This spring, former Drennan Cup winner Alan Stagg has endured a challenging tench campaign on what he describes as ‘the most challenging venue he’s ever fished’. But, after a ‘long old slog’, he was rewarded with this superb 11lb 14oz fish – a new PB for the species.
The venue in question is a vast 270-acre southern pit that holds a very low stock of tench. As such, Alan found that a minimal-baiting approach, fishing for one bite at a time, was the way to go, with this fish coming from a spot 20 yards out where he’d fed just two handfuls of bait.
His successful hookbait was a bunch of maggots presented on a size 8 barbel hook, which he tied to a fluorocarbon hooklink and fished below a 2oz inline lead. A three-foot leadcore leaded kept things pinned down, out the way of a passing fish.
Well done Alan!