faithful luncheon meat is also fairly instant on such canals. In your case, where you are intending to pre-bait fairly long term, then the gradual introduction of a decent nutritional value/low flavour level type boilie should work well. Mind you, if it turns out that the cray menace
has infected your canal, then obviously the tigers you mention are the way to go....it takes the little bar stewards ages to whittle them down. By the way, If they are not present, then the addition of a tin of cheap tuna (in brine) to your mix will do you no harm. The addition to your mix of prepared groats and the liquid they were prepared in (if you intend to bait on the day) will give you a lovely cloud effect that hangs in the water column fairly well, especially if used on the sloppy side.
You mention that your canal has fairly constant boat traffic, which does make things more tricky. Due to the normal bed profile on canals (shallow-ish margins, deep central boat channel) back leading doesn't work too well for far bank fishing, so that is pretty well out during the day. That leaves you with mid canal or near margin fishing, which CAN work well, but is usually not so prolific. Restricting yourself to night fishing the far bank is the other option, and the one I would favour. Trial and error often picks out consistent swims, or even hot spots in a swim....which are sometimes not that logical
Lastly, position your gear so that the more unpleasant, militant type cyclists/mountain bike thugs do not trash your rods etc.....it happens, and sometimes it is no accident
Good luck fella, have a shed load
Cheers, Dave.
