Biggest tench of the season landed!

An incredible brace of 11lb-plus tench has topped another fantastic week for one of the nation’s favourite fish. 

Over the past few weeks the Angling Times newsdesk has been inundated with reports of specimen tincas – providing an encouraging sign that after a slow spring start, prospects for the species are now on the up. 

Latest impressive catch of tench, and the best so far this year, is two different fish of 11lb 4oz in a single session for Christopher Taylor.

The 39-year-old carpenter from Hampshire had four days’ fishing at his disposal but he only needed two to catch the biggest tench of the season so far.

He told Angling Times: “I arrived at a southern gravel pit at around 12 noon and baited a spot on a gravel hump at 30yds with casters, pellets, chopped worm, hemp and maggots.

“I then waited until the evening before casting out.

“By 10am the next day I had caught two carp to 18lb, a 10lb 11oz bream and several tench – with the two biggest weighing 11lb 4oz apiece. Both broke my personal best for the species by an ounce.

“It was fantastic to have caught the first 11-pounder, but to have a completely different fish at the same weight in the same session was certainly weird!”

Both Christopher’s tench, as well as a string of smaller fish to 9lb 6oz, fell to inline maggot feeders and helicopter rigs incorporating chopped worm and popped-up, flavoured maggot hookbaits. 

His set-up included Drennan MK2 Distance tench and bream rods coupled with 12lb E-S-P mainline, 10lb hooklinks and size 10 and 12 Drennan Boilie hooks.