Well due to work and getting engaged recently l have been limited to a few quick evening sessions tench bashing! Been fishing the same spot for 3 evenings ,feeding with hemp and corn and using an activ8 dumbbell cut down and topped with half a small northern special pop up in pink.This isn't my usual approach but until the water warms up and i start feeding a few secret spots,this felt the best way forward,and this is what unfolded.....
Monday 24th found me in a swim known as"the jungle",unfortunately i didn't arrive till 5.20pm,with the light just about to fade i spooned in some hemp and cast my rig over the top of it,I was only using my light stalking rod and 300 reel loaded with 6lb line so i wasn't expecting to break any records!
I sat in the dark in total darkness,rain pouring down around me,under my old leaky brolly,with my hood up! trying to watch the tip pull round wondering why? why wasn't i home watching the soaps,having a nice brew?
I suddenly remembered that i had a small flask of black coffee in my shoulder bag, and after a few mouthfuls of hot liquid i felt much better,after this i decided i would recast the rig again and top up the spot,but as i reached down for the rod it pulled away from me,in the direction of the water, fish on ! A good fight ensued and it was a real struggle to land ,my headlamp was nearly flat and i couldn't see where the line went into the water,i just held on ,finger on the spool,letting it take line on the clutch.it seemed like ages before she hit the net and i was made up! not a tinca but a beautiful mirror!.cracking....unexpected,but cracking all the same.
I took a couple of pics on the mat and one in the net,then let her free to swim amongst her kind,i didn't do her the injustice of weighing her but from size i reckoned around 15lb or so.Shortly after a recast i had a real savage pull which resulted in a break off so i changed spool for the spare which had 10lb line on.I carried on waiting for another 40 mins or so but nothing was forthcoming,so i had another cup of coffee then packed up as i had run out of time,vowing to return the following day to fish over the same spot.Another scoop of hemp and corn over the spot as i left for home.
Tuesday the 25th saw me return once more to the same swim ,however this time i had opted to bring my carp rods and alarms.Trying to watch a tip pull round in the dark is almost hypnotic and very tiring on the eyes.I set up using the same rig as before but one had a northern special tip on and the other had a dairy cream and pineapple tipper on.I spooned some hemp and corn in and put the pink northern rig on the spot,I put the other to the far margin under an overhanging bush,sat and waited,
About 7.15 a good size fish came out the water really close in which proper made me jump,woke me up to be honest,but i was confident i was gonna catch,and catch i did,albeit a fair size tinca with attitude,proper nailed on the custom bottom rig,fought really well,even on my carp rods!!
I returned this beauty and packed up, not realizing i was late! i set myself a target of 8pm at the latest to get away ,so i only really get just over 2hours each trip by the time i get there and set up etc.Although to be honest 2 hours is enough normally.When i got home i discovered i was out of hook baits,so i knew i would have to fish a couple out of the hemp and corn mix until new supplies were obtained.
Wednesday evening saw me return to find 1 car in the car park,and unbelievably my swim was taken,not unusual for a day ticket water,so i opted for the lower lake ,putting one under the tree and one near the dam wall,within minutes the right hand rod rattled off and as i was playing this fish the left hand rod went too! chaos but good fun ! i got the one from the right in first as it was near snags and as soon as she was in the net i set about landing the other,good fun,great sport and quite a laugh ,the tench do seem to love a bright hookbait.shortly after this scenario i packed up as i was dog tired from the previous trips,what with working 9 hours a day too!.cant wait to return,gonna focus on the members lake this year to see what i can bank.
You got to love a tinca in February!!
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