Big Fish Column: Taplow angler Dick West tempts 8lb 4oz tench as part of six fish catch

Summer proper finally arrived last week and local sport was definitely boosted by rising water temperatures on all waters great and small.

Best of the tench

Starting on the larger waters and tench fishing continued to improve last week with another fish topping 8lb reported from Twyford, a cracker of 8lb 4oz that came as part of a six fish catch to Taplow angler Dick West.

Dick arrived at the fishery after work on Friday evening, changing from suit to fishing gear in the car park before setting up in a swim he had enjoyed some good tench fishing from late last spring. Knowing from his previous visits Dick knew there was a gravel shelf and some light weed at a range of about 40 metres and he baited this with a groundbait mix comprising red crumb mixed with red maggots, hemp and a couple of large handfuls of sweetcorn.

The rig presented over the top of the baited patch was a feeder packed with groundbait on 8lb main line to a 6lb hook length with a size 12 hook baited with a sweetcorn and maggot cocktail.

The first fish of the session came in the half-light of dawn the following morning, a good fish of exactly 6lb, and the first five hours of light brought a further five fish, topped by the 8lb specimen that picked up the bait shortly before 7am.

Nationally, we are now beginning to see numbers of big tench falling to a variety of methods and the next fortnight really should bring the best of the tench fishing locally too.

Highs and lows at New Farm

Moving onto the smaller waters and Alan Wolstencroft reported that it was a week of highs and lows at New Farm Fishery with the best action coming from the Carp and Match lakes due to some overdue bank and tree maintenance causing disturbance on the Catfish Lake.

Jeff Savin fished a knock up on the Match Lake and ended up with 87lb of small carp fishing shallow at 13m. Phil Drew fished top 2 and 2 for 35lb of silvers and Harry Keys fished shallow for 30lb of carp. Jeff commented, “It was a good day with good company!” What more can you ask for!

Despite the ongoing work on the Catfish Lake, three notable fish graced the bank in the early part of the week with specimens of 57lb, 52lb and 49lb falling to luncheon meat baits presented at mid-range from the Orange Boat Swim.

With lots of sunshine and increasing water temperatures the fish in the Carp Lake have been showing signs of spawning but it doesn’t seem to have affected sport with one angler, who wished to remain anonymous, catching 27 carp to 26lb in 24 hours on mini fluoro dumbells and small PVA bags of pellet.

Buzzers again…

Last week it was a case of get on the buzzers if you wanted to catch at Haywards Farm Lake. This week, with Haywards closed for the Sportfish Reading Show, the focus for local stillwater anglers looking to get out was Farmoor – where it was once again a case of buzzers or bust!

Rod averages for the week were Farmoor 1 (bank) 11.2, Farmoor 1 (boat) 14.6, Farmoor 2 (bank) 7.19 and Farmoor 2 (boat) 29 10.6. Now that is excellent trout fishing by any standards!

Any anglers wishing to report catches may contact me at ian@bigfishtrail.com