Steve Rowley, usually known for his pike fishing exploits, packs his pike gear away on March 14th and takes a break, before turning his attention to tench. Steve explains his approach:

After a demanding winter chasing pike, I enjoy a few weeks off before starting my baiting campaign. I love float fishing on the marginal shelves, so I spend two to three weeks just baiting a couple of spots to entice them into the area, before employing my favourite float leger tactics.

Baiting up early prevents the weed growth and gives the tench plenty of confidence feeding over the area in readiness for my first session. Big tench in my area usually means 8 and 9lb’ers, with double figure fish being very rare indeed. This Spring I hope to land my first double and break my long standing 9lb 14oz personal best.

I grew up as a young lad mimicking my Dad, who swore by the float leger method. A light hook length, 6lb monofilament mainline, a small drilled bullet weight and a medium Stillwater Blue float running up to a stop knot. One of the most sensitive methods out there, and I just love the lift bites that you get from tench as they pick up your hookbait.

I like to use my beloved Drennan 13ft Tench Float rod coupled with an FD4000 reel loaded with 6lb 4oz Supplex. For my hooklink, I use 4lb 4oz Supplex and a size 18 Specimen Micro Barbed hook. This is then fished over a bed of red maggots, vitalin and crushed hemp, the perfect trap in my opinion.