Tench on sweetcorn - help needed!

[murv]

I'm getting close to cracking the Tench fishing on a local river.
Had a nice little fish of around 3.5lb yesterday afternoon and then lost what felt like the fish of a lifetime afterwards that took 30 yards of line from the reel before the hook pulled.
Shortly afterwards I pulled out of a another one (it was only on for a few seconds)

Hook was a size 14 Drennan super specialist with a single grain of corn which gets bites, but seems unreliable when a large tench charges off through the Lilly pads.
I stepped up to a Mustard (can't remember the pattern) but it was around a size 10 with a wider gape.
Problem was, even with going to two grains of corn on the larger hook they just wouldn't pick it up despite the area around the float bubbling like a witches cauldron!

So, small hook and single corn, bites, the odd fish, and lots of pulls.
Larger hook, would almost certainly land most fish, but can't get bites!

Anyone recommend a suitable pattern for a single grain of corn? or, should I be hair rigging? if so, any tips on hair length etc?

[shaunfox]

Those hooks you use are superb, the only way you will get a stronger hook is to go up in size.

[Ron The Hat Clay]

I strongly recommend that you hair rig your sweetcorn using size 12 Preston PR 37 hooks. These are probably the best barbless hooks I have ever used. A knotless knot ties beautifully on these hooks.

If you are having problems with finicky tench, try using a method in-line feeder with a very short hook length, say about 3 to 4 inches long.

You also might try small 8 mm boilies instead of corn as a change bait. Tench soon wise up to baits as the summer progresses.

[agamemnon]

i use drennon chub hooks size 12 or 14 with single grain of corn for tench and bream and have never had a problem with these hooks. stick to a single grain of corn as it looks natural comp with 2 grains on a hook. maybe try a size 10 boily hook with a small hair rig and have 2 grains on a hair rig, that might help if you are having problems

[murv]

Thanks all, I shall have a look at the suggested hooks lunchtime when I nip to the tackle shop.

Ron, the fish don't seem to respond to boilies in this river. I've fished it a few times now and always the same way. One rod on the float and another sleeper rod with a bolt rigged boilie. Despite fishing them in similar locations (on the edge of the pads, just off the shelf in different spots) the boilie rod has resulted in one Bream and one bite in all the trips it's had out. Not sure why, I've had a few lake Tench on that set-up and have complete faith in it?

Will also try the hair rig, at least that will give me some more options. 2-3mm of hair enough for the Tench?

[smufter]

I use Korum hair rigs with the quickstop attachment.
Hook Hairs With Quickstops - Korum, Fishing Made Easy

Couple of bits of corn look lovely under a size 12

[rabglasgow]

i always use a size 12 with sweetcorn

[Ron The Hat Clay]

Sweetcorn is of course one of my favourite tench baits, but it can quickly "blow" if lots of fish have been caught on it.

Small red 8mm boilies, both sinking and pop-up are working well on my water at the moment. If you change to maggots or casters, you are of course likely to get "bitted" out.

Have you tried pellets yet?

An excellent change bait is a small redworm, or the tail end of a lob.

---------- Post added at 01:03 ---------- Previous post was at 00:55 ----------

And dare I mention it?

Dare I?

Yes - get yourself a tube of Goo, glug your hook bait in it and daub some on your method ball.

Try Tutti fruitti to start. Tench love the stuff.

[sagalout]

I use a drennan specialist 16 and have had no problems with tench to 6.5lb and double figure carp. I suspect those tearing off and then getting lost are probably foul hooked.

[barbelboi]

Originally Posted by sagalout

I use a drennan specialist 16 and have had no problems with tench to 6.5lb and double figure carp. I suspect those tearing off and then getting lost are probably foul hooked.

I was thinking the same, I have no problem either although I prefer size 14 drennan SS or carp feeder for corn. If it's fizzing like murv posted the bait is probably being blown up in the water by the fin turbulence and nicking fish that have their vision focused on the deck - probably worth a try with the lift method.
Jerry