Only to be expected, but life isn't much fun at present so when Benno asked if I fancied a session on the bank I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the prospect. He had been chatting with the owner of his syndicate fishery and had been given the OK for me to tag along on a "guest ticket". Benno has been absolutely smashing it up with some fantastic Tench, to 8lbs, falling to his rods.
Benno's current PB of 8 lbs exactly |
One major problem was that I couldn't take Bruno with me, thus it seemed an idea doomed to fail. However, my neighbours Terry & Glynis offered a solution. They would happily look after Bruno, overnight, thus allowing me an early morning session with a pack up time around 14.00 hrs. Benno got the ticket sorted and we met in the car park just before 05.00 hrs this morning. We were set up in a nice double swim and rods out within an hour, or so, and the waiting game began. The brisk westerly wind did nothing to assist our cause and we had niggling doubts about our baiting strategy due to the undertow created by the conditions.. I was absolutely gutted when I had an aborted take on my left-hand rod, just after 10.00 hrs, and was in the process of getting the rod back out when the right hander absolutely busted off. No mistake, this time around, and after a plodding battle, lasting several minutes, Benno was able to slip a net under my prize. What the f**k? It looked massive and was certainly the biggest Tench I'd landed since my time in the Tring Syndicate (1981 - 93). I got the rods back out whilst Benno took care of the fish. Once the rigs were back in position we were able to go through the ritual weighing and photo session.
My new PB Tench |
What a fish it turned out to be. At a weight of 9 lbs 13 oz it is is a new PB for me and possibly the heaviest Tench captured, deliberately, at the venue, thus far in 2025. Well that was it for me and I packed up just after 12.30 hrs, grinning like an imbecile as I pushed the barrow back towards the van. Benno decided to move swims and I await news of what occurred after we parted company?
Fantastic!!..... congratulations brother!! 🙂
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy,
DeleteI owe you a beer for your role in this event. If you hadn't been so generous with the advice to Ben, I wouldn't have been fishing the swim. Roll on the PAC meetings in the autumn and we'll have a proper catch up.
Dyl
Absolute cracker, well done.
ReplyDeleteThank-you. More by luck than judgement but, under the current circumstances, most welcome none the less!
DeleteMake your own luck mate. Sometimes it's with you, sometimes it's not.
DeleteAs you say, a bit of welcome joy .
Dyl, superb result, and as you said, under the current circumstances most welcome. Keep casting. Other top results are inevitable.
ReplyDeleteHi Ric, just like that 25 lbs Pike, from the RMC, I certainly didn't deserve such a Tench but will take whatever is on offer at present. I was using my Duncan Kays with ABU Cardinal 55's, just as I did at Wilstone back in the halcyon days of "proper" Tench fishing. I am hopeful that Benno and I can get back down to the fishery on Saturday, but that will probably be it for me then? I am hopeful of getting this syndicate ticket once the situation at home has got back into a form of routine? The plan for the coming summer is to seek a thirty pound Carp from some quiet, forgotten backwater, probably out on the flatlands?
DeleteAll the best - Dyl
Now thats a proper Tench,well done Dyl
ReplyDeleteThanks Phil, it was certainly most welcome under the current circumstances. I'd said to Ben that I'd be happy with a single fish, never thinking that my wish would be granted with a Tench like that? All the best - Dyl
ReplyDeleteMy Lord- Not just a big tench, but a great looking one, too- Superb, Dylan!
ReplyDeleteGazza - you have to go a long way to see an ugly "Tinca" that's for sure! It's the first one I've caught deliberately since my time on Tring Reservoirs between 1981 & 93 and never has a fish been more welcome. I'll get the funeral out of the way then we'll have to arrange a catch up. I'll email you soon - Dyl
DeleteFantastic tench Dylan.
ReplyDeleteThanks BB, although thoroughly undeserved, I was very happy to accept this gift from the "angling gods"
Delete