The Coarse Fishing Guide

Latin name: Tinca tinca

The Tench is a thick set fish with a distinctive olive green or brown colouring. A large tail fin is a feature of this species which allows it to swim strongly.

A popular fish with Anglers primarily in the summer months, Tench are widespread thoughout british waters, but most likely to be encountered in lakes, ponds, slow flowing rivers and some canals.

A fish that likes thick vegetation, Tench will often be found in the margin areas among lily pads and thick weed.

Baits
Most baits will take tench, popular baits being Maggots, worms, sweetcorn, bread and small boilies.

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Tactics
Tench are bottom feeding fish, so float tackle set to present the bait on the bottom is a popular and succesful method.

Tench bites are rarely bold and fast and knowing when to strike can be difficult for inexperienced Anglers.

The float may move around or  lift and fall in the water for quite some time before being pulled under as the Tench swims away. Sometimes it is necessary to wait for this positive indication, on other days an earlier strike is needed.

Tench can also be caught using leger tactics, and are often caught by Anglers targeting Carp.