Voted the nation’s number one species by Angling Times readers, the red-eyed tench is a glorious fish to catch.
You’ll find them in all manner of waters, from large gravel pits to small and intimate ponds, canals and even some rivers.
They’re notorious lovers of the margins, hotspots including lily pads, reeds and weedbeds. They fall to a large variety of methods and baits, too, and give a good account of themselves on reasonably balanced tackle.
But that’s quite enough preamble – here’s where you can go and catch one…
Gillmans Lake, South Cerney, Gloucestershire
This small one-and-a-half-acre lake is situated in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park and is tremendously well stocked with a variety of species. With depths between 4ft and 5ft, it has a long island down the centre and lilly pads in its margins. Fish to the features with float, feeder or pole and you’ll connect with tench averaging around 3lb-6lb, with big weights possible under the right conditions.
Contact: 01285 862716
Postcode: GL7 5RL
Marsh Farm, Milford, Surrey
At 3.5 acres, Harris Lake has 45 swims and is an awesome mixed fishery. Not only does it hold the huge true crucians Marsh Farm is famous for, but the tench run to double figures. Pole fishing or a Method feeder are best.
Contact: 01483 428885
Postcode: GU8 5AE
Float Fish Farm, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
The Tench Pit is an intimate pool with three swims. Float and pole fishing only, this lake holds green and golden tench to 8lb and a few carp.
Contact: 07764 242731
Postcode: PE7 3DZ
Linear Fisheries, Witney, Oxfordshire
Manor Farm Lake is renowned for its quality tench, with fish over 12lb reported in previous seasons. Now a booking-only water, it’s never been easier to guarantee yourself a spot. Spomb out a decent bed of particles and fish helicopter rigs over the top for amazing sport. You can expect the odd bonus carp too!
Contact: 07885 327708
Postcode: OX29 7QF
Wyreside Lakes, Lancaster, Lancashire
Some wonderful tench to 8lb are to be found in the mature River Lake. At 1.5 acres the mixed pleasure water has 16 swims and lots of features like reeds and sunken islands to fish to. Follow the wind and you’ll find the fish.
Contact: 01524 792093
Postcode: LA2 9DG
Bullock Farm, Kingston Seymour, North Somerset
Best known for its beautiful tench around 5lb, the Match Lake is a feature packed must-visit water. Ton-plus pleasure bags of fish are possible on this water, which has 31 swims, eight of which are on a central island which can be accessed by a footbridge.
Contact: 01934 835020
Postcode: BS21 6XA
Manor Farm Lakes, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire
A water with real under-the-radar tench potential is the Carp Lake at this booking-only complex. The four-acre water has depths ranging from 3ft to 12ft, 28 swims, and tench attaining double figures. Fish small yellow pop-ups on scaled-down carp tackle.
Contact: 01767 601138
Postcode: SG18 9BB
Pickering Park, Hull, Yorkshire
This council-run park lake is home to plenty of hard-fighting tench to 6lb and is available to fish on a cheap online day ticket. The Method feeder cast towards the islands is the best bet for consistent sport.
Contact: www.hcandl.co.uk
Postcode: HU4 7AB
Creedy Lakes, Crediton, Devon
Popular with carp anglers, the 4.5-acre Main Lake is home to some lovely tench that are rarely targeted. The fish run to around 8lb, and there are also a few golden surprises too. A scaled-down carp set-up or Method feeder and corn is the best way to catch them. Expect some carp action as well. This venue is now bookable on the Catch app.
Contact: 01363 772684
Postcode: EX17 4AB
Tyram Fisheries, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
The tench in the Island Lake run from 2lb to 9lb and frequent the many features surrounding this 40-peg water. There are a lot of carp present too, as well as bream and roach. Fish a float close to cover for the tench.
Contact: 01302 840886
Postcode: DN7 6DR
A1 Pits, Newark, Nottinghamshire
Pits 3 and 4 are the best for tench, and you won’t have to cast far to catch them. The margins can drop to 8ft in places and the bottom is hard gravel. Feed a bed of hemp and micro pellets to draw the tench into your swim and cast a maggot feeder bolt rig over the top.
Contact: 07970 209433
Postcode: NG23 6EQ
Starcarr Lakes, Brandesburton, East Yorkshire
You’ll find some fantastic tench on offer on The Gravel Pit and Old Trout Lake, with huge bags possible. You’re also able to pick up tench over the 7lb mark – proper Yorkshire specimens. Be sure to book a swim before arriving, though.
Contact: 07912 677302
Postcode: YO25 8RU
Napton Reservoir, Leamington, Warwickshire
You’ll catch tench, crucians, bream and roach here on the float, using corn or worm over a mixture of groundbait and pellets. Controlled by the Leamington Anglers Association,
you can fish this water once you’ve joined. It offers affordable membership and concession tickets that are available online.
Contact: Stratford Angling Centre, 01789 267992
Postcode: CV47 8HX
The Grand Western Canal, Tiverton, Devon
Tiverton Angling Club controls 11.5 miles of the fishing on this shallow and narrow canal, and there are plenty of tench to be caught along its length. The fish don’t grow to massive sizes, and a six-pounder is a very good fish, but there are lots of them. Fish the float to the far bank on either a pole or waggler rod.
Contact: Culm Valley Tackle, 01884 839273
Website: www.tivertonanglingclub.com
Furnace Brook Fishery, Hailsham, East Sussex
A piece of angling heaven, this 5.5-acre lake is one of Sussex’s best kept secrets. As well as carp, there are some very good tench, bream, roach, perch, barbel and crucians. Try using scaled-down carp tactics with small Method feeders filled with pellets and small boilies or wafter hookbaits for the tincas.
Contact: 01435 830835
Postcode: BN27 4QR
Hartley Lands Farm Fishery, Cranbrook, Kent
Finches Lake is a mixed species 11-swim water filled with tench to double figures. This mature water is tree-lined, with lily pads and reed beds where the fish like to frequent.
Contact: 07703 825064
Postcode: TN17 3PS
Anglers Paradise, Beaworthy, Devon
If you fancy catching a tench of the golden variety then the Top Lake on the day-ticket Eldorado complex is the place to head for. Very under-fished, this lake is perfect for float and feeder fishing, and is home to all manner of colourful species. You never know what you might hook next!
Contact: 01409 221559
Postcode: EX21 5XT
Nine Oaks Angling Centre, Llanarth, Wales
Both the Main Lake and House Pool are home to tench to around 5lb. Floatfishing close in the margins with traditional baits is a sure-fire way to get hooked up to one.
Contact: 01545 580482
Postcode: SA47 0RW
Beehive Woodland Lakes, Rosliston, Derbyshire
There are three lakes set in a beautiful woodland environment at Beehive. Tench running to 6lb can be found in Botany Bay and The Horseshoe. Depths drop to 13ft in places – keep baits and rigs simple for best results.
Contact: 01283 763981
Postcode: DE12 8HZ
Willow Lakes Fishery, Grantham, Lincolnshire
Quality fishing can be had on all three day-ticket lakes here, with some of the best catches being taken from Willow Lake. The 21-peg water has four islands to fish to and is really well stocked with tench, roach, rudd, crucians and carp. Ton-up bags are possible, with the pole and caster being a great tactic for all species.
Contact: 01400 282190
Postcode: NG32 2LF
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