WHERE TO FISH EXTRA

CATCH TENCH & CRUCIANS ON THE FLOAT

There are few more enjoyable ways to spend a day on the bank than targeting these classic warmer-weather species and waiting for your float to go under

THE ROSIE, CONNAHS QUAY, FLINTSHIRE

This Connahs Quay AC-controlled fishery is set within a country park, and the club has gone to extraordinary lengths to make it one of the best crucian fisheries in the land. There are numerous sets of lily pads, and fishing close to them with soft pellet hookbaits and sprinkling in 2mm pellets on the pole will attract fish to over 2lb.

Tel: 01244 813674

PICKERING PARK, HULL, EAST YORKSHIRE

There are plenty of tench in the 3lb-6lb class within this shallow park lake, and fishing the waggler close to either the marginal or island features will put you in with a chance of fooling a few of them. Corn is a tried and tested hookbait, 4mm hard pellets being a reliable option on the loosefeed front.

Tel: 01482 374201

BUSCOT PARK, FARINGDON, OXON

Within the grounds of the National Trust’s idyllic Buscot Park, this tranquil water is home to crucians to 2lb 8oz and tench to 5lb. Pole fishing at 13m will put you into 3ft-5ft of water, where soft pellets, maggots and worms will score. Feed little and often to prevent the venue’s carp from getting wind and bullying your target species away. Tel: 01367 240786

HARTHILL RESERVOIR, SHEFFIELD, SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Large and featureless, this venue requires you to introduce plenty of bait to gain the attention of the tench, which run to over 5lb. Pack plenty of worms, casters and dead maggots into balls of groundbait and deposit at least half-a-dozen of them over your target zone at 13m. Anchor your rig over the top, stay patient and bites will eventually come your way.

Tel: 07442 709338

HIBALDSTOW LAKES, GAINSBOROUGH, LINCS

This is a venue that has sprung to prominence in the last couple of years, the reason being that there are two lakes with the potential to produce more than a dozen tench every session. The Tench Lake is home to smaller samples, and pole or waggler fishing at short range will get you fish in the 2lb-3lb bracket. Head to the Specimen Lake with the waggler and fish close to any weed or cover for the better fish averaging 4lb-5lb.

Tel: 07960 784764

THORNEY LAKES, LANGPORT, SOMERSET

With features dotted all over the lake, little bays and quiet corners, this has all the hallmarks of an estate lake. Tench to 5lb and crucians to 2lb are present in healthy numbers, and they love to linger close to cover. Tap in micro pellets and fish corn or a 6mm expander pellet over the top. Don’t go overboard on the loosefeed or they’ll soon tear the silt up and you’ll be plagued with liners.

Tel: 01458 250811