Freshwater

Tench

Tenca

Tinca tinca

Freshwater

At a glance

Typical size

2–6 lb.

Depth

3–15 ft.

Best time

Dawn is the classic time.

Found in

10 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: A thick, olive-green to golden fish with tiny scales buried in slimy skin, small red-orange eyes, a small barbel at each corner of the mouth, and big rounded fins. Males have very large pelvic fins.
Typical size: 2–6 lb.
Maximum size: About 28 in and over 15 lb.
Diet: Bloodworms, snails, small mussels and insect larvae from soft, weedy bottoms.
Behavior: A slow, shy fish of weedy, muddy water that feeds at dawn and sends up tiny streams of 'pin-prick' bubbles when it roots in the mud.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from United Kingdom & Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal (Azores, Madeira & Canaries), Italy & Malta, Northern & Central Europe, Scandinavia & Iceland (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan, Greece & the Adriatic, Turkey, Cyprus & the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea & Caspian. Weedy lakes, gravel pits, ponds and slow rivers from Spain and Britain to Lake Baikal; introduced in many other places.
Habitat: Weedy lakes, gravel pits, ponds and slow rivers from Spain and Britain to Lake Baikal; introduced in many other places.
Depth: 3–15 ft.
Fishing depth: On the bottom near weed beds and lily pads.
Best season: Late spring and summer (May to August).
Best time: Dawn is the classic time.
Best tides: No tide.
Best weather / conditions: Warm, still, misty mornings.

What to tie on and what to throw.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

Also at Bass Pro Shops: Rod Reel Line Feeder Hooks Float Net

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Weedy lakes, gravel pits, ponds and slow rivers from Spain and Britain to Lake Baikal; introduced in many other places.
Rig up: 12–13 ft float rod or an 11 ft feeder rod. 5–6 lb hooklength.
Pick your bait: Sweetcorn, maggots, casters, worms, small pellets and bread. Lures: Not used.
Fish it: Rake a clear spot next to weeds the evening before, feed it with corn and maggots, and at dawn fish a float set just 'laying on' the bottom; watch for bubbles.
Time it: Dawn is the classic time. No tide.

Fishing techniques: Rake a clear spot next to weeds the evening before, feed it with corn and maggots, and at dawn fish a float set just 'laying on' the bottom; watch for bubbles.
BigJoe's tip: Tench love snags and weed; hold firm and keep them out of the lily pads from the first second.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Mild, sweet meat; fried tench is a traditional dish in Extremadura (Spain), and it is baked or stewed in Central Europe. Soak it in salted water to remove any muddy taste.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Harmless; handle it gently on a wet mat.
Regulations: A license plus a local permit; often catch-and-release in Britain. Freshwater fishing in Europe always needs a permit: a national or regional license where one exists (for example the rod licence in England and Wales or the French carte de pêche) plus a permit or day ticket from the club, lake or river owner.
Conservation: Released in most of Britain; a traditional food fish in Spain, Central and Eastern Europe.

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Sources & photo credits