Hotties Canal

[The Sir]

Walked down it and had a little look before while I was in the area during work.

Spotted a few fish, including two carp near or maybe even over 20lb in about 3ft of water by a sunken pallet/frame by the Tesco end.

Whats in there? Doesnt look the healthiest canal in the world, but there are definately fish in there.

[garethh]

Never fished it myself but drop Mike Burke a PM. I know he's been on there a few times!

[ChrisKnapper]

Originally Posted by Joe

Walked down it and had a little look before while I was in the area during work.

Spotted a few fish, including two carp near or maybe even over 20lb in about 3ft of water by a sunken pallet/frame by the Tesco end.

Whats in there? Doesnt look the healthiest canal in the world, but there are definately fish in there.

Where abouts is this canal??

Chris

[The Sir]

St Helens, right next to the Tescos in the middle of the town centre .

No night fishing and no day tickets it says on the board though.

[ChrisKnapper]

Oh right. not in the area then..

Cheers

Chris

[AndyB]

Used to fish the 'Hotties' as a kid, years back when Pilks factory was still there, the top end by the glass museum thing was full of tropical fish due to the hot sprinklers on the factory walls.

The cold water sections were good mainly for tench although we did have a couple of low double mirrors from the main stretch and that was over 25 years ago so they may well be doing 20+ by now?

Used to be controlled by St Helens AA who also have a few lakes in the area!

[The Sir]

Carp there though! and they definately don't hide, I was only there for about 10 mins and I seen enough fish.. Interesting

[The Sir]

The pair of them were Mirrors Andy, big mirrors too

[john2006]

There are plenty of carp in there, mainly small fish though but a few bigger ones. I've had them to about 14ish though but people have told me that there are 20's but I've never seen em. It's on St. Helens AA card bout 20 quid a year. If you are going to fish it I'd recommend getting on very early and fishing untill about half 10 when all the little scroats come out to play unless you want to be constantly mithered to death with the little toe rags. Had some good early morning sessions on there with maggots on a medusa rig years ago but not fished it for a long time.

[The Sir]

Originally Posted by john2006

There are plenty of carp in there, mainly small fish though but a few bigger ones. I've had them to about 14ish though but people have told me that there are 20's but I've never seen em. It's on St. Helens AA card bout 20 quid a year. If you are going to fish it I'd recommend getting on very early and fishing untill about half 10 when all the little scroats come out to play unless you want to be constantly mithered to death with the little toe rags. Had some good early morning sessions on there with maggots on a medusa rig years ago but not fished it for a long time.

There was a drunk on when I walked it Its all banter though.

You've never seen them? I find that hard to believe after what I seen today!

[AndyB]

what John says is true Joe, its an extremely public place being right in the town centre and although its been ages since Ive been up there, would imagine its still a magnet for the future Asbo posse to congregate!

[The Sir]

Yeah, theres a sign about where someone died in the canal, where they've found a dead body and a **** load of rubbish/trolleys/needles whatever you can imagine! but thats just it nowadays isnt it , looks like good fishing though!

Those carp seemed to like the rubbish in there!

[AndyB]

Snag areas kindly donated by Tesco etc!

[mul]

Caught my first carp out of there, a 14 1/2lb mirror - around 1990. I was 13 years old at the time, last day of the season. Caught it on a 'borrowed' vanilla bean Duncan Kay 'baiting-needle breaker' of a boilie that was still on the hair from the previous day on Leg o'mutton. Ahead of my time using washed out baits back then!

It used to be a cracking fishery when the hot water sprinklers were still in use. Loads of decent roach, big perch and bream and one of the few places I've ever caught a ruffe. Only ever heard about the tropical fish off old timers (apologies Andy!) - the result of a local pet shop closing I believe?

[finney]

i live rite nearn there m8 i wudnt fish big risk of getting ure stuff robed there is alot of carp in there up 2 about 25lb n there lots from about 5- 10lb but i wudnt recermend fishing the place