MIKE TOWNSEND 10lb 5oz

A 300-MILE-plus round trip to a southern gravel pit rewarded Mike Townsend with his first tench of the season – at 10lb 5oz. The Yorkshire rod targeted an area just short of a gravel bar at 40 yards. Four spods of maggots, hemp, pellets and chopped worm tempted the specimen, along with a smaller one of 8lb 14oz. Both fish were taken on an open-ended feeder helicopter rig, with a hair-rigged worm hookbait on a size 12 hook and 8lb hooklink.