The Merwedekanaal was constructed between 1880 and 1892 as part of the connection between Amsterdam and Germany.
After the completion of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal in the 1950s, the Merwedekanaal lost its primary function. However, the stretch between Vianen and Gorinchem is still used for waterborne freight transport. This section of the Merwedekanaal is usually about 40 metres wide and 3 to 4 metres deep. The banks are easily accessible and Rijkswaterstaat has installed new sheet pile walls along large sections of this route in recent years. In general, the water is reasonably clear with patches of water lilies along the sides in some places. The fish population along this stretch of canal is quite varied, partly because it is connected by means of locks to other waterways including the Lek, Linge and Boven-Merwede rivers.
Coarse fish
Regular angling competitions are held on the Merwedekanaal, and for good reason. This canal is well-known for its bream catches, most of which consist of smaller to semi-mature bream, with the occasional large specimen among them. The pole is by far the favourite option for these waters. The full length is not even required for this; seven to eight metres is often quite sufficient. Since the Merwedekanaal often flows slowly and the fish generally bait cautiously, drifting across the feeding spot is an effective tactic. Gorinchem and Arkel are popular spots for coarse fish anglers. Nice catches can be made particularly in Gorinchem itself, especially when the fish congregate in the winter. There are also a couple of ‘hotspots’ near Arkel, such as the junction with the Zederikkanaal towards Linge and at the mill, while the ‘island’ between the Kleine and Grote Kanaaldijk is a perfect feeder spot.
Predatory fish
The Merwedekanaal is home to pike, perch and pikeperch. The pike are mostly of average size and are fished only sparingly. You also have the opportunity to catch larger specimens in winter, particularly in the adjacent harbours in Gorinchem (you have to be a member of HSV Gorinchem to fish there, however). The perch stock has improved somewhat in recent years, with fish of up to 35-40 cm being the largest specimens. The pikeperch are usually rather smaller, with exceptional specimens sometimes reaching 70-80 cm. Perch and pikeperch can be caught with artificial lures, pieces of fish or small, dead bait fish. Along the Merwedekanaal you can fish by both casting from the shore and trolling from the boat. You can launch your boat in the Linge in Arkel, using the ramp at WSV Gors (for a fee). From there you can sail right onto the Merwedekanaal. Hotspots include the many bridges, as well as places where large cargo ships turn, and where the bottom has been worn away and is a little deeper as a result. When the vessels turn, however, they churn up so much mud that you can usually forget about fishing for a while. The weekend is often a much better option for this reason. Also with respect to shipping traffic, bear in mind that there will be many recreational vessels around in the summer months. In this case, fishing in the early morning or late evening is therefore often best.
Carp
Because there is not much carp fishing done on the Merwedekanaal, it provides a nice challenge for those carp anglers who enjoy breaking new ground. This basically gives you plenty of freedom to explore waters that haven’t yet been heavily fished. Before you go fishing, however, it is worth pre-feeding a couple of times (but not too much!), since canal carp tend to be quite nomadic in nature. The many bridges, and the places where freighters turn (and where the water is a little deeper), are also interesting spots for carp anglers, particularly if you can find a mussel bed there too. You just might land yourself a surprising catch!