The Tenchfishers on Horcott.
Well, the planned weekend on Horcott had finally arrived. I had been hearing rumours about the
much improved fishery on the Tench grapevine for the last few months and was keen to find out for
myself if he rumours were true. As you will have read on the Forum, Kenny and myself tested this
out a couple of weeks ago just to see what had changed. As some of you know, I used to fish there
some time ago after a recommendation from Paul Hawkins but the place seemed to be on a
downward spiral so pulled off to fish other waters. Well what a difference a few seasons can make
and since Lee has taken on the water it has changed for the better in my opinion. There is now a
gate on the place which stops casual people parking up and wandering around. You still get the
locals walking dogs on there but it has made the place feel more secure. One of the biggest
improvements after the addition of the gate is the improvement made to all the swims. Lee and his
team must have spent ages there cutting back the overgrown swims. So the rumours were all true!
4 of us arrived on the Friday to prepare for the weekend ahead. I arrived mid-afternoon on the
Friday, late, due to waiting at home for an expected delivery that never materialised. Alan, Mick and
Colin were already on the water but not a lot was taking an interest in their offerings. Spent some
time chatting and wandering around looking for the usual fizzing and Tench rolling. Not really
intending to do a lot of the Friday except to get things sorted out ready for an earnest start early
Saturday morning. So not being in a rush allowed me more time just to sit and watch were the Tench
were showing. Late afternoon rolled into early evening and had picked an area where the Tench
were fizzing on a more regular basis. Had just started to sort things out when the rain started. So it
was up with the bivvy in double quick time and get everything in under it, me included! As it turned
out it was a good move as the showers kept on coming. Alan did the honours with the chip shop run
and some of us sat in Micks swim eating and talking. By the time I had got back to my swim and set
up the marker for a lead around and set up the rods with feeders it was getting dark. So without
putting out any freebies just cast both rods out to a clear area and finished sorting the rest of kit out
for the night. The rain showers kept coming too. Some heavy some not too bad. Sat watching the
water till it got too dark and the fish were still out there but not interested in my baits. Got a few
liners so knew they were around out there. Anyway, the plan was to really start early on the
Saturday so left the rods fishing and turned in for the night about 10pm. Nothing happed during the
hours of darkness so was able to catch up with some much needed rest after a long week in work.
Was up just before 1st light and was able to get some bait Spombed out, Tench now fizzing all over
the place including my baited spots. Was starting to look good and was expecting to get my 1st Tench
of the session any time soon….yeah right, nothing happened! Steve and John arrived and came
around for a chat before picking a couple of swims not too far away whilst I sat there still fishless. A
quick phone call to Colin on the point and he too was struggling but he had caught one in the early
hours so not all was lost. Terry arrived not long after and set up for a day’s float fishing in an
adjacent swim. Mark had arrived too and set up near to the car park. So with not a lot happening
where I was, wound in the rods and went for a walk to see if Mick and Alan were fairing any better.
Mick had been plagued by ducks and coots the afternoon before but he was at least catching at last.
Nothing too big but lots of small Tench. Now this to me is a good sign as it means there is a steady
recruitment of year classes in the water. One that Mick had was aquarium size, all 2oz of it. Alan was
getting a few steadily in the morning. By the time I got back to my swim and recast it was now
getting on for midmorning. Was just about to give up hope when I hooked and landed one a 4.11(f).
Then all went quiet again. Had had enough of this swim by now and it seemed the vast majority of
the fish were following the wind up towards the car park end of the lake. Finally made the decision
move. With more even heavier rain forecast it was now or never.
So a hasty semi pack down and move was made. Had just about got set up again and it started to
rain hard so the move was timed to perfection. New spots located, baited and feeders cast. Time to
sit back and relax for a while. Mick and Colin had also decided it was time for a move too. As time
rolled on started to get a lot more interest and bites were starting to happen…..from Rudd!! After an
hour of this and countless Rudd later wound in and went off for the curry and chip shop run into
Fairford. Hoping that by the time I got back the Rudd will have moved off. On my return, sat and ate
dinner and rested the swim. Recast the rods and the Rudd were still there!! One fish even turned out
to be another 3 inch aquarium sized Tench. Was kept quite busy rebaiting and returning Rudd. As it
got dark the Rudd finally moved off and then had a proper run and landed a feisty 4.13(m). The
forecast on the radio was not good for the Sunday so made sure everything was undercover for the
night and turned in. Got plenty of knocks during the dark but nothing really happened. Awoke at
5am Sunday morning to find there had been a light shower but nothing else. The runs started again
but kept on getting fish throwing the barbless hooks, lost about 3 this way in quick succession. An
hour later the weather really kicked in. Some really heavy downpours and its one of those times you
just know you are going to get a run. So at 7.15am was out in the rain landing a 4.06(f)! The rain
eased about 8ish so wound in and went to so see the others for an update. They had caught a few
too so it seems the moves were justified. Got back to the swim just after 9am, recast and was soon
into a 3.13(m). We then sat through a horrendous thunder and lightning storm. Was sat in my bivvy
and the noise even drowned out my radio. Did not relish the idea of waving around 12’ of carbon
fibre during that and thankfully no further runs occurred during it. Once the storm had past most of
the group decided to cut and run despite all the soaking wet gear. Eventually started to pack up
myself and was the last to leave at about 3pm.
So all in all a great weekend I think. We even caught some Tench!!
Tench Caught…….
Myself, 4.11(f), 4.13(m), 4.06(f), 3.13(m) + countless Rudd and a 2.5in Tench.
Mark, 3.10(m).
Terry, float only, nil catch.
Steve, Lots of Rudd and Perch caught, but sadly no Tench came within reach of a float on the
centrepin.
Colin, 3.08(m), 4.04(m), 3.04(f), 3.08(m), 4.04(f).
Mick, about 14 or 15 Tench, biggest about 4.08, 2 Perch, loads of Rudd lost a couple of Carp, one of
those was a big fish.
John, Carp of 5-6lb and a Rudd -Bream hybrid caught. Lost a fish(probably a Tench) in the weed.
Alan, 4.05(f), 3.07(f), 3.11(f), 3.10(f), 4.09(f), 4.0(f), 3.13(m), 3.14(m), 4.04(f), 4.03(f), 4.05(f), 3.11(m)
as well as 3 females and 1 male un-weighed beneath 3lb
Summary……
41 Tench to 7 Anglers.
Heaviest Tench 4.13, me!
Top Rod, Alan.
So, a great weekend on a great, much improved, Tench Fishery…..I will be back for more very soon,
work permitting. If anyone wants any information on the lake then please contact me or Lechlade
Angling. Now that this water is back on my list will be using it a lot more and will be buying a season
ticket in the near future. None of the Bream put in an appearance to our Fishin but there are some
good ones in there too.