Spring is here and that means one thing, the tench are waking up from their winter slumber and are on the feed! If you want to catch more tench this year, these six great tips are invaluable and will help put more tench on the bank for you! We asked Specimen Ace, Dai Gribble how he tweaks is setup to consistently land big tench.
Refine your hooklength
Whilst tench do get caught by carp anglers using thick line and big hooks a more refined approach is much more productive if you want to catch more tench. There are a number of things to consider when choosing what hooklink material to use. Firstly it needs to be strong enough to land big tench, which might be as much as 12lb breaking strain in weedy waters and as low as 6lb in clear waters.
Secondly, I prefer hooklinks that can be cast regularly with little chance of tangling so in most cases I choose monofilament over more supple, braided material. However, I do use braided hooklinks, normally when using smaller baits as their suppleness aid bait presentation.
If fishing over weed braid will lie flatter and be less obtrusive too. The key point is that by carrying a wide range of hook link materials I can tie up what I think will be the best rig for any situation.
FACED WITH A WEEDY SWIM? FIND OUT HOW TO COMBAT IT WITH THIS EXCELLENT ADVICE.
Reduce your hook size
On many occasions during the season, and on some waters, tench show a distinct preference for feeding on small baits, and even big, specimen-sized fish will often ignore larger offerings. Quite often I will use just two artificial or real maggots as a hookbait rather than bigger baits – that’s often all you need to fool them!
However, small hooks are essential for this as they allow you to present them in a way that tench are likely to pick them up as if they were part of the loosefeed.
I’ve used a lot of different hooks over the years and carry them in sizes from a 12 down to a size 16. Don’t worry about scaling down, I’ve caught plenty of big tench on size 16s!
THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS ARE PERFECT FOR CATCHING TENCH ON THE FLOAT OR FEEDER!
Carry a selection of feeders
Nearly all of my tench rigs incorporate a swimfeeder and I like to carry a good range of them in different sizes and weights. I use the Korum Medium 2oz combi-feeders or the mesh combi-feeders combined with a Heli rig for the majority of my tench fishing, but sometimes I opt for a small feeder if I want to feed less.
If casting beyond 60 yards I find a small feeder can be cast more accurately, particularly if there is a side wind. When fishing close in, such as at the bottom of a marginal shelf, opt for in-line feeders so that the reel line can be pinned down more easily.
In-line feeders are also better for fishing in heavy weed as the feeder does not get tangled in weed when fished in this manner.
YOU CAN CATCH A LOT OF TENCH ON THE FLOAT, CHECK OUT THIS GUIDE TO FIND OUT MORE!
Use quick change heli-rigs
The helicopter rig is undoubtedly my favourite rig for tench as they have brilliant anti-tangle and hooking properties. They’re also really easy to set up as I use ready Heli Kits straight from the packet, it makes things far easier!
Start by threading the kit on to your line and tie a feeder on the end of your mainline – job done! The best bit about them is the quick-change clip which means you can change hooklinks in seconds.
I tie all my hooklinks with a figure of eight loop at the end and this goes over the clip and is held in place with a small rig sleeve.
INSPIRED TO CATCH BIG TENCH? HEAD TO ONE OF THESE WATERS AND CATCH ONE NOW!
Spombs are essential
I’m a big fan of using lots of small particles to attract and hold tench in my swim and will typically I will feed hemp, a mixture of 2mm Sonubaits pellets - Krill, S-pellet, F1 and Robin Red - maggots, casters and chopped worm.
The quickest and easiest way of getting this mix into my swim is with a Spomb. Tench are inquisitive fish and I have found using a Spomb does not seem to scare them, indeed I have often had bites whilst putting bait in over the top of them.
I like to feed a little and often to ensure there is always some bait in the swim and the Spomb is the perfect way to keep a swim topped up.
TENCH FISHING CAN BE A WAITING GAME, SIT COMFORTABLY ON ONE OF THE BEST FISHING CHAIRS.
Heavy bobbins are best
The right type, or more specifically, weight of bobbin is crucial for bite indication when tench fishing.
I like to use bobbins fitted with 10g weights as this keeps my line nice and tight which improves bite indication and ensures that the wind does not affect them. If I’m fishing at long range in very windy conditions, which creates a big undertow, I add another 10g weight.
I don't like the current trend for really short chains on bobbins as many bites are drop-backs and a longer chain allows the bobbin to fall further giving you better indication.
THE BEST BITE ALARMS WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR SWIM!
