Catching Autumnal Tench

With

Ray Best

With the evenings becoming increasingly longer and cooler, this is a sure fire way of recognising that the summer is coming to a close and autumn is well and truly on her way. For many anglers, myself included this is the most spectacular time of the year with Mother Nature looking her very best and producing arguably the most beautiful display of colour for our visual delights that she has to offer. Autumn is also the noted season that in my opinion offers the angler the best opportunity to catch specimen fish of all species, with the added bonus that they will be looking there very best. With legions of anglers out on the bank in search of barbel and carp as the chosen autumnal treasure, one species that rarely gets a mention or the number of anglers targeting them as they deserve are possibly one of our finest species to grace British waters, the tench.

Contrary to public belief, the tench (Tinca tinca) is a fish that can be caught pretty much all year round but because they carry more body weight during the spring months that lead up to them spawning, this is when the majority of specialist and coarse anglers decide to target this species but in my opinion these hard fighting creatures will offer you excellent sport all through the summer months and deep into the autumn. After targeting tench for many years on numerous different types of venue, I soon discovered that tench will feed confidently in the cooler months of autumn. I have also learned that by simplifying your terminal tackle and scaling things down, you could still have excellent sport from these red eyed beauties even when frosts are on the ground and temperatures have dropped dramatically.

Locating Autumnal Tench

During the cooler autumnal months spend some time studying the venue you are planning to fish. Establish an area of the lake where the fish show regularly, then using a marker rod, spend time mapping out this area looking for deep runs, clear areas in weed beds, gravel bars or any other underwater feature that might potentially be of interest to feeding fish. Obviously consider all visible features as well, with lily pads, reed beds, islands and deep margins all having the potential of holding and attracting large numbers of feeding tench. Another option is ask the venue experts for information about pegs, noted fish areas and any recent catch reports they may know about. This info can be priceless in your search for the right spot but should only be used as a guide.

TOP TIP I have learned over the years that many anglers will give half cocked facts to protect there spots and secrets (they all have one). So even if you know the angler and trust there judgement, still study the venue for yourself and find the fish. If you get your reconnaissance right, you will definitely reap the rewards from the time and effort spent learning your venue.

A Guide To The Tools Of The Trade

Rods & Reels

I’m a fond believer in using a rod that has a progressive through action with plenty of power in the butt section for my tench fishing. Over the years I have used several different rods designed for big fish situations but my personal preference is without question a 12 foot barbel or specialist style rod in the 1.75 to 2.0lb test curve category.  At present I use the superb Sonik Sports SK3 Pro-Specialist twin tip in 2lb test curve. This excellent rod makes it possible to cast your rig accurately and when required control these hard fighting fish with total authority. Which ever rod you choose, it must have an action forgiving enough to allow the use of smaller hooks and lighter hook lengths when necessary.

To accompany your rod, a reel is required that offers ample line capacity. A responsive clutch control system with instant, precise adjustment when playing fish and if you are planning on night fishing a baitrunner or free-spool function is a MUST HAVE. My personal preference is for the Shimano Baitrunner DL 4000FA, which is a quality all round specialist reel with Baitrunner facility and a front drag system. Alternatively, UKMA can recommend the superb Team Daiwa® Match 4012 which has a glorious front drag system and if you rotate the drag in an anti clockwise direction (720 degrees or two complete rotations) the spool can be set to operate in a Free-Spool mode.

Reel Lines

When targeting hard fighting fish like tench you need a reliable reel line that has a breaking strain of between 6lbs & 10lbs. The reel line must also be fast sinking, have good abrasion resistant qualities, excellent knot strength and as close to zero memory as possible. There are several good quality lines on the market at present but over time I have found the Kryston Snyde in 9lbs BS is one of the fastest sinking lines I have ever used and is pretty much as reliable as a reel line can get. For the angler who fishes on a tighter budget, there is no better reel line solution than the Daiwa Sensor. It is available in 6lbs, 8lbs and 10lbs bulk spool and you get well over a 1300m for less than £9 and it is more than capable of handling this type of work.

Hooks

You simply can’t take any chances when selecting the right pattern of hook for big tench fishing. You are looking at using hooks no bigger than a size 10 but when the going gets hard later in the year I use size 12’s and on those really hard days will drop down to a size 14 hook. I have always used eyed hooks for this style of fishing and they have never let me down, yes you can use spade ends but as most of my baits are presented on a hair rig I find it easier to use eyed. There are three patterns that have worked for me over recent years; these are the Nash Fang X, Drennan Super Specialist Barbel and Gardner Tackles Talon Tip. All three patterns are exceptionally sharp and are as strong a hook as you will find on the market.

Hook Lengths

Over the past two decades I have tried numerous different hook lengths both mono and braided when fishing for tench and to be totally honest I have never really decided which works best as I have had similar results with both. One thing I have definitely taken on board is that when fishing on weedy venues I have better results when using supple, braided hook lengths but on venues with a clear clay or gravel bottoms I have had far better results when using mono hook lengths. Why exactly, I don’t know but over the years the result achieved when using the different hook length materials in these previously mentioned situations speak volumes.

