GAME CHANGER Depth raid for big tench
“When it’s like this, it’s crucial to find the correct depth the tench are feeding in. During my recent three-day session I managed to do just that and had a good hit of fish, topped by a PB male weighing 9lb 5oz.
“One of the lakes on my complex of choice has a good head of fish, but despite the tricky conditions I turned the van towards the more challenging lake, where I know the big girls live.
“It was fairly busy, but I got a favoured peg that gave me a range of depths to explore, from shallow areas to deep gulleys. I figured if I could find the depth the fish were feeding in I’d have a better chance of success, rather than heading to either the shallow or deep area of the lake and committing myself to one spot. It’s the tench equivalent to fishing zig rigs for carp, and I spread three rods across the swim, all in different depths – one went into an 8ft hole, another on a 5ft deep clear spot at long range, the other into 10ft of water just where the weed stopped.
“I baited each lightly, with three small Spombs of hemp and tiny pellets, fishing large openend feeders over the top, tightly packed with a sandwich of chopped worm and groundbait.
“It was 24 hours before the first tench turned up – a seven-pounder from the 10ft deep spot to get the ball rolling. I switched another of the rods from the shallow area on to it and focused on that one area, pinpointing my approach and fishing accurately over a tight bed of bait.
“The plan worked a treat, with every fish coming from that one spot, including the 9lb 5oz male. It gave a slow and steady take, and I picked up into what was obviously a better fish – a superb-looking tench in the morning sun.
“As the session progressed every weather front was thrown at me – typical of this spring, but I was up at 4am each morning watching them roll over that one spot. A few more slipped up on that trip, all over 7lb, including an 8lb 3oz female.
“Next time you go tench fishing, try different depths until you find where fish are. Once you’re on them, concentrate on the spot. This lets you make the most of this tricky time of year.”
“It’s crucial to find the correct depth the tench are feeding in”