Additives for Tench?

[rudd enthusiast]

Its coming round to that time of year where beautiful green Tench increasingly absorb my attention.

I have caught them on allsorts before but I was wondering if any of you lovely people have had consistent success with any particular flavours for large. Or lots of Tench as I haven't found any particular flavours to consistently outfish natural unflavoured baits on the lakes I fish yet.

[matthew barter]

What haven't I used as a flavour for tench or most fish for that matter. However for tench I used to use green lipped mussel additive. Saying that I don't use it now, not because it didn't work but because I didn't notice it work.

I still have faith in betaine although that's not a flavour. For flavours I rely on sweet such as strawberry. As you say though I don't know whether it out fishes natural flavours. I'm far more sceptical now, if I had all the money I had spent on flavours and additives over the years I'd give up work for a year and go on a massive bender only sobering up to fish the Test and Itchen.

Another thing I used to do was rub my hook on raw garlic? I don't know why but that is something that I will do again, it makes me feel more confident. Not the most scientific answer I'm afraid. Pretty much the same as you.

[little oik]

I tend to use strawberry or molasses in the groundbait but tend to use the old school baits on the hook .I have tried using other flavours but only on the odd occasion mainly as a plan B option but to no great success ,whether this is because the plan B only comes into play when the fish aren't really in the mood I dont know

[the indifferent crucian]

A segment of cooked cheap prawns from Sainsbury's freezer. It 'always' catches, rich in protein and sweet. And I always use a betaine flavoured groundbait. If that doesn't work I do my own pellets with Thai prawn paste, Belachan....stinky, but effective.


Though they like garlic pellets too.


Hmmmm! Soon be Summer again

[noknot]

Sweetcorn...............

[Fishing Gimp]

Corn Steep Liquor with the old Expo Red seems to get the Tench excited.

[bigchub]

Expo (mixed 50/50 with brown crumb) or Nutrabaits Specialist Carpet Feed.
Always add a bit of Hutchy Maplecreme to the water when mixing the Expo and also add hemp, sweetcorn (strawberry flavoured), and casters.
With the carpet feed its just a case of mixing in some pure hemp oil and very little (if any) water so that it can be squeezed together enough to be thrown out.
Creamy flavours always do well for me such as Scopex, Maplecreme, Caramel Toffee etc.

[flightliner]

Bait to one side for a moment-- if your using a feeder try using one thats white.

[shaunfox]

Sweetcorn essence - to flavour maggots

[Merv Harrison]

Cockles, fresh, loosely bought, not jarred in vinegar, lightly fried in oil with a couple of chopped cloves of garlic.