2°10' W

A plan:

I watch loads of Geowizard. He does some great things and one of them is his Straight line missions. He walks in a straight line across city's or whole countries - check them out.

So, I had a thought. I travel South for my fishing, but directly South? of course not. Until now!

I asked AI to draw a line directly south from Hexham and tell me what rivers it crossed at that location. There was 12. Then I looked at fishing opportunities, and indeed fishing I wanted to do. A plan was born.

1. River Tees – near Newbiggin

2. River Swale – near Keld / Thwaite

3. River Ure – near Bainbridge / Hawes

4. River Wharfe – near Buckden / Hubberholme

5. River Aire – near Gargrave / Malham

6. River Calder – near Todmorden

7. River Mersey / River Tame – near Stockport

8. River Dane & River Weaver – Cheshire Plains

9. River Severn – near Bridgnorth / Bewdley

10. River Avon – near Evesham

11. River Thames – near Cricklade

12. River Frome – near Maiden Newton

I decided that numbers 6 and 9 were the places to start. North of 6 was too gamey, so 6 was the "first" one I liked and 9 because I had actually seen and knew about the fishing at Bewdley and wanted to fish the Severn for a while. 

Further investigation ruled out 6 as I could not get a day ticket for the river. Of course this was going to be harder than I thought. The front runner was suddenly number 8. I started googling.

An evening of searching, AI, playing and looking at maps was soon met with "You are completely right, and I need to hold my hands up—I made a major mistake on that last grid reference."

Original AI got it wrong. I started again!

 

After a good few hours spread over several evenings, I finally decided I had to include canals. It was hard to find a river that I could get a day ticket and would catch something good whilst not travelling a million miles. The Severn would have to wait for a different trip. 

Reading that I had a chance to try for a ruffe, a species I would love to catch, I finally settled on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Gargrave:

The geographical coordinates of Hexham are 54.970° N, 2.104° W, while the coordinates of Gargrave are 53.984° N, 2.105° W.

Comparison Breakdown

• Latitude (North/South): Hexham sits 0.986° further north than Gargrave. This translates to a direct north-south physical distance of roughly 68 miles.
• Longitude (East/West): They sit on almost the exact same vertical line of longitude. The difference is a tiny 0.001°, meaning Hexham is just a few hundred yards further east than Gargrave.

However, I could travel along the canal those few hundred yards and fish at exactly the "right" point. Yes, I know, completely pointless!!!

A day ticket was £4 from Skipton Angling Association, I was all set. 

Date fished 27/9/2026

8am until 2pm

I drove down the M6 and arrived at the car park. I walked the short distance to the canal and found a place to fish. There were fish topping and it looked good.

I then checked my position to see......

I was on the right line.

Two hours on the float and nothing. I changed to feeder and got a bite after an hour. My maggots were smashed to bits but I missed it. 

Eventually I connected and two quick roach followed.

No ruffe, but I enjoyed my expedition! 

I managed to drive home all the way without going on either the M6 or A1(M) which was slightly more enjoyable than the fishing! Amazing driving and scenery across the dales and moors! 

What a day, am glad I had this harebrained idea!! 

Mk 2

Date fished 24/10/2025

9am until 1.30pm

A trip down south, meant two things. Fireball and zander! 

I picked Jar up from the train station and we headed towards the canal. This time we float fished deadbaits. 

We walked the length and fished likely looking spots in the shade. We started in a turning basin where we saw plenty of fish topping but no predators lurking around. 

Sadly we didn't catch any zander, but we had a great trip. I think on this occasion I will leave it to jars photography..

Too Keen

Date fished 6/6/2025

7am until 3pm

A house warming, birthday and Anniversary party in London immediately got me thinking about fishing. Sadly the rivers are still closed for coarse fishing so it was a canal trip again. I usually fish at Coventry on my way south, but some investigation told me that I could try for zander in Milton Keynes. Speaking to my host, he said "I can get there on a direct train, I will meet you"! And that's how a plan works!!

My mate Jar, aka Mum, aka Alan, who I have fished with before met me in "the Keens" in the hope of catching something. I was after zander, he was after everything. I had a lure rod and a ledger rod with sweetcorn and breadcrumb as bait. 

I parked up like a troll and had a few casts. It was shallow but definitely looked fishy. This was confirmed when I text the (best) only lure angler I know - Tom. He also had mean things to say about my tackle, so we will ignore him!!

With no bites, I went and braved the multitude of roundabouts and collected Jar from the train station. Parking back under the bridge we went off left to find the lock. A few casts but mostly chat as we wandered, we were soon at the lock. A nice grassy area just beyond and it was time to lazy fish. It was lovely just catching up, casting a little and watching the float as small fish attacked the sweetcorn. Nothing with a big enough mouth, not including us two that demolished a kilo (if not more) of sausage roll!

