Know How To Fish For Tench

Tinca Tinca or Tench as it is more commonly known is by far one of my favorite species of fish. They are hard fighting and pound for pound the strongest of still water fish and surpassed only by the illusive Barbel where they can be found on rivers. As Tench feed off the grubs on the weed and bottom, as they do so they release air trapped within the lake bed and weed which can often be seen during the spring and summer months as a fizzing on the surface of the water. This is a sure sign that the Tench are on the move after the inactivity of the winter months and are feeding. So if you are lucky enough to have Tench in the waters close to you, how do you go about enticing this wily fish into sampling your bait?

There are numerous methods available and for those fishermen wishing to know how to fish for Tench here is a sample of a few of the best.

- Waggler Method

- Quiver tip method

- Ledgered bait using bite alarms

- Method Feeder using bite alarms.

By far the best method for fishing for Tench is the Waggler method. To employ this method use a 1 ¾ lb test curve match float rod with a reel holding 8lb line, a waggler float weighted down with split shot so that about 1cm of the tip of the float breaks the surface of the water; with a 2.2lb hook to nylon holding a size 14 hook. For those of your unaware of what I mean by test curve it really is quite simple; it is the weight required to bend the rod through 90 degrees. It really is that simple and do not let any salesman tell you otherwise. All this tackle is available at any angling store however that is only the start of knowing how to fish for Tench.

Early season Tench can be a lot easier to entice than later season fish as once caught, they become wary of certain baits so the sooner in the season you fish for these beautiful fish the better. Baits that can be used vary however the method which you choose will dictate which baits you can use. When  the best methods fishing waggler are chopped worm, maggot and sweetcorn. When you arrive at the water, mix some ground bait using the lake water and add some of the bait with which you are going to fish. Throw out a number (3-4) of golf ball sized ground bait mix balls. The mix wants to be wet enough to form a ball but so it breaks up as it sinks. Set your rod up and plumb the depth using a plummet. This is crucial as Tench feed off the bottom; if your hook is above the lake bed it is highly unlikely that you will catch Tench. As the Tench move onto the ground bait you will notice bubbles breaking the surface. Now is the time to get your bait into the water. Cast you bait past where you wish to fish and slowly bring it over your ground bait area. Keep the fish that are feeding on the ground bait competing by throwing a few maggots or chopped worm in every few minutes. Now is the time to be ready for the float to knock, dip and disappear under the surface. When this happens give a firm strike of the rod and feel the power of the illusive Tench.