what other baits can i get skimmers on?

Bread, very effective.

You could use bread, sweetcorn anything really that will go on a hook and that will get a fishes attention. if you don't have any bread you can even try a small piece of paper I have caught many fish ranging from tiny fish about 3" long to 15 pound carp on a piece of scrap paper.

you could get a trowel and do a bit of digging and find a worm, you could use the small worms whole just like a maggot, if you find a big worm you could cut it up into small pieces just big enough to cover the whole hook with just the point showing, you could also use some pieces of hot dog or cat food (the jelly type that has meat chunks in it) the jelly can be used to put in your swim to attract the fish and you can use the meat as a hook bait (butchers classic is very good and cheap).

Berries around where the canal is they might fall in so the fish would be used to eating those, just worth a shot.

Hope it all goes well.

Bread punch is the best bait for canal skimmers. Liquidise a few slices of white bread (take the crust off first) and use that as groundbait, then fish a piece of bread punch, or a small piece of bread flake on something like a size 16 hook. Don't put in too much liquidised bread at once though, just a small ball every now and then. Red worms are good too and sweetcorn can work, but usually for the bigger fish.

Bread or bread-punch is a vey effective bait for skimmers and bream. Bread (punch) is a very good cold water bait for roach too. Be careful how much ground bait you put in. White "punch crumb" is a good feed when using punch.

Whats a skimmer?

You tell me Mr. Fisher biwologists.