Drennan’s South East Sales Representative Mike Davidson with a fabulous 10lb 2oz specimen Tench – deserved reward for a sustained campaign this Spring/Summer!

Mike has been fishing at a low stock southern gravel pit – and explained that success all hinged on locating the fish, as he believed there to be only around 10 big tench in around 20 acres. Mike had spent months clearing areas of weed in the areas he wanted to fish, and this paid dividends as large areas became choked with weed and unfishable. After a whole series of blank sessions everything came together with Mike taking fish of 8lb 12oz (three times!), 9lb 5oz and then the wonderful fish pictured at 10lb 2oz! All came from a spot tight to a reedbed so it was real heart-stopping stuff when the fish was first hooked. Fortunately Mike commented that rod and tackle were right up to the job!

Mike used a Drennan Series 7 Specialist Avon Quiver 12ft 1.5lb rod, with 10lb ESP Syncro mainline through to a 10lb Drennan Gravel braid hooklength and a size 12 Specimen Plus hook. This was baited with two Drennan artificial buoyant casters, with a PVA mesh bag of real caster, hemp and crushed rock salt – over a light bed of Sonubaits Hali-Hemp groundbait.

For full details on the brilliant Drennan artificial buoyant casters click here.

For tips on fishing for gravel pit tench, see Ian’s fantastic video below.