Fishing is fun! But there's a lot of equipment involved, not to mention skills and techniques. Take a look at our simple guides to get to grips with the basics of learning to fish.
Learn to fish
Fancy having a go at fishing but not sure where to start? Our handy videos talk you through the basics, from setting up your equipment to bringing in your first fish.
Setting up the rig
The benefits of fishing with a short pole or a whip
Plumbing the depth
The best way of working out the depth of the canal
Bait, hooks and maggots
Using groundbait, wriggly maggots and the right-sized hooks
Cast off and catch your fish
The fun begins! Cast off, identify a bite and bring in your fish
Unhooking
Learn how to safely unhook your fish
Types of fish
Find out what types of fish you can catch in our canals and rivers
Last Edited: 24 July 2025
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