When it comes to braids the now legendary Silkworm from Kryston along with Korda’s Super Natural have both produced exceptional results for me over the past decade or so. More recently I was introduced to the Trickster Heavy in camo brown and camo green by Gardner Tackle’s Alan Stagg and I have found it to perform superbly on weedy venues. On the mono front Drennan Double strength in 8 & 10lbs is a classic hook length that I have personally used for many years and it does its job today as well as it did 10 years ago. My alternative selection is the mega supple Krystonite from Kryston in 12lbs, this slow sinking mono is as tough as they come.

Leads

I like to keep my rigs as low profile and non obtrusive as possible when targeting tench, even when they are really having it, but especially so when a cautious approach is needed. Since 2004 I have developed an all-year round rig for my tench fishing that puts the humble cage feeder and block end feeders to rest once and for all. Over the years I have noted that specimen tench tend to back away from feeders and recognise them as a potential danger. With big tench having a reputation for being one of the most cautious creatures that swims in our rivers and lakes, I have now re-designed my rigs and have totally stopped using feeders. I now incorporate the use of low profile, flat leads that I truly believe have helped improve my all round presentation and assisted in upping my catch rate, but I’m quite sure that some reading this will disagree.

I have two favourite styles of leads that since there released have now taken centre stage in my lead bag for this style of rig. My first choice is the latest addition to the Nash Tackle TT lead range the superb In-line Flat Leads in 1.5oz, 2.0oz and 2.5oz sizes. These well designed in-line leads hold claim to being the lowest profile leads currently available in the U.K and are available in two textured camo coatings which can be soaked in liquid flavours to add attraction to your feed area when particles are not the order of the day. Alternatively if I’m using a lead clip set up I prefer to use the new Solar Tackle Diamond Grip leads in 2oz & 3oz sizes. Both sizes are available in either camo brown or weed green and these quality leads really do hold bottom well.

Leaders

Over the past few years I have had a re-think and developed what has become an all year round rig that is very simple to put together and is as effective as any rig I have ever used for tench.  Rather than fishing with leads attached to rig booms that were free running and to be totally honest pretty much old hat, I know incorporate the use of camouflaged leaders to present my baited rigs. My first choice every time when selecting a leader has to be the Nash Diffusion Camo leaders. Being arguably the best leaders on the market is a very big reputation to carry but these excellent camo leaders simply give you the piece of mind that no matter where your rig lands on the lake bed, it will blend in perfectly, reducing any chance of spooking your targeted species.

Nash has now released a range of Diffusion Camo leaders that are ready to use straight out of the pack. There are four different options in the range; you have a Run Rig Leader and the Weed Safety Bolt Bead Leader. The remaining two Leaders in the range, I found to be the perfect spines to build these productive tench rigs around. First up is the Safety Bolt Bead Leader, this is designed to work perfectly when casting distances up to 75 yards and when you might need to drop your lead in a weedy environment.  

My second choice is the classic Helicopter Leader which I now use for all my margin presentations or when fishing to features up to 40 yards out. Both of these rigs are designed to be used when using PVA mesh bags to feed a swim.

Rig Accessories

One of the simplest yet most effective components added to the Helicopter Rig is the PVA bag ring swivels from Solar Tackle. You attach the swivel to the leader by pushing the leader’s bottom loop through the size 8 swivels top eye and then pull the PVA Bag ring swivel through the loop of the leader and gently pull the leader back up the swivel to create a sold link. Once attached to the leader the PVA bag ring swivels are designed to lock and fit perfectly into the base of an in-line lead. What then remains visible at the base of the lead is the giant O ring with a retaining slot at the bottom. To attach your PVA Mesh all you have to do is put the knot at the top of the PVA tube inside the giant O ring and pull the knot into the retaining slot and you have a solid connection between the rig and PVA mesh.

Tying & Attaching The Hooklengths

I keep the hook lengths I use nice and simple, choose your rig material and cut off a length, 12’’ long. Tie a small loop in one end to create the hair and clip of any tag. Then tie a standard knotless knot making sure the hair rig is long enough to comfortably house three artificial maggots or casters stacked side by side. To complete the rig and make it ultra effective, I put a piece of shrink tube about 10mm in length over the eye of the hook. By steaming the rig tube you can create a turn that will help prevent the hook being ejected by the fish on it enters the mouth.

I would normally use two totally different set ups, each requires its own method of hook length attachment. The Helicopter Rig uses a very straight forward connection, simply tie your hair rig and cut the hook length material to the required length. Then simply attach the hook length to the size 8 swivel attached to the Helicopter bead on the leader. I have used the same five turn blood knot for years to attach my hook lengths to swivels, this knot that is simple to tie, totally reliable and has never let me down.

The Safety Bolt Bead Leader has a large O ring linked to the swivel that sits inside the lead clip fixed to the leader. The hook length is attached to this O ring with a quick change adaptor and a small length of silicone sleeve. Simply thread the silicone sleeve over your hook length and let it fall to your hook. Then tie a loop and trim of the tag, then simply attach the loop to the quick change connector and pull the silicone sleeve over the connector to secure the hook length in place and keep things nice and tidy.  

