The Tench Of A Lifetime… Josh Fisher

This entry was posted on 20th May, 2014

The Tench Of A Lifetime… Josh Fisher

Some of my earliest memories go back to targeting Tench. I remember as a small child, fishing along side my late father on a small canal style lake. Those early mornings spent fixated upon a small Waggler being bashed around amongst endless fizzing of bubbles, on the edge of lily lined banks were almost 20 years ago! Yet I can still vividly remember first time I hooked into a Tinca, a fish that (unlike the humble roach I was so used to) would actually be able to dictate my actions and teach me the very basics of how to play a fish!

Since those early years, Tench somehow slipped away from me and I spent very little time targeting them, other than the occasional social trip with friends, where we’d enjoy fantastic sport on light tackle.

Just a couple of years ago I became good friends with Chris Turnbull a well known Tench guru, who later on inspired me to target a fish exceeding double figures. Little did either of us know that in the near future I would be lucky enough to be graced with a fish of such proportions!

Following a blank the previous night for Eels, oddly enough from a venue I’d fished as a young child for Tench, I traveled back home to switch tackle and head down to a syndicate that I’d recently joined, with fantastic track record for producing both numbers of Tench and those of incredible size.

On arrival there was an incredibly strong south westerly wind hammering along into one point, this seemed an obvious starting point; however once I reached the area it was already occupied by one of the regulars who to my surprise was blanking.

Although the swim next door was vacant, as perfect as it looked I decided to check out a couple of other swims with a marker rod prior to making my final choice. A quick phone call was made to Chris who ensured me that my original choice was certainly the one to go for, he also informed me about a good number of features to fish to. I headed back to the area to find out the gentleman next door had suddenly had a small flurry of fish to around 7lb. Knowing that it was game on I quickly set up my brolly in an attempt to get away from the howling winds and rain that were creating some rather interesting waves along the pit!

I quickly sorted the rods and marked a large drop off at around 50+ yards, just as I was thinking about baiting up, I realized I’d made a catastrophic error… I’d only gone and left my Spod rod at home!!! The only option was to cast at regular intervals loading my maggot feeders and using a small PVA on the hook in an attempt to build a small bed of bait.

Ten minutes passed after the first cast and I’d just started to make up a new set of PVA bags ready for a re-cast, when all of a sudden my right hand rod suddenly screamed into life!

Shocked that I’d managed a run so prematurely I lifted into the fish and instantly felt a slow plodding sensation, my first impressions were that I must have hooked one of the lakes resident Carp, it felt to ‘weighty’ to be a Tench.  As the fight progressed I started to get the obligatory nods on the rod tip and I started to believe that perhaps it was a Tench after all!

The fish first became visible when her enormous paintbrush tail rolled over and slapped the surface some 35 yards out, which soon had my heart in my mouth! Gradually I eased her closer and whilst in the margins she made several good runs before I was able to coax her into the folds of my waiting landing net.

When she entered my net I let her rest for a while and made a quick phone call to Steve Blyth, one of the original members of the complex and my father in-law, just to inform him that I’d had my first Tench from the water, after several blank sessions.

I decided to weigh her whilst I was on the phone and as we were chatting, I was blissfully unaware of just how large she really was, that was until I placed her in the sling and onto the scales, where she bottomed them right out!

Now my small Avon’s weight up to just over 12lb, so you can imagine my surprise and excitement! I rummaged through my bag for my Reuben’s and repeated the process, this time gaining a truly mind blowing weight of 12lb 7oz!



Lets just say there was some colourful language coming from both ends of the phone followed by more from Steve, Chris T and Christian as they made there way down the bank to see what all the fuss was about and to help out with some pictures.

After a quick re-weigh it was confirmed as… One of Norfolk’s biggest ever authenticated Tench!

After some first class trophy shots I slipped the big girl back and watched her disappear back into the depths, I felt rather lost for words, infact I write this piece now, it’s still sinking in!



Although I'm beyond grateful to catch her I cant help but feel very undeserving of such a fish so soon, when some people who have dedicated decades to the species and not been lucky enough to catch a Tinca exceeding the 12lb barrier.

Later that day I found out that a friend of mine had the same fish, 9 years ago to the day at 10lb 14oz… spooky or what!

I must say thank you to Tony King, Steve Blyth and Gareth Goldson for encouraging me to target large Tench, as well as giving me plenty of tips and advice about the tactics and rigs. As for Mr.Turnbull… well let’s just say I owe him more than a few pints!!!

The Tackle Box Greys VX Twin Tip 2lb Rods Shimano 10000 Baitrunners ESP Leadcore Leader Drennan Inline Maggot Feeders ESP Camo Sink Link 15lb Gardner Mugga Hooks Size 12 ESP Artificial Buoyant Corn