Fishbook: Tench

‘Fishbook’: Our species-guide series based on “Get Fishing”
the brilliant how to fish book by Allan Sefton

We profile the UK’s most common as well as some lesser-known fish species to help newcomer anglers find out more about fish that can be caught in our lakes, canals, rivers, ponds and sea.

Understanding the kinds of fish you might catch will add interest and could even make your fishing easier! Here you’ll find out more about…

TENCH

Name:
Tench

Scientific name:
Tinca tinca

Life span:
Around 15 years

Typical size:
Around 4lb

British record:
15lb 3oz

Waters:
Tench can be found in ponds, lakes and canals and in some slow-moving rivers

Interesting fact:
Sweetcorn and red maggots are favourite baits for tench but not if there are lots of small, nuisance fish

About Tench

Tench are chunky, powerful, olive-coloured fish with an air of mystery. Usually, tench weigh 2 or 3lb but individual specimens in some lakes approach double figures, probably from feeding on free offerings thrown in by carp anglers. Small, baby tench are rarely caught. Tench often disappear into the weed beds and are reluctant to feed during the day.
Very early on a spring morning is best. On some waters they seem to vanish completely during high summer. This adds to their mystique.

Anglers love the challenge they pose. Success with tench is a rite of passage for many keen youngsters. Tench are stocked in most commercial fisheries. Get there at dawn, and to catch a first, hard-fighting tench is a triumph for any beginner.

They are bottom feeders. Sweetcorn and red maggots are favourite baits for tench but not if there are lots of small, nuisance fish. Meat baits or hard-coated, sweet flavoured boilies are alternatives.

Visit the rest of the How To Fish video gallery here to learn new tricks and discover more about the basics of angling.

Find out more about:

• Rudd
• Bream
• Carp

Read more about how you can get into coarse fishing. Alternatively, find a venue near you where you can #getfishing!

Some of the above content is taken from the new book, Get Fishing – the ‘how to’ guide to Coarse, Sea and Fly Fishing by Allan Sefton published by Merlin Unwin Books. This colourful, lively book is aimed at complete beginners of all ages, those who have been out fishing a couple of times and want to take it further and families of all abilities. It’s also packed with top-tips and info that make it useful for more experienced anglers too. Find out more about, and purchase a copy of the book here.

Header image thanks to David Overland and text reproduced with permission and © Merlin Unwin Books.