Estate Lake Tench

[sammy-boy]

Had a great evening / night / early morning tench session at dudmaston hall last night. I had around a dozen between 3 - 5lb all real fighters started off around 8pm using sonu baits hemp and hali crush mixed with some brown crum and molasses meal as my groudbait, using the oil from my hemp to bind it together. I fished an open ended feeder with corn, over a bed of hemp i catapaulted out just beyond ( 1 or 2 feet) some lily pads where there was a shelf. The water dropt from around 5/6 ft to 10/12 ft so it was a pefect place for the tench to patrol.
My first bite came within minutes and my rod was literally ripped around 90 degrees to my sheer amazement. The fish was fighting really hard, and i was using fairly heavy tackle. The biggest shock came when i saw how small the fish was ! i couldnt believe such a small 3/4lb fish could fight so hard !
I had a few more fish until about 10 when things seemed to die. I was sure the fish were still there, but were no longer feeding on my corn hookbaits so i swapt over to meat. This definately paid off ! All of a sudden i was getting bites and fish again and this continued up until around 2-3am when things died once more.
About 4am when it started to get light i had a couple more fish, again on meat and corn hookbaits. By 5 30am it was time for me to pack up The fish had again stopped feeding and i couldn't stay any longer waiting for them to start feeding again.
All in all it was one of the best fishing experiences i've had. I shall be going back next week for another crack at the tench, this time trying different hookbaits and tactics If you've never fished for tench i would strongly recomend it. Pound for pound they fight harder than any coarse fish i know, even barbel, and they make carp of the same size seem a walk in the park. It's not fail proof, but if you can find some lily pads and an undewater shelf on an estate lake, im sure your catch a few of these truely beautiful fish



sammy-boy

[fozzie]

Yes mate, sounds like a great day. Tench are great fish, one of my favourites.

I've found them in a local canal for the first time this year, around an overhanging tree. About 3 - 4 lb's in size and they fight like the clackers, fishing on 3lb line.

One dragged me 50 yards down the side of the bank.

[MJJM]

wtg, looks like you had a good session

[Norton1]

Thats great fishing.