Tench from a new water.

Following the success of 52 tench in 5 days fishing a total that included two 9lb’s, three 8lb’s, and loads of sixes and sevens I decided on a change of venue for one last fling before the Scottish trip.  Staying in the local area I chose a new water to me but one with a bit of a reputation for the odd good fish, say 9lb plus but maybe a very rare double, that would do, but first I must catch my first tench from the venue.

                                                   Small but the first and always worth a photo.

Arriving early in the afternoon I set about choosing a swim and decided to fish alongside one of the many islands about the lake, little did I realise the problem about to rear its ugly head.  As always when approaching a new swim let alone a new water, I cast about with tackle that includes a hook in order to detect weed, no problem there the bottom was covered.  Not the new growth of one of the seasonal weeds that can cause a problem, this was heavy blanket weed that remains throughout the hardest winter.  Cast after cast was made, probably over thirty in total before I had located two spots that did not seem quite as bad.

With the swims sorted I could get the tackle ready and I would use the same gear that had done me so well over the previous sessions.  This would be one rod on a flatbed method feeder with artificial buoyant corn, and the other using an inline maggot feeder, again with a single artificial buoyant maggot topped off with two or three natural companions.

                                                Still a gravel pit but nice veiw.

Great weather for fishing, reasonably mild, flat calm, overcast, though slight rain came in the late evening and it poured down just after I packed up.  The lake itself gave a superb view as I waited for some action, that did not take long but it didn’t last very long either as a probable carp ran me quickly into a close-by bush lying in the water.  That take came on the corn and it also produced a roach of about 10oz.  Fortunately for my current run of good luck I also landed three tench on the maggot to a pleasing weight of 6lb-10oz, not bad for my first visit though it will not be the last.

                                                          6lb-10oz first day prize.