The tench is difficult to confuse with any other UK coarse fish.
As a teenager I have many a found memory of night fishing trips to catch the illusive Tinca tinca. It is said that their flesh is edible and that alongside carp these were kept by monks for the table.
The skin is covered with a thick layer of slime and it was said to have medicinal qualities and in the past Tinca tinca have been named the 'doctor' fish.
Description
Tinca tinca is generally an olive-green colour with a distinctive orange eye. It has two small barbels which it uses to feel and search for food on muddy bottoms which it loves. A dead giveaway that Tinca tinca are feeding are sometimes referred to as 'tench bubbles' which are a constant flow of bubbles breaking on the surface as the fish forages for food. These are not to be mistaken for bubbles caused by natural gases or if a lake has been built over a natural spring.
Habitat
Tinca tinca is a lover of stillwaters and will only be found in rivers in slow sluggish water. It prefers a muddy bottom where it will feed on vegetable matter and small creatures living in the silt.
Baits
Tinca tinca will take a veriety of baits all of which are readily available at your local tackle shop from bread, maggot caster, worms and more recently on high protien carp baits such as boilies.
If you would like to submit a picture of your latest tench
catch Click this link
