Qustions about Tench...

[eljeffo]

Ok, When fishing for tench, does anyone prepare the fishing pool the day before? I was told to reke the bottom and pull some weeds and then put out my bloodbait. Does that sound right? Also do they really have bad eyesight?
Do the emit those bubbles when feeding in the mud or is that the mud releasing the suspended methane gas? Just a curious Yank planning on fishing there soon.

[Greenheart]

Originally Posted by eljeffo

Ok, When fishing for tench, does anyone prepare the fishing pool the day before? I was told to reke the bottom and pull some weeds and then put out my bloodbait. Does that sound right? Also do they really have bad eyesight?
Do the emit those bubbles when feeding in the mud or is that the mud releasing the suspended methane gas? Just a curious Yank planning on fishing there soon.

Hi Eljefo, I believe it can help to rake a swim before fishing for tench, but I have never found it necessary. I think that as our little island has so many anglers, that good swims never get that overgrown unless you are lucky enough to have exclusive access to a water. It almost always pays to use groundbait though with a few free samples added. I usually fish Bread or Sweetcorn over a bed of 50/50 Brown Crumb & Van den Eynde Expo red groundbait. Not sure, but I think the bubbles are created as the fish filters silt for particles of food & are probably methane from the sediment. Tench bubbles are much finer than Carp bubbles though & could be best described as fizzing. Also not sure about Tench eyesight. I think their sense of smell counts for more though, as they have no problem finding food even in the muddiest & murkiest conditions. Hope this helps. When are you comming over here?

[eljeffo]

Going to Deer Park, Honiton,South Devon Hotel? Does anyone know of these places? I would like to go sometime soon but trying to pick a descent flat. Maybe in a month or so. Ok, I need your opinions....How about the Woodford Bridge Hotel, Milton Dameril, North Devon. Gliffaes Country house Hotel, Crickhowell, Breconshire, South Wales. Talbot Hotel, Tregaron, Cardiganshire.
Any of these sound good to you?

[Greenheart]

I believe the Deer Park hotel at Honiton has a good reputation & is near to the River Otter which has some Good Trout fishing. It's also close to famous game fishing rivers such as the Dart, Teign & Exe. There is also a good Pub (Whose name escapes me) nearby & right beside the river, that serves good food & beer. You would be well placed to meet some of the other forum members here as it is fairly near to the south Devon coast where a few of them live. The Gliffaes Country house Hotel is a famous sporting hotel near the river Usk & it has it's own Water. Good Salmon, Trout & Sea Trout water.

[eljeffo]

Originally Posted by Greenheart

I believe the Deer Park hotel at Honiton has a good reputation & is near to the River Otter which has some Good Trout fishing. It's also close to famous game fishing rivers such as the Dart, Teign & Exe. There is also a good Pub (Whose name escapes me) nearby & right beside the river, that serves good food & beer. You would be well placed to meet some of the other forum members here as it is fairly near to the south Devon coast where a few of them live. The Gliffaes Country house Hotel is a famous sporting hotel near the river Usk & it has it's own Water. Good Salmon, Trout & Sea Trout water.

Thank you! Reservations have been made! I cant wait! Probably have trouble now though cause of all the "terrorists" trying to blow up everything. Did any of that effect any of you? I heard that some people were trying to use some kind of liquid explosive or something of the sort here in U.S. and heard about some people being investigated in U.K. Just wondered if there is any breaking news there or anything? Figures, Just when I wanna go fishing some idiots try something stupid!
Cheers Mate!

[Bigdave]

Hiya mate, yeah raking the bottom can really work well as it not only gets you a clear patch it disturbs all the natural food and the fish home in on the disturbance. Red coloured groundbait can be really good with sweetcorn and plenty of hemp in the mix maybe try adding some thick sweet mollasses as well. Also add some dead maggots. Sweet flavours can work well but on some waters fishmeal may be better. Bait wise sweetcorn, bread maggots and luncheon meat are all good so are small fishmeal boilies. I'm not to sure about the bad eyesight part, I think they have little eyes because they spend much of their time rummaging about on the bottom but they seem to be able to see alright. Anyway goodluck and tightlines!!!

[eljeffo]

thank you Bigdave! I have never fished for Tench before but am coming over to give it a go! I did however catch a huge carp last month though! those things really put up a battle! I love the U.K. and hope to move there someday as I am originally from Munich Germany. Tight lines to you too mate! CHEERS!