Tench are great fish to catch as the weather warms up, they fight hard, look great and can be caught on a range of tactics! If you are looking to catch a netful of tench this season, why not try your luck at one of these great venues...
Harescombe Fishery, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
All the carp were removed from Pasture Lake at the beginning of the year, and tench made up a big part of the restocking. Fish to 5lb were introduced and they’ve been showing recently, with corn and casters fished just a rodlength or two out working well.
Contact: 07966 520004 or www.harescombefisheries.co.uk
THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS ARE PERFECT FOR TARGETING BIG TENCH!
Bishops Bowl, Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire
Walworth Lake is well worth the attention of tench fans, as Stephen Wroe proved by banking 83lb of them in a recent match! Fish maggots, worms and casters towards cover for fish to 4lb.
Contact: 07970196044 or www.bishopsbowlfishery.com
Jubilee Pools, Coventry, West Midlands
Controlled by Leamington AA, this complex regularly produces tench from 3lb-6lb. Float and feeder tactics both work, and following the wind can be key to locating the fish. Feed two lines and rotate them to maximise your chances of success.
Contact: 02476 223316 or www.leamingtonangling.co.uk
Marsh Farm Fisheries, Milford, Surrey
Harris is a very well-established, popular and productive day-ticket tench water, with fish to over 6lb banked regularly. Try a small Method feeder fished up to the island, or a waggler with pellets and corn close to marginal cover. There are lots of crucians present here too.
Contact: 01483 428885 or www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk
IF YOU WANT TO CATCH MORE TENCH, TRY THE WORM KEBAB!
Gillmans Lake, South Cerney, Gloucestershire
Located within the vast Cotswold Water Park, this often-overlooked water has incredible tench potential, and 40lb-plus catches are common. Look for bubbles or fizzing and then fish corn, micro pellets and maggots on the pole or waggler.
Contact: 01285 862716 or www.scac.org.uk
Great Linford Lakes, Newport Pagnell, Bucks
Fishing at range is often the key on the vast Blackhorse Lake, and a Method feeder at 50m-60m rarely fails. Tench to 6lb will contribute to catches, with bream to a similar size also likely to get involved. Rotate between micro pellets and groundbait on the feeder to keep the fish coming.
Contact: 07902 531188 or www.theparkstrust.com
Springvale Fishery, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Newcastle Lake is absolutely teeming with tench. Most of the fish are in the 12oz to 2lb bracket, and corn on a top kit close to the bank is the best way to tempt them. Drip-feed several grains every few minutes to prevent overfeeding and attracting too many carp.
Contact: 07720 581292 or www.springvalefishinglakes.co.uk
TENCH FISHING CAN BE A WAITING GAME, SIT COMFORTABLY IN ONE OF THE BEST FISHING CHAIRS!
Townsend Lakes, Wisbech, Norfolk
A large stocking of tench recently went into the silverfish side of the Cuckoo Canal, where pole fishing is the dominant tactic. Cover all your bases by having lines down the margins, the central track and tight to the far bank, using micros as feed and maggots on the hook to find the fish.
Contact: 01945 774008
Rycroft Fisheries, Castle Donington, Derbyshire
Moat Pool has been in terrific silverfish form in recent months, and tench often contribute to 30lb-plus hauls here. Worms and casters mixed in with a dark groundbait will get them grubbing around, and a large segment of a dendrobaena on the hook gives you a great chance of tench to 4lb
Contact: 07359 090991
Kiveton Waters, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
The lakes received a huge stocking of tench a couple of months ago, and superstar angler Matt Godfrey is among those to have sampled the brilliant action since. Expect fish from a few ounces to over 4lb on Eves, with long pole and maggot or expander pellet being the most reliable approach.
Contact: 07442 709338 or www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Stanwick Lakes, Wellingborough, Northants
The complex is famed for waters that are home to big carp, but it is the intimate and often forgotten Coot Lake that will interest tench anglers. Lily-lined and highly picturesque, it is home to fish to well over 8lb, and presenting a float or small feeder close to the numerous pads will produce bites.
Contact: 07974 300015 or www.stanwicklakesfisheries.com
IF YOU NEED EXTRA TIPS ON CATCHING TENCH, THIS ARTICLE IS FULL OF HELPFUL ADVICE!
Hibaldstow Lakes, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
The Specimen Lake has become one of the best tench fisheries in the UK over the last couple of years, with a dozen or more fish over 4lb possible in just a few hours of action. Lead around to find a spot clear of weed or boulders, and then use a Spomb to put down a bed of particles before presenting a Method feeder over the top.
Contact: 07960 784764 or www.hibaldstow-lakes.co.uk
Horcott Lakes, Fairford, Gloucestershire
The Tench Lake is home to plenty of the species that it is named after, and waggler tactics at close range can be very productive here. There are 10 swims to launch your attack from, with depths averaging
3ft-4ft. Corn, pellets and worms are arguably the top three hookbaits.
Contact: 07507 086634 or www.horcottlakes.co.uk
Anglers Paradise, Beaworthy, Devon
General Top Lake is home to several different varieties of tench, with green, golden and blue specimens among the stocks. Fish can be caught down the margins and at the bottom of the marginal slope, with corn and pellets scoring well over recent weeks.
Contact: 01409 221559 or www.anglers-paradise.co.uk
WHY NOT GET AWAY FROM IT ALL ON ONE OF THE BEST UK FISHING HOLIDAYS?
