Tench on the pole

[jhock]

Hi guys,

any one got ant tips for Tench on the pole?

My lake where I fish has some good Tench in it but also has a lot Carp, so can any one suggest a good way to target the Tench?

[jeppo]

i dont really fish for tench in lakes, but in the river nene i always put a bulk of shot nearish the hook to get my bait past the roach untouched, i use a bait dropper which i fill with chopped worm and caster and put 2-4 lots in before i start fishing. tench love worm, i then cut worm in half and hook the end that has been cut. if i get bothered by little perch i add a caster to this. you may get carp on this aswell. i dont know if this has helped much but thought id try :)

[fullcreel]

Smaller baits seem to get the tench in one of my local waters. Small rough edges of lidl's bacon grill accounterd for a wonderful eve, last summer, 10 tench, 1 carp, and some very nice roach. Loacation is a key to, prob is what tench like is also liked by other species, so some tough tackle in case of the carp.
I guess the old saying of watching the water will help, try to spend an eve spotting for tench bubbles, work out their patrol area's.

[BoldBear]

I don't think theres a lot that can be done to seperate the Tench bites from the Carp bites as they seem to like the same food and even if you are fishing hard on the bottom using a smelly bait the Carp will find it even if they are feeding on the surface.
I would try standard Tench baits such as breadflake, sweetcorn, small redworms or sectons of Lobworm, BreadPaste, Pellets (Lamprey is good even in winter) or red maggots, or what fulcreel suggested Bacon Grill or Luncheonmeat.
Fish overdepth with around 4 to 5 inches (or more) on the bottom and use a small dropper shot just off the bottom.
Don't ignore the margins, tight up to lily beds (in the summer) and reed beds and against Islands or around submerged bars.
They tend to move away from the lilies once they start to rot but love them at all other times.
I love early morning waggler fishing for them near the margins in May/June/July or use the Pole but once the sun gets high the Tench seem to move into deeper water so I will then change over to a feeder approach.
I usually use 3 to 4lb line but if the Tench grow large in the lake I will move up and have used lines up to around 8lb some people even use heavier line.
Hooks are usually size 14's but it depends on the bait size I am using.
Hope this helps you, I've probably been telling you what you already knew,
Tight Lines.
BB

[bigfin]

Hi, I have caught a lot of Tench best being just over 12lb. I use a float rod armed with 5lb line which gives great fun. I would stay away from maggots and casters as you will get pestered by the roach. Top bait, go to your fish monger and get a couple of pints of cockals as hook bait. fish over groundbait (hemp if possible, tench love it).
By using cockals you will also improve your chances with the carp, I caught a cracking 29lb Common on 5lb line back in September this way.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by bigfin

Hi, I have caught a lot of Tench best being just over 12lb. I use a float rod armed with 5lb line which gives great fun. I would stay away from maggots and casters as you will get pestered by the roach. Top bait, go to your fish monger and get a couple of pints of cockals as hook bait. fish over groundbait (hemp if possible, tench love it).
By using cockals you will also improve your chances with the carp, I caught a cracking 29lb Common on 5lb line back in September this way.

Hi bigfin.... just a quick question... how would you attach a cockal?

Kind regards

[bigfin]

I use a hair rig and give a couple of bait stops at the end to hold it in place. I normally go for around 3-4 cockals on each rig. They will hold well but I don't tend to cast silly distances with them. They are also good to try and stalk carp with when nothing is happening. (under trees and around the lillie pads).

[Fitz]

OK thanks mate.

Regards