Baits

I have found that tench will pretty much eat any particle, natural grub or supermarket treat that you put under there nose as this is when they start to pile on the pounds for winter. Worms, sweetcorn, meat, pellets and boillies, all have a deserved place on the tench’s autumn dinner table. However, the baits that rule the roost and dominate my autumn tench angling are without question the good old red maggots and casters combination. Over the many years I have fished for tench these two baits have accounted for numerous good tench hauls including catches of 30 tench plus and combined weights of well over 150lbs. No other hook bait I have used has ever produced a weight of tench for me personally over the 150lbs and I have tried hard with numerous bait options.

TOP TIP ONE When fishing for tench with red maggot and casters, on virtually every venue that I have fished, the imitation maggots and caster both produce fish as well as the more natural counterparts. This means that you can cast your baited rigs loaded with artificial hook baits at distance with the knowledge that your hook bait will arrived at its final destination in tack.

TOP TIP TWO You now also have the option to present your artificial maggots and casters on a hair rig rather than directly on the hook. This gives you a more natural bait presentation and also allows the hook to penetrate the fish’s mouth cleanly without restriction to the movement.

Feed Preparation & Feeding

I like to prepare the feed pretty much as I need it on the bank. One of the biggest problems with using PVA mesh to carry your feed is that maggots and casters carry moisture and can make PVA dissolve prematurely. To eliminate this problem simply place a mixture of maggot and caster into a large bait box. Then add a small quantity of natural or green betaine Swim Stim feed pellets and mix together. This will add extra attraction and absorb any unwanted moisture on the maggots or casters before loading the mix into the PVA mesh.

When fishing for tench I like to offer a mixed bag of feed to keep them stimulated and rummaging around looking for food. One sure fire way of making this happen is to add dead red maggots to your live maggots and casters combination. With a minimal amount of feed pellet being used in the mix the tench instantly feed on the free offerings rather than becoming pre-occupied with the micro pellets which they will do if you overfeed your swim micro pellet. By considering your options and regularly feeding you will soon estimate how much or how little feed the fish want, on any given day.

As things start to cool down I like to work by the rule of little and often. I would normally start a session by regularly casting small PVA mesh bags approximately the size of a squash ball every half an hour to try and stimulate some kind of activity. I keep this going for the first 3 hours of the session, after this time if there is still no sign of fish activity, I would then re-cast with just my baited rig with no feed, just to try and figure out if the fish are backing away from the feed. If fish are present in the swim the chances are that a single hook bait will be seen as a safe bet by even the most cautious of fish that have learned over time to avoid baited areas, as they associate this activity as a potential danger.

TOP TIP ONE Autumn can be a very rewarding time of the year for the tench angler. To get the very best from a session in September and October you should obey one simple rule, which is “NEVER pile in the feed at the start of a session. ALWAYS feed little and often. If the fish start really having it then up the feed but I prefer to feed after each individual bite rather than constantly feeding for a bite.

TOP TIP TWO I was told by a great angler many moons ago that “you can always put more feed in but you can’t take it out” Over the years I have caught more fish by following this rule that any other tip I have been given. This is without question the golden rule of autumnal angling and it should be printed on our Rod Licences to remind us because we all forget.

Bite Indication

You’ve found your spots, made your rigs, sorted your hook baits and feed out now your need a reliable form of bite indication. To be totally honest you don’t need to spend £150 on each alarm for your tench fish. What you are looking for is an alarm that offers good bite recognition and all round reliability. There are several that fit the bill including ATTs alarms, the classic Neville alarms, the CHUB Neutron T3 & T5 and Gardner Tackles TLB alarms are all ideal for the job and all offer great value for money.

When choosing an indicator I always use as light an indicator as possible but this is my personal preference and not critical because even in cold weather the bite recognition from a good tench is near unmissable. Realistically the only time I use the indicator for bite recognition is when the fish picks up the rig and heads towards you, this type of bite is called a “drop back” which registers as the indicator drops from its set position and lowers toward the ground and is a common occurrence when fishing for tench in cool conditions.

TOP TIP The weight of the indicator may have to be adjusted dependant on the under tow on any given session. If the wind is blowing white horses at you, then add extra weight to counter act the tow and stabilise your indicator. If the conditions are calm, reduce the weight to suit the conditions.

Foot Note

This is how I target specimen tench during the autumnal months. These tactics rigs and baits have all produced the good for me and all have been tried, tested and proven to work on the venues I regularly visit. This is not the be all and end all of tench fishing by any means; it is purely a guide to illustrate the tactics that I have personally used to put numerous tench on the bank in autumnal situations, when many anglers ignore the species completely. Tench are there for the taking in autumn so rather than spend your entire weekend chasing carp, be creative with your fishing and try and entice a big tinca into take your bait, it’s far more rewarding than a blank!

All the "Best",

Ray Best