A splendid day out today at a secluded farm reservoir with Chris, my regular fishing accomplice.
The lake in question is known to hold Carp to 28lb, but of most interest to us were the 'rumoured' Tench.
Last week we discussed tactics and groundbaits over several phonecalls, culminating in some serious Hemp cookery last night. A bait tub of freshly cooked seed was added to a good helping of layers mash, a couple of tins of corn, a glug of molasses and some of the Hemp cooking water to bring it to the right consistency. How could we fail?
We met at the lake at about 07:00 and quickly got set up and started balling out our wondermix into our chosen swims. The lake is almost featureless in terms of bottom contours and shelves steeply down to a depth of about 4ft just a few feet out, so no really obvious places to bait up. We also gave it a quick going over with the Deeper Pro just in case there were a few deep holes but alas - billiard table flat and silty to boot.
Undeterred I loaded up a Preston Banjo feeder with a stodgy lump of groundbait, attached a semi bouyant 'oozing' mini 8mm boilie (pineapple flavour) to a bayonet on the hair and chucked it out. I started getting my other rod set up (a Shimano Tribal Intensity/baitrunner Carpy combo - who thinks of these names?) and the buzzer started sounding, the rod bounced in the rests and line began peeling off at an alarming rate.
With the fish eventually under control, but still making long runs out in open water Chris asked me "what do you reckon it is, and what do you want it to be?"
"I reckon it's a carp - about 6 - 8 lb, but I'd rather it's a Tench. I'm aiming to beat my PB of 3lb 12, so a 4 would be nice" was my reply.
Once netted it turned out to be exactly what I'd asked for. A lovely Tinca of 4lb 12oz.
A few more Tench followed, several Carp (my biggest was 15lb 9oz) and a VEY close call with a Canada Goose.
Tinca picture below......