Tench problems

[PaulG]

Okay, there seem to be quite a few Tench experts out there, so hopefully someone can point me in the right direction....

Fished Summer Pit yesterday evening, Tench fizzing all session in my swim, Crucians porpoising like there was no tomorrow, and only one bite ? This was from a 5.03 Tench, not bad for me as my pb is 5.07. Anyway, I was float fishing close in, tried corn, trout pellet paste, ****les, and bread, all the usual Tench favourites but couldn't get any bites.

On several occasions when I reeled in, the hook & bait had leaf debris attached so the fish must have been having a field day down there.....but why couldn't I get bites ?

Thoughts so far, are....
1 - using trout pellets as loosefeed made the fish pre-occupied with them, to the exclusion of anything bigger.
2 - They were stirring up so much debris my hookbait was being buried very quickly.
3 - I was using a size 12 hook, should I have switched to a 14 or 16, and used smaller baits ?
4 - It was just one of those frustrating evenings when I just wasn't going to get many bites ?

Wasn't just me either, one of the bailiffs was fishing another peg, and had exactly the same situation.

Any thoughts would be most welcome /images/forum/icons/smile.gif

[benzonar]

Paul,
Did you try that swim we were talking about. If so I bet the Tench you caught was quite big but a bit on the slim side. If so then I had it out on Sunday.
My view is that they are definitely feeding, as when you throw the particles in the bubbles come up a few minute later. Those Crucians that keep rolling, they are the big ones aren't they. I also had a carp of about 3-4 lbs just chilling out on top of the water, and didn't seem to et pooked at all. Wasn't interested in any of the floaters though.
I always take a small jar of olives with me as they will sometimes take this, make sure it is the type that comes in oil though.

[PaulG]

Benzonar, Yup, was in that swim, and the Tench was really short and fat, thought it would just make 4 until I lifted it out of the water. Agree with you re the feeding bit, definitely fizzing after the particles had gone in, and not before. Couldn't see any sign of them spawning, and I always thought the Tench were as active as Carp about this, so it should have been obvious if they were.

Those Crucians are sooooo frustrating, one of about 3 lb rolled right over my float on one occasion, I'm sure it was having a laugh at me /images/forum/icons/wink.gif

I think one option in these circumstances would be to use a smaller hook, smaller bait etc, and maybe try a pole float. Can anyone recommend a type, bearing in mind it will be used on a standard rod/reel setup ? The other option is to not use trout pellet again, and stick to mashed bread and hemp mix.

The other thought is to try a night session, the swim was still bubbling like mad when I packed up at 10:00, anyone know if Crucians feed at night ?

Stuart, apologies if I've re-raised a topic, I'll try to remember to do a search before asking a question

Regards,
Paul

[benzonar]

Is the Summer Pit able to be fished at night?
Paul I suppose in the end it is just about changing tactics until you find one that works. I picked up most of my Tench last Sunday using feeder tactics. I'll probably try the same this weekend on one rod, and go after the crucians on the other. Although it's about 7ft deep there.

[PaulG]

You can night fish Summer Pit, I've only got a daylight permit, but it is upgradeable for about a fiver or something. Quite a few people I spoke to last season had night fished, with mixed results.

Yesterday evening I had a feeder out as well as the float rod, and got two beeps on it all evening ! Oh well, just have to wait until I can get back there, probably in a couple of weeks now.

[benzonar]

Paul,
I'm off to the Summer Pit tomorrow lunchtime. My boss has just given me the afternoon off. By the looks of things it is going to be big thunderstorms, so I will be packing plenty of rubber.

[PaulG]

Benzonar, good luck, will be very interested to hear how you get on ! Don't forget the mossie repellant !