By Tom | No Comments
Last updated: Monday, January 14, 2008

We list venues in the Middlesex area, including basic venue information and contact details.

Cowley Lake, Cowley
Tench sport still good with the best fish reported a 6lb1oz specimen taken by local rod Adam Smith on bread flake fished beneath a pole, visiting anglers taking between 5-10 tench per sitting best baits here are corn, flake or red maggot on either pole, waggler or bomb. The straight before the bend giving most consistent sport, the bay has lots of roach, skimmers and perch feeding along with some crucian carp in the 2-2 ½ lb range. Early morning or dusk are the best times to fish here as this is a classic tench fishery. Tickets on the bank.

Enviroment Agency, Lock & Weir Permit
A chance to finally get to fish all of those spots on the River Thames that were at one time unavailable to the everyday angler. We all know that locks and especially weirpools attract fish like magnets. In an average lock you can be sure there will be pike, barbel, chub and even zander lurking about in the highly oxygenated water. The environment agency now offer a lock and weir permit which entitles you to fish a tremendous amount of weirpools and locks starting from Teddington and running right through to the attractive weirs and locks of Oxford taking in nineteen fishable spots along the way. For the predator angler there is the first of them which is Teddington Lock which holds pike and zander to very impressive weights with large amounts of silver fish also present. Moving along the river a few miles we now approach the Penton Hook weir, again ample predator fishing along with superb chub fishing and occasional large barbel thrown in for good measure. On top of the superb fishing available the major plus side is that the permit will only cost you £25.20 for two rods which in my eyes is great value fishing considering your never quite sure what size or species the next fish could be. Permits are £25.20 for two rods. Contact Samantha Godfrey on 01189 9535561 www.visitthames.co.uk/lwfishing

Grand Union Canal, Havelock Road, Southall
The former match anglers ideal venue, it took a turn for the worse a few years ago but now seems to be on its way back and hopefully will be fully restored to its former glory. Anglers from the likes of Bob Nudd right through to kids with small bamboo poles have all fished and caught at this great section of canal. Even though the large matches for now are a thing of the past the canal seems to be coming back to form with more fisherman now turning up on her banks to try and catch the decent perch, roach and hybrids that inhabit this stretch of canal. The all out method on the stretch is totally dominated by pole to the far bank with overhanging trees and bushes being particular hotspots for the larger specimens. Along with the usual suspects there has been the occasional carp caught to 20lb plus even though they are very rare. Less rare are tench to 4lb that fall to pole fished corn fished over hemp and casters. Ideal venue for a family days fishing or introducing younger children to the world of angling. Most stretches are free fishing. For info call Mark at Hounslow Angling Centre on 0208 5706156

Grand Union Canal, Alperton to Greenford
Silver fish sport on the pounds around Hole in the Wall is improving steadily, with some notable bags of redfins to double figures from the pegs around the Road Bridge and opposite the big willow trees. Bream in the 3-4lb range still inhabit this stretch and have shown recently on the wides opposite Sainsburys, chop worm and caster or big maggot over groundbait are the best bet here. The boats around Perivale are giving consistent sport to the anglers that still visit this area, and the golf course bend is good for roach and perch bags to double figures with caster fished to the features the best. Mother’s Pride at Greenford area is a banker at any time of the year, with squatt and pinkie tactics giving most consistent results. Northolt also normally fishes well with the pegs on the wides, opposite the factories and around the road bridge all giving good sport. Cranleigh Gardens has silver fish in most pegs from the clappergate through to the marina with odd tench showing to chopped worm tactic’s fished down the central track. Tel: 0208 761 8801.

Lizard Lakes, Yiewsley
Lake One is good with carp sport rampant, fish in the 5-10lb range are showing from virtually every peg and most anglers are reporting 10-15 fish per sitting, loose fed pellet with hair rigged pellet fished beneath a waggler or pole best with some fish falling to bomb tactics. Bream and tench also showing well to anglers fishing the margins with these fish in the 3-4lb range. Lake Two still good with bigger carp feeding, the best recently being a 22lb specimen taken by a night angler from a peg in the far corner. Roach sport is excellent on both lakes with bags to 20lb common. Tickets from machine on site.

River Colne, Uxbridge
Large chub shoals rule the roost on here, with one angler taking a personal best 19lb bag from the peg by the outflow, James Reece returned home a happy angler after catching them on his favourite method of stick float and maggot, the roach also feed well when the river has fined down. Barbel in the 8-10lb range are taken regularly from the pegs by the weir and walkover bridge. Tel: 01895 822900.

River Frays, Cowley
Anglers visiting this small, shallow river are often put off by thinking that it could not hold large stocks of fish but those who persevere here can be rewarded with some bumper catches consisting of roach to 2lb, chub to 4lb and barbel up to 8lb. When the river is running clear the fish can be spotted from the nearby footpath and this season anglers have taken roach bags to double figures on stick float tactics along with 2-3 chub or barbel per sitting. Tel: 01895 822900.