Outlook


H o w t h e c a n a l w a s b r o u g h t b a c k t o l i f e


MICK COOKSON explains how a large stretch o f the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was transformed from a virtual useless


piece o f water into a great fishery.


THE big weights in December from the Burnley lengths of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal arc, without doubt, some of the best ever recorded from


the canal in our area.


ing in this great fishery, with big catches being taken from most lengths anywlieie


R is obvious that the fish are now thriv­ .


between Barrowford Locks and Blackburn. Anglers new to the canal scene can be


forgiven for thinking this as always been the case, but the truth is the canal between Nelson and Blackburn was probably one of the worst stretches for fishing — not just on the Leeds and Liverpool, but on any canal in the country between L)b7 and


1!The fishing and fish were virtually non­ existent at tfcis time. The Burnley leng hs were the brunt of many cruel jokes at this


time and, to be honest, with very good reason. It took a real optimist to chance his arm so to speak, anywhere near Burnley.


canal at Burnley was quite good, especially fo good quality roach, which along with gudgeon made up the majority of the cana anglers’ weights. Gudgeon were comm a •md found on all lengths, and providing ‘Vour bait was fished on the bottom, bites ‘


During the Fifties, the fishing on the DISASTER .


myself were fishing near the Red Mill at Barden Lane after heavy ram had coloured the canal with water gushing from the land drain near the mill. Sport that day was excellent, with big roach and perch falling to both maggot and lobworm baits fishe into the now from the pipe, and although we didn’t catch many fish, those we did


That particular day Ian Jefferson and


catch were all big ones. Shortly after this, work was canie 1 out


at Barden Lane, to repair the banking,


which was in a poor stale. Unfortunately, the material usei'l for the work came rom a colliery tip and the water became affected by the lcaching-out of sulphides.


sall, who was then the Regional V ishcncs Officer. The letter asked Mr Kelsall *f any­ thing could be done about the poor state ot the ca,nil regarding the fishing. Ilis rep y


In 1978 I wrote a letter to Mr Des Kel-


stated that the problem had been Billy investigated and that some impiovement


affected lengths. . would be virtually guaranteed from these


MIAt this'time fish such as perch, pike and skimmers were a rarity on the canal m and


around Burnley, but with the good fishing most anglers were moie than con tent with their catches. a Disaster struck sometime around 1%1>,


Wembley.


nd I can remember this bemuse it was the year England won the Woild Gup at v'emble


YOUNG or otherwise small and slightly tender evergreen shrubs should be given


protection from the worst of the cold winter winds.


the windward side to support a screen o! cither hessian or a lightweight plastic


Erect a stout framework of stakes on ...


1,UTheSseeds of really tough customers such as most alpines, require the w nitc cold to break their dormancy. I his is an ideal time to sow them therefoi e. Use a fairly gritty soil-based compost


the top, to protect them from marauding rodents’and birds, and leavc>hem wheie


Vlace a sheet of fine mesh wire ovei the frost and cold can do


the greenhouse or window ledge in the spring, germination should proceed


If you bring them into the wa mth o i


‘‘"check stored apples and also .‘ullmum tubers, begonia conns, ch^santhemui plants, .pelargoniums,or othei .plants bei ig


kept until the spring.


time very poor and weed growth was vir­ tually nil. But it was 10 years or more since the bank had been repaired and suiveys were being carried out by both the canal authority and by a team of scientists from the University of Salford, who came up with some very interesting <laL . Ra'i checks at different sites revealed that ugh levels or mineral oils were found at Bnu field and Burnley, and not surprisingly these sites were found to be low ini fish yields. Where oil deposits were low, thu c


