Went for a walk on Sunday, didn't intend it to be a fishing trip but stuck a little 5 weight travel rod in my rucksack just in case(you never know!).
On my way back i happened to go past a smallish pond where i used to catch tadepoles as a kid, anyway had a look around for 5 mins and it was heaving with tench!
They were right up on the surface, some of them actually leaping out of the water, never seen tench do that before.
To cut a long story short, cast everything in my fly box at them, b*gger all response, nymphs, bloodworm, buzzers. Could see them bow waving after the nymphs! most un-tench like.
Pond is about 4ft deep, it's full of a horrible asparagus type weed which i don't know the name of, it's an absolute nightmare to fish but i will, by god, catch one! any advice welcome
Cheers guys

__________________
"People who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read"
Frank Zappa on rock journalism

Did you stick any dries over them?

__________________
Trout Flies UK Now Live - Quality Trout Flies For Sale

Casting At Shadows - Christmas Island Fly Fishing DVD

Could be that they were getting jiggy with it (being approaching the tench nuptials time of year) and therefore not too interested in anything but the food of luuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee...
I've had the same thing with bream and its mighty annoying.

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Walski, don't want to talk you down, but i've been down that road.. I have a couple of lakes that are full of tench over here in the Netherlands. I can see them swim and have tried almost everything and caught.......... well zero tench.. I have seen them leap out of the water, but only when they had parasites or worms on them.. The roach do the same thing straight after winter, they won't eat they just jump..

A buddy of mine did caught two while fishing for roach in the winter.. Other then that i'm trying to forget they are there.. I catch loads on match rods and they are nice fighting fish.. Would be great if i'm able to catch them on a fly...

Jerry

__________________
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

I've caught golden tench (at Barnes Lakes in Oxfordshire and the Lenches near Evesham) while trout fishing with nymphs.
Couldn't really suggest a tactic other than a static fly fished on or near the bottom.

Andy

__________________
GAIC Single Handed Casting Instructor

http://www.andygreyfishing.com/

Depends, how desperate you are to catch one.

Not for everyone this, but this it what I do.

I fish a similar lake, full of weed, the secret is in the timings. Get to the lake about 9.30 10ish on a warm June or July night. Rake as many swims as you can with a weed rake or a garden rake if shallow enough. Just push the weed to the sides, if you can get in to rake it.

Go home, get some sleep, arrive back at the lake just before first light. Creep up on your pre raked swims. Plop your fly in, bloodworm, or hares ear nymph work well. Just twitch the fly by an inch, every couple of minutes, watch the line, strike at any movement.

Also a piece of yellow foam on the hook, pinch a split shot about 2 inches down from the hook so it acts as a pop up. Keep this still.

Sean

Have you tried legering sweetcorn?..................birdsnest

__________________
Fear not if I steal from your side, as of yore, from paradise streams to fish Teifi once more.
BN based in Wolverhampton

Go for it Walski you must keep trying, remember fish will eat most things in the water they have to. Try a bloodworm imitation as suggested and small nymphs even tiny ones.
You will get one eventually if you keep trying its just matter of timing and experimenting.
I only ever fish for coarse fish on the fly and I know how hard it can be but i think most fish can be caught on the fly. Not had a tench yet but I will try for one. Let us know if you are successful.

Thanks for the replies everyone, some good advice there.
Will try all of the above.
The pond in question is only 10 mins walk from where i live, doesn't look like its ever been fished
Will be there first light Sunday morning, will let you know how i get on, i won't be beaten by the red eyed varmints

__________________
"People who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read"
Frank Zappa on rock journalism

Rake and feed with sweetcorn and maggot or redworms.
Tie up a sweetcorn fly, and tip it off with either.
You might want a dust shot to tighten up to, or alternatively, lay it on with a little indicator putty set overdepth.

__________________
Norm

Float Tube Fishing 30+ years
Float Tubing Info Resource