Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Tench on the waggler
Catching tench in the margins is what summer fishing is all about. Top all- rounder Simon Ashton details his favourite approach for the species
For the past decade my spring and early summer angling pursuits have been predominantly focused on one species. It’s one that just about every coarse angler the length and breadth of the country loves – tench. Beautiful, olive green and hard- fighting they tick all of my boxes!
In 2009 I set myself a goal of catching what every specimen tench angler dreams of – a fish over the iconic double- figure mark. Exactly one month ago I achieved what at times seemed like an impossible dream and banked an incredible fish of 10lb 8oz.
In my quest to catch this elusive specimen I’ve fished various methods, from scaled- down carp rigs to bolt rig maggot feeders ( the latter being by far the most effective).
But there is one technique that stands head and shoulders above all others in terms of enjoyment. Standing waist deep in the water watching a float as the first rays of the morning sun breach the horizon and mist rises from a sleeping lake only interrupted by a carp crashing in the distance or a big old dark tinca rolling gracefully over your baited swim, is unrivalled.
If I was restricted to only one way of fishing, it would be this. As the water temperatures soar, carp and other species gather in and around the margins ready for their annual spawning ritual. This is when tench move in and feast on the abundant supply of high protein eggs. I have found that the best tactic to catch them in this situation is a large peacock waggler set- up to fish lift method style.
What is the lift method?
It’s a simple float set- up using a large waggler fished overdepth. Instead of the bulk shot being attached around the eye of the float, most of it is anchored on the deck about six inches from the hook. The trick is to plumb up so that 25 per cent of the float sits clear of the surface. Then put your rod tip under the water, sink your line, then pop your rod on the rest and wind down slowly until only an inch of the tip is showing.
The key element here is to sit on your hands and don’t strike as you normally would when the float dips or goes sideways. Only strike when the float lifts up and holds there. When a fish sucks in your hookbait the shot is dislodged and up she goes. It’s a devastating method with most bites resulting in hook- ups.
Look for a swim with cover where the tench will feel safe. Features such as overhanging trees or bushes are perfect. Lily pads are another firm favourite for tench to frequent and they can often be tempted to feed throughout the day under the shadows created by the pads.
Tackle up accordingly, though. Tench have some serious fighting power – your muscles will certainly know about it when you try and stop one find sanctuary in any cover. I use a powerful 1lb test curve 12ft waggler rod and 6lb Drennan Supplex line straight through to the hook, the size of which depends on the bait I’m using. For maggots and casters, I use a size 16 Drennan Specimen Plus and for worm or flake I go for a size 10 in the same pattern.
Clear your spots
It’s important to plumb up before you start fishing so you know what depth of water you’re fishing in and what the bottom’s like. The last thing you want is branches and decaying weed littering the lakebed where you’re going to introduce bait and fish over as it will hinder your line lay and presentation.
A simple solution to clear any debris is to use a rake. Just remove the head of a standard rake and drill a small hole in the middle to which you attach 6m of thin rope. Wade out into the lake and repeatedly underarm throw it past your spot before dragging it back to remove any unwanted aquatic weed growth or rotting leaves/ twigs until the lakebed is clean and ready to bait up. Check with the fishery rules that wading and raking is permitted.
Once the spot is cleared you just need some groundbait to draw the fish in. Last season I began to use Sonubaits’ Worm Fishmeal laced with casters, micro pellets, hemp and liquid worm as an extra attraction. Boy does it get them fizzing! One session last year I landed 44 tench in two consecutive mornings while the rest of the lake produced nothing.
Getting the spot fizzing
For this feature I fished the stunning Lymmvale in Whitegate, Cheshire. The tench were already active at first light, several rolling as I walked quietly along the east bank. I was pleased to find the peg I’d had the big hit from last season vacant. Overhanging bushes stretch out into the lake with 8ft of depth under the canopy. Perfect cover. As the lake was quiet I had a couple of throws with my rake to remove any debris.
The previous night I’d prepared groundbait and particles. The mix comprised Worm Fishmeal, casters, micro pellets, crushed hemp and bread crumb. I also added some lightly blended slices of bread and mixed the lot with some water and a whole bottle of liquid worm for maximum attraction. I finished the mix off with a sprinkling of Powdered Krill. Orange sized balls were soon breaking up on the lake bed as the crushed hemp began started fizzing.
Hold on tight!
I’d set- up with a centrepin loaded with 6lb straight through and attached a Drennan loaded waggler. I replaced the weight on the waggler with a lighter version so I could put more shot closer to the business end.
At 6am, after introducing another four medium- sized balls of groundbait and a couple of pouches of caster, hemp and micro pellets, it was time to make my first cast. After pinching on a 50p piece sized flake onto the hook I pulled a length of line from my centerpin and
underarmed the rig to land within 2ft of the overhanging trees. I waited for the tiny olivette to drop, lowered the rod on to the rest and tightened down. As the minutes ticked by a stream of pinprick bubbles edged closer. Suddenly, the float dipped out of sight. I resisted the temptation to strike and waited until the float popped up and kept rising. “Fish on,” I shouted.
The fish dived into the cover but I applied maximum pressure to stop it. Within minutes I had a plump tench within netting rage. One scoop and she was mine. As she rested in the landing net I balled in another helping of goodies and catapulted more particles before weighing my prize. The scales read 7lb 12oz – what a start.
Over the next two hours I landed several more fish to 7lb 10oz before sport dwindled. The sun beamed down as conditions deteriorated by the minute. I decided to reel in and rest the swim. A good trick is to introduce neat chopped worm via a catapult and fish small pieces on a size 14 hook.
Half an hour later and the fizzing started again, only this time the activity was far greater. Casting back to the same spot the float buried immediately after hitting the surface and stayed there before taking line off the ’ pin. There was no need to strike for this one! Surprisingly, the fish kited towards the middle of the lake and I thought I’d hooked a carp. I couldn’t do anything with it. The fish rolled 30 yards out but I was unable to confirm its identity. After a few minutes the fish turned and swam back to towards the very spot it was hooked. Steady pressure and a lot of patience was needed and I eventually scooped up another tench. This fish was much bigger at 8lb 10oz.
The swim was bubbling and next cast the same thing happened completing a brace of tench for nearly 17lb and taking the tally to 14 – the majority over 6lb. Proof positive that when margin fishing in summer the lift method takes some beating.
“The float buried immediately and stayed there before taking line off the ’ pin. No need to strike”