My Facebook recently reminded me that I’d been out catching tench this time three years ago.
I quite like a reminder like that on a Monday morning.
Moving to a new town further out has put my tench fishing on hold for a couple of seasons.
But seeing some success reminded me about the old swims I’d seen when I was out doing my New Year’s resolution runs and got me planning some trips.
Tench are fascinating – the species is steeped in all sorts of folklore, including a myth that their thick coating of slime has magical healing powers.
They are a quintessential spring and summer species, although in the same parts of Scotland, they are a bit thinner on the ground.
They’re a bit of an anti-social fish, favouring feeding at first and last light and going very quiet during the colder months.
But when you can hold them in your swim, feeding hard with pin bubbles bursting around your float, there’s not much better.
My first tench run was when I was a skint student in Glasgow.
After a chat with JB in the tackle shop, I was up at 3.30am armed with an Avon rod, a waggler set up, some groundbait and a pillow stuffed in a bin bag to sit on.
Tench are a shy but inquisitive species and will actively investigate any disturbances.
Underwater filming has shown that although they’re easily spooked by poorly presented hookbaits, they are often the first species on the scene after baiting up.
Groundbait balled in at the start of a session sets the dinner plate for them and as the feed breaks down, it leaves a small patch of loose particles on the bottom for the fish to find.
Groundbait has lots of flavour to draw fish into the swim and if you use the right mix of particles – such as hemp, corn, casters and maggots – they will hold in your swim rooting around, hopefully finding your hookbait among them.
If you are float fishing for them, the lift method is my go-to for tench. It’s simple to set up, fishing slightly overdepth with all of the weight on the deck.
You tighten up to the float leaving just the tip showing so when a fish picks up the bait and dislodges the weight, the float lifts up and sits flat on the surface.
Many anglers who target tench have a great affection for them. They might not reach the specimen sizes and cult status of carp for coarse anglers but the Doctor Fish with its distinctive deep tail, rounded fins, red eye and olive colouring is one of the best coarse fish.
