Big male tench banked from home counties pit

An 8lb 1oz male tench was the reward for John Pepps when he presented an unusual hookbait combination at a South Hertfordshire Club Lake.

Fishing a 16mm halibut pellet chopped in half and tipped with a piece of yellow fake corn, 46-year-old John banked the fish during the David Saunders Memorial Match organised by The Tenchfishers.

It was the only tench banked in the day session, and was taken after John opted to fish a Polaris float fished two rod lengths out  on a spot the local rod, from nearby Pinner, had baited with hemp and corn.

He used 8lb line and a size 8 hook to beat the fish, which fell 1lb 4oz short of his personal best.