Top Five Hook Baits for Tench.

[cg74]

I've been mulling this over for a while; to make my hook bait more likely to get picked up it needs to be more appealing than any freebies around it.

I've got a few options in mind, with these making up my top five tench hook baits to work with:

1, Redworms
2, Red maggots
3, Pellets
4, Casters
5, Boilies, though I'm a bit hesitant to include these as I've yet to find one that stands out as being 'best'.

As I don't want to carry hundreds of different baits, can you either remove ones from my list and replace it with yours, or write your list of five.

 

[greenie62]

Depending on the water, and other fish species present - I'd target Tench with just a single bait of b---dy big Lobworms! Chop the redworms up and use them as groundbait!
Throw the rest of the baits away / leave them at home.

Probably not quite the answer you were expecting - here's my reasoning:
- Confidence & concentration - if you're fishing with a plethora of baits in your bag - you sit there wandering "should I change now? give it another 5 mins? How should I change the tackle for the new bait? What hook? What length Hair-rig? Pop-up? - B*&&er - missed it!"
- Too much groundbait / free offerings and you'll attract other fish into your targetted swim which will mess things up if you are (un)lucky enough to hook them. On the other hand you can use free offerings scattered wide to spot where Tench bubbles emerge and then target that area!
- Boilies - danger of hooking carp - and disturbing your swim.
- Big lobs (approaching 'snake size') definitely are a proven Tench-specific bait! - and probably the cheapest of the alternatives!
Tight Lines.

 

[jasonbean1]

1, fake maggot
2, fake caster
3, fake corn
4, fake bloodworm
5, dendrobena worm

1st four can be flavoured if required

 

[barbelboi]

If fishing at range then artificial baits/pellets. I generally prefer to float fish the margins where possible using more natural baits – therefore my five are worms, maggots/caster, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and chickpeas. (5= bread)

 

[alan andrews]

1 Red maggots
2 Fake maggot
3 lob worm
4 casters
5 fake caster

 

[reeds]

Fake maggots or fake casters, it doesn't really matter which. I don't agree with the premise that you want hookbaits that are more attractive than the freebies. Instead I want to make it impossible for tench to single out any one item in the feed, so they have to hoover it all up and do the sifting in their mouths. All you need then is a critically balanced hook somewhere in it.

 

[john step]

10mm strawberry or tuti fruity boilies
Small piece of bacon grill
dead maggots with fake maggot for bouyancy
BREAD BREAD and more BREAD
soft expander pellets.

 

[derwentbob]

For the waters I fish:

1. Corn
2. Pellets
3. Bread
4. Bread/Meat paste
5. bunch of red maggots

I tend to stick to 1 & 2 but 3 & 4 are always in my snap tin for emergencies.

 

[nicepix]

It s a long time since I specifically targeted tench. But my top five now would be:

1, Redworms
2, Red maggots
3, Casters
4, Sweetcorn (whole or skins)
5, Bread Flake

 

[Hugh Bailey]

At last - something I can comment on!

1) 2 red maggots, 1 caster
2) 2 casters
3) 2 white maggots 1 caster
4) Small (richworth ones used to do the trick) tutti frutti boilies
5) Never got this far

 

[cg74]

Some interesting answers there thanks.

If fishing at range then artificial baits/pellets. I generally prefer to float fish the margins where possible using more natural baits – therefore my five are worms, maggots/caster, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and chickpeas. (5= bread)

Jerry, I think you've stretched the thread's remit somewhat - really maggots and caster are seen as different baits....



...And then there's the bread...

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

I seem to remember a fishign programme (may be a John Wilson one) where he used sweet corn dyed red

 

[barbelboi]

Some interesting answers there thanks.



Jerry, I think you've stretched the posts remit somewhat - really maggots and caster are seen as different baits....



...And then there's the bread...

One bait at the start Colin, just depends how long your session is ............

OK, bread instead of the peas...

---------- Post added at 12:06 ---------- Previous post was at 12:04 ----------

I seem to remember a fishign programme (may be a John Wilson one) where he used sweet corn dyed red

Strawberry flavoured sweetcorn (red) is very popular with some Paul, as is strawberry flavoured luncheon meat.

 

[cg74]

I seem to remember a fishign programme (may be a John Wilson one) where he used sweet corn dyed red

I know a few that swear by sweetcorn dyed black, personally I've found it no better or worse than plain old yellow.

 

[michaels]

In no particular order;
1. Lobworm
2. Sweet corn
3. Red maggot
4. Pellet paste
5. Flavoured luncheon meat

 

[Peter Jacobs]

1. Red worms

2. Sweet Corn, Natural

3. Sweet Corn, Flavoured/dyed

4. Fresh Casters

5. Red Maggot


. . . . and if it doesn't bend the "rules on just 5 baits, then perm any 2 from 5 as a cocktail from the above.


My best ever Tench have fallen to cocktail baits.

 

[greenie62]

strawberry flavoured luncheon meat.

Er - I hesitate to ask in case it all starts again - are you sure it's luncheon meat and not 'pink pork pie' filling? mg:

 

[Peter Jacobs]

Er - I hesitate to ask in case it all starts again - are you sure it's luncheon meat and not 'pink pork pie' filling?

Well then, to avoid an "outbreak" he was referring to this stuff:

Van den Eynde MightyMeat STRAWBERRY Luncheon meat Bait | eBay

 

[greenie62]

Well then, to avoid an "outbreak" he was referring to this stuff:

Van den Eynde MightyMeat STRAWBERRY Luncheon meat Bait | eBay

I accede to your anti-outbreak suggestion and thank you for your clarification!

 

[paul1234]

Red maggots
Lobworms
Corn
Dendrobena worms
10mm boilies


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