The heavens opened and we took refuge under a smaller bridge. We really did look like trolls here, although the views were spectacular.

As we walked back, it was clear that a lure and ledger approach didn't work as a team. The sun was bright and we could see fry and smaller fish in our margin. Jar fancied a go at lure fishing. I switched over the rods and soon we were both flinging plastic into the canal, not littering! Also some of his casts didn't make the canal, just the trees!

I had explained that a real lure anger would of changed their lures a million times by now, and would probably be flinging some kind of floating, ribbed, sinking paddle tailed abomination with a rattle.

Jar looked at the lure box and decided on a sparkly number. Second cast he shouted " I have something".

Those of you will remember, I was after a barbel on the small river for a while, I took Jar and he caught one just whilst holding my rod. I thought, had he now fluked a zander too?!

It was a lovely perch, his first. I was buzzing, not because it wasn't a zander, but just to be able to take a good friend fishing and share in their success/happiness. 

We fished on and soon I noticed a large dark shape swimming down the middle of the canal, then another and another. A large shoal of big bream were on a day out. I chucked in some corn and bread hoping to slow them down. A few went for it, but the shoal didn't stop. I quickly set back up the ledger but as a boat came round the corner, the chance was gone. I think the bream carried on to Birmingham.

I sat under the bridge as Jar cast around the edge. A savage take on the lure shocking him, but sadly it got off. As we were at the car, hot and bothered and I had been awake since 2.30am, we decided to jump in and drive the 60 miles back to his house. At three hours and 18 minutes, you have to "love" Friday evening London traffic!

Cheers Jar 

Photos from Jar:

Balls, and to cap it all off a blank

Date fished 1/9/2023

06.30am until 12.00

A visit to see the boys in London meant a trip to Coventry to try for zander again. 2am alarm and in the car by half past. A little after 6am I was parked up and ready to thrash the water. I enjoy lure fishing but don't think I am good at it. 

I caught alot of plastic, most of it I collected up and put in the bin as I walked past. 

The catch of the day was either the baseball cap or the football! I will let you decide. 

The drizzle was annoying but it brightened up. By the time I left it was 20 plus degrees. Just what I needed to sit in traffic in London! A great meal with friends in the evening and some prep for fishing tomorrow.

Wet cement

Date fished 25/8/2022

7am until 2.30pm

As usually happens this time of year, I was seeing my old school friends. Old as in, I have known them a long time, Yume since we were six and also old as in, we are bloody old! 

On this occasion it was a boys weekend in London, so I filled up the car and headed South. Work commitments for Dwix meant I was able to do some fishing on the way down before descending on châteaux Dwix.

Immediately I thought of zander fishing the midland canals as I was practically driving along the toe path as I headed South. 

I left the house at 3.20m. A) so I could have a full day fishing and B) in the hope I would 'avoid' the traffic. I knew I would have the London traffic on the next part of the journey, so lets enjoy this bit I thought. 

I parked up in an area I only "knew" from Google maps (street view). This was research in its truest form. I had obtained a day ticket from the Tusses website, and looked at their fishing water maps, the rest I did with the internet and asking some questions on facebook. Thanks to those that replied and gave me sound advice. 

Tackle was simple, as shown above, I also had a net, mat and angler food. I parked up and walked to the Canal, it looked like any other and I was confident of some fish.

I started chucking a pink lure about, I walked a few yards and chucked it some more. Lure fishing is exciting but it does take some skill. Not sure I have that skill yet, but I was excited! 

Eventually I changed to a green lure and first cast it was grabbed. I was hoping for a zander but was rewarded with a stripey.

The canal changed from looking like a wild river with trees to man made sheet piled sides with houses next to it. I do enjoy fishing canals for the variety. 

I walked a few miles and only caught sticks and snags. One snag I was particularly proud of. 

It must be a pb traffic cone and being full of silt, it was pretty heavy. It was hooked fair in the mouth too, so definitely think I can claim it!? 

I got back to near the car and it was 12 o clock, I sat down and started eating my lunch, the heavens opened. I ran back to the car and had my lunch seated inside. 

After lunch I decided to try the other way from the bridge. Again, I thrashed the water with pink and green. 

I fished on and the heavans opened again, I was due to leave at 3pm but it was just after 2 and I was soaked. I walked back to the car and prepared to drive to London. 

As mentioned above, the canal is an interesting place,  full marks for drawing and I wasn't expecting that handwriting!!