The canal – or navigation, to give it it’s correct title- is a commercial as well as a pleasure waterway. There are various locks along its length which are large enough to take the commercial barges that transport sand and gravel to various locations. The width varies but is usually approx. 30 metres wide with other areas that are slightly narrower. The average depth is 12 feet in the main boat channel (which can be close in) but shallows up to about 6 feet in other places.  The water flows gently toward Goole but can stop or back up due to lock usage.

The main target species are roach, with bags of over 30lb recorded. Bream and skimmers are in abundance along with perch and some truly humungous gudgeon. Other species that are  caught to a lesser extent are trout, eels, carp, chub, rudd and tench.

Most anglers use the pole as the main method of attack but stick float, waggler and feeder tactics all work. Main baits are maggot, pinkie, squat and caster but never forget to take some hemp as this usually sorts out the better quality roach. Most anglers tend to fish these baits over a bed of groundbait.

Matches are regularly fished on the canal and any club can book a length, availability permitting, by contacting the match secretary.

Day tickets can be purchased from Costcutter Stores in Rawcliffe Bridge and Rawcliffe villages at £3 or they are also available on the bank at £6 per day. Or free if you belong to one of the following fishing membership clubs (please carry your membership):

• Allerton Bywater Victoria AC.  Sec-S Murray 01977 517519
• Apache Fishing Club. Sec-Kirk Rudge 01405 720231
• Boston Spa AC. Sec-A Waddington 01937 842664
• Bradford City AA. Mike Briggs 01274 684906/07759815202
• Bradford No 1 AA. Treas-W Smith 01274 815630
• Brighouse AA. Treas-R Charnock 01422 378280
• Castleford DSA. 1 Hope Street,Castleford, WF10 1DZ
• Doncaster & District AA. Secretary Ian Hurst. www.ddaa.co.uk
• Drax Power St.AC. Sec- Graham Gill
• Hull&Dist. AC. Sec – Paul Caygill  07976779983 www.hdaa.freeserve.co.uk
• Leeds&Dist.ASA. Gen. Sec. Graham Park  01132 402586
• Scunthorpe Pisces AC.  Stuart Fidling  07951 822639 stu.pisces@virginmedia.com.
• Sugar Mill Ponds AC. Sec-L Rogers 01405 769096
• Tadcaster APA. D Wilkinson 01937 834610
• Thornhill AA. Sec- Don Peirson  01924 840366 / N Pickett 01924 505414
• Wakefield AC. Treas-P Hayton 01924 274882
• Walton AC. Sec-E Bootland 01924 360724
• York&Dist.AC. Sec- R Hutchinson 01904 651346
• Scunthorpe DAA. 12 Mill Close, Brook, Brigg, DN20 9LL – Mikestorey49@yahoo.com