Hi Wingy.
I've done loads of canal fly fishing...caught a few roach only last week on small (#20) black/peacock spiders, fished sub surface to sighted fish, when the sun was out. At this time of year though the canals are very hard on the fly, with a few exceptions. I've found that you need clear(ish) water to consistently catch the silver species in the colder months...at least 12 inch of visibility, on many canals you are lucky to get an inches, or you need to see fish on the top. I've fished the Coventry and Oxford canals, in the midlands, for a few sessions in winter, just managing the odd small Zander, perch and very occasional chub, maybe one or two per session. Each year though the waterways repair locks and so close some lenghts to boat traffic, for 5 or more weeks. No boats means clear water. When I've fished the same lengths a week or two after the last boat has been through and the bottom can be seen right accross, it is like a different fishery. One sesion 2 years back saw me land over 35 fish in February after a frost, inc perch(some good ones), big chub, roach, tiny zander and even Bleak. You could sight cast to the chub and roach or just fan cast and retrieve "blind", never being sure what you'd get. This fishing lasted for 4 weeks, then it was back to normal...coloured, boats and few fish!
If your canals are coloured I'd suggest small fry paterns and bright lures to try and target the chub/perch. For perch add split shot to the line or use tungsten beads on the heads so you can really "gig" the fly...more important than the actual pattern. I often use an olive tadpole with a 4mm tungy head, this fished very jerky (rod at 90 degrees and keep doing mini strikes as you retrieve) works wonders for perch where less weighted flies fail or a fry patern with an AA shot right next to the hook eye...took 4 up to 2.5lb along with ten small jacks on the Grand Union in December. Till I added the shot I was getting perch follows but no takes...the pike had it which ever way!
If you can see silver fish then small black and peacock spiders or size 20/22 midge pupa...patern not too important. I've found a single strand of pheasant tail wrapped for the body and a couple of wraps of peacock herl at the head tied on Tiemco 206bl's #20-#24 to be killer. Also try these with a tiny 1mm (17/0) glass bead(clear or gold) at the head, if the fish are shallow or the smallest tungy/metal ones you can get if they are deeper.
Fishing "blind" with sunk small nymphs in coloured canals at this time of year is very hard but your canal may be the exception...if we don't try then we'll never learn.
I fish some carp lake in the warmer months but this year, partly because it has been mild, I've been down every couple of weeks(or more!) all winter. I've only been abled to catch on 3 out of the 9 lakes, but they are all heavily stocked and the bait dangler catch in them all? On one of the lakes I could only get perch, on silver clousers, another small carp on bloodworms but one lake has been unreal giving up carp to near doubles, perch, gudgeon, skimmers and roach to bloodworm patterns and always something even with marginal ice! Why this one fishes when the others are dead I don't know. I just hope it continues. I even had 3 carp here sight casting bloodworms to basking fish on Feb 1st! Got some pics if I figure out how to post them.
Before anyone asks I DO NOT ground bait or "chum" the fish up...that is fun but it isn't flyfishing.
I'll try to post some fly pics too ...when I learn how....
Hope you get some.
Dee
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Then along the lock walls roach, perch and gudgeon. 
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