Catching a big tench is difficult and its difficult for good reason. They grow slowly, they are not especially long-lived compared to some other coarse species, and unless a water has the right ingredients, they simply do not reach the sizes anglers fantasise about.
If you are searching for a genuine specimen rather than just a decent fish or two, venue choice becomes everything. These are some of the UK waters where a personal best tench is a realistic possibility.
Ryson Lake, Willowbrook Coarse Fisheries, Thrapston, Northants
If you’re looking for a venue that offers classic estate lake sport without breaking the bank, then rysons lake could be just the ticket.
There are 34 wooden platforms, so you can fish in comfort from your chair or seatbox. The best way to catch tench here is to bait a spot next to the lily pads with hemp and corn, and then fish a pole or waggler over the top with double corn or cubes of luncheon meat.
Contact: www.facebook.com
Wyreside Lakes, Dolphinholme, Lancashire
Although predominately a big-carp fishery, the river lake is coarse fishery and home to a range of species, including the odd quality tinca reportedly upto 9lb.
Everything from the waggler to the pole and feeder will work, and using larger baits such as pellets and corn gives you a chance of singling out a tench.
Contact: www.wyresidelakes.co.uk
Butterswood Lodge, Barton on Humber, Lincolnshire
At this attractive day-ticket fishery, you’ll find a water known as the tench pond which, as its name suggests, is home to good numbers of these fish.
You’ll find a bait shop at the fishery too that stocks fishery pellets as well as hookbaits and groundbait.
This venue is closed for day tickets on tuesdays, but it offers a year’s membership that allows you to fish whenever you like.
Contact: www.butterswoodlodge.co.uk
A1 pits, Newark, Nottinghamshire
Pits 3 and 4 are best for tench. The margins can drop to 8ft and the bottom is hard gravel. Feed hemp and micro pellets to draw tench into your swim and place a maggot feeder bolt rig over the top. Three red maggots on a size 14 hook will catch you fish all day long.
Day tickets are £10 and 24 hour ticket costs £25
Contact: www.a1pits.com
Float Fish Farm, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
The intimate, Home lake is the ideal place for an early-season tinca. You’ll find both the golden and green varieties on this water with fish to 8lb possible
Keep things simple, feeding maggots, pellets and a bit of corn, and try a variety of hookbaits over the top.
The staff at the fishery are incredibly helpful, so just ask if you’re unsure about tactics. Swims 6-13 can be booked online via an online booking form.
Contact: www.floatfishfarm.co.uk
Blickling Hall, Blickling, Norfolk
Set in the beautiful grounds of the blickling estate lies a tench angler’s paradise in the shape of a 20-acre lake.
The resident fish love natural cocktail hookbaits so it’s worth experimenting with maggots, corn and worms to see what works best on the day.
Day tickets are available via the Just Park App or by calling 07520 634455 use location code 998923. Prices are £7 day ticket (£5 concession) and parking £5 (free for national trust members)
Contact:www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Linear Fisheries, Witney, Oxfordshire
The most popular fishery in the land, it has a national reputation for its huge carp, but giant tench well into double figures also feature heavily.
Most of the lakes are home to potential personal bests, but the 14-acre manor farm is arguably the pick of the best, with boilies and pellets the most effective baits. Alternatively head to Hunts Corner pond for a more traditional approach, one rod only on this pond but the tench go 10lb.
Contact: www.linear-fisheries.co.uk
Hartley Lands Farm Fishery, Cranbrook, Kent
Head to Finches lake – an 11-swim water filled with a variety of species including some specimen tench to double figures. This mature water is a hidden gem and is tree-lined and filled with lily pads and reed beds – ideal features to fish alongside.
There’s a host of other species in this lake, so be prepared for a few surprises while you wait for the tench to show up! And if they do they go to 7lb!
Contact: www.hartleylandsfishery.co.uk
Horcott Lakes, Fariford, Gloucestershire
The Tench Lake at Horcott Fisheries is a classic Cotswold gravel pit of around three acres that offers something for a wide range of anglers. It is accessible enough for beginners and pleasure anglers, but it also has the stock and character to appeal to anyone targeting a proper specimen tench.
The lake holds a healthy head of fish, with tench averaging around 4lb to 5lb, plenty of 6lb to 7lb fish, and a handful that have pushed beyond the 10lb mark.
Swims can be booked online via gocatch website.
Contact: www.horcottlakes.co.uk
Stanwick Lakes, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Coot pool may be tiny, but it is home to some very impressive tench that run to over 7lb. Pole fishing 7m-10m out or underarming a method feeder out to the same distance will put you in with a shot at finding these impressive fish.
There are 5 other day ticket lakes on the complex Roman, Mallard, Elsons and Swan are all home to some specimen tench going 9lb+.
The best action tends to be experienced at first light and later in the day.
Contact: www.stanwicklakesfisheries.com
