End of March and lockdown is relaxed a little

Well it’s been a long winter and I’ve not fished since the first week of December. The local venues within 5 miles of me have been busy with walker dog walkers and anglers. So I have reluctantly stayed at home as the government insisted. Having said that I’ve seen plenty of anglers travelling long distances to go fishing. I despair at the attitudes of the selfish idiots. Having said that there have been some huge fish caught locally. But more of that later.

This season I’m really looking forward to some tench fishing locally on the Cotswold water park. I failed to fish for them at all last year due to the original lockdown in March to end of May. By then when venues began to open they were packed with anglers. So apart from a little floater fishing for carp and a day fly fishing that was it. So it’s been almost 2 years since I’ve fished for them.

Anyway now full of vigour and anticipation I’m looking forward to tench fishing. I’m not starting straight away as the venues will be packed with anglers once again. Not only that but the weather conditions are for 8c temps and night frosts which as you know are not ideal conditions for tench fishing.

Last weekend was the Tench Fishers SGM this being the 3rd zoom meeting I think since the last one was also via zoom too. This year Dai Grible and I were asked to act as a 2 man panel to answer some questions from members about tench fishing. I suppose we had about 40mins of this after all of the formal agenda was completed. It was great fun and some good questions from the group.

It was good to inform members that the national Tench Fishers fish-in would also take place at the Carp Society Horseshoe lake.

One of the better rigs I use when tench fishing is the worm kabab rig. It’s been around for ages and I think Dai said he had been using it for something like 10 years. I’ve been using the rig for the last few for tench and perch. The perch I tend to use it on a free running rig and the tench a helicopter style. I have made some slight adjustments to the rig which have helped I believe with hook ups. Here is a video I made last week on how to tie the rig.

Another little secret I’m going to let you in on is the fact that I’ve bought a new fly reel and rod all about a number 7 size. The reason behind this is that where I stay in Fordingbridge in Hampshire Rockbourne Trout fishery is a couple miles away. Now this home to some huge trout and it’s here where I’m going to see if I can catch a new pb trout. The fishing is all about stalking your fish individually. It’s exactly the same as chub and barbel fishing on the H.Avon except it’s a lot more expensive.

So that’s the plan for the next few weeks lets hope the weather warms up and the tench come out to feed.