The fishing and fish stocks were at this


were more fish caught. By electro-fishing the. sites it was soon


Winter protection for plants rc nmnve anv showing of the first signs


of decay, for this can spread very quickly Remove y


to those nearby. After removing any damaged


ornamentals, dust the remainder lightly with sulphur -although, of course, this


should not be done with apples. Although heavy snowfalls are relatively


unusual in most parts of the country, do be


prepared to take action. Any snow on cold frames is best left


where it lies, for it will provide added


such as John limes seedling con «st, and cover the seeds with the very thinnest


'ntBuUieavy snow lying on the branches of evergreens can break branches, or at least cause distortion of the plants, and it should be knocked off promptly. Finally, a reminder to spare a thought


apparent that as the Brierfield and Bui n- .


was gradually taking place with water plants beginning to grow at each end of the


A qreat catch taken from the canal by angler David Pate.


ley sections were reached fish stocks were virtually non-existent.


results at Burnley, where little or nothing caught was the rule. In 1977, the Judson Cup was fished at Bank Hall l t was June and around 35 anglers took pait, but believe it or not only two small roach wei e caught, these by the same anglci and they


These results coincided with poor match , m ^ h e l a m e match was fished an


amazing three times before a fish was caught and the match decided, l hcse wei e, as you can see, trying times for the anglci s of East Lancashire and many decided that


the canal was just a waste of tune. SURVEYS ,


the scientists from the University of Sal­ ford discovered that weed growth was increasing and that a wide range of watei snails were present with the wandeiing


Further surveys followed, however and


snail” being the dominant species. Large numbers of pea cockles were also discovered, along with other mvertibrates


which were found in the mud. lhcse included shrimps, water louse, tubifex, caddis, mayfly, dragonfly and <ainsel fly larva, bloodworm and leeches, all in wide y varying amounts, and the scientists told Urn Burnley Centre of the Northern Anglors’ Association that the only thmj,


that seemed to be missing was fish. They told the centre that had never seen


a canal with so much “fish food m it, and that if the water was re-stocked the tisli should do very well in their new home.


for your house plants at this time of year. The chances are that your home will be hotter and the air drier than it*s at any time of the year, so move the pool things into a cooler, less used room. (Dr Stefan Buczacki, oj


“Gardeners’ Question Time’) , RARKEUS PRIMROSE NURSERIES.


i>


the help of the late Brendan Dawes, of Burnley, who had become General Secre­ tary of the NAA, a netting party was arranged and several local anglers, myselt included, attended a local reservoir where a large number of quality roach were to be netted and transferred to the Leeds and


The decision was taken then, and with Liverpool Canal. , , . , . ' ‘ 'Thai, was the day that the canal was to . Burnley match


be transformed from a virtually useless piece of water, into the great fisheiy it has become today. Barry Castlmg was the


Burnley Centre N A A secretaiy at that time and did some sterling woik that the particular day, along with the - M s authority team and the local angitis who gave up their time to wade knee deep in mud to make the netting the great success


*l Those roach were magnificent fish,^ big


silver-sided specimens with that ,L‘i a ' fu^ bronze tinge that spells quality . Ih t ie were also a few good bream and these too


along the canal between Nelson and Black­ burn and several thousands of fish wei e involved. It soon became obvious that the stocking had been a great success and it was not long before local match rocoids started to tumble and more and more plea­ sure anglers started visiting the water which they had long since given up as


were taken to their new home. The fish was stocked at various points


dead. BONUS


appearance of fish such as skimmer bream, tench and carp, and these fish are now being caught every year, adding u ^ e conie variety for the anglers along with peicli,


An added bonus came in the sudden


PllButTt is perhaps the humble roach which attracts anglers from far and wide to this now much-improved canal fisheiy. I ' -<- fish are truly the stars of the show espe­ cially in winter, and some fish are well o\ei


thThebrevival or this fishery is largely due; to the efforts of the Northern Angleis Association, the Burnley Centie NA/, Pendle, Burnley and District Angleis the authorities, the University of Salfind .sci­


entists and people like the Dawes, who did so much behind the stents


, , angling.on the Leeds and Liverpool Lanai in our area. □


to ensure the future success of loca


I


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