Two-time Drennan Cup winner Simon Daley had a memorable end to his spring tench campaign when he landed this 12lb 1oz specimen alongside another cracker weighing 10lb 10oz.
The fish came from a Kent gravel pit where Simon was targeting tench for one of the last times this year, hoping for a few bites before turning his attention to fishing the rivers. Rather than searching for clear gravel spots, as many anglers do, Simon sought out silkweed areas, which he’s confident in fishing over.
To do so, he uses inline maggot feeders, which he fills withchopped worm and casters, and uses segments of hair-rigged chopped worm as his hookbait. To help this settle on the weed, Simon adds a piece of PVA foam around his hook, which ensures it’ll fall slowly to the bottom once the foam has dissolved.
This, combined with a 20lb fluorocarbon hooklink, which has sufficient stiffness to kick his hookbait away from the feeder, offers excellent presentation.
Simon fed around 10 Spombs of micro pellets, maggots and chopped worm, with the ten-pounder coming in the morning of his session, and the ‘twelve’ later in the afternoon.
WE ASKED THE BEST SPECIMEN ANGLERS TO REVEAL THEIR BEST TIPS FOR CATCHING TENCH.
Subscribe to Angling Times magazine today. Choose a Print+ Subscription and you'll get instant digital access and so much more. PLUS FREE UK delivery.