Catching tench in the fall: bait, what to catch

Tench in autumn

Features of tench behavior in autumn can be summarized by the autumn months, or more precisely by characteristic weather conditions. In each region, you should pay attention to established temperature indicators and other weather changes over several days.

Lin in September. This month, fish move little around the reservoir. Lin prefers to lead a sedentary lifestyle. Only a lack of food forces it to move to another part of the reservoir. In September, there is still a rich food supply for tench: larvae, bottom insects and aquatic plants.

September is characterized by weather variability. The difference between night and day temperatures can reach 14 degrees. Strong gusty winds, prolonged rains and surges in atmospheric pressure are not uncommon phenomena in September. Such weather conditions have a negative impact on fish activity. The likelihood of a bite increases on warm, cloudy days. Drizzling rain is not an obstacle to tench fishing in September.

Lin in October. In mid-autumn, water and coastal vegetation begins to die off. Some benthic insects hide in the silt. But insects buried in silt are not a problem for tench. He finds them using his natural locator (whiskers). Air bubbles floating to the surface are a sign of the presence of tench, tearing benthic organisms out of the silt.

As the temperature drops, the line gradually moves to the bottom depressions. It lingers near reed thickets, where it eats the remaining aquatic vegetation. When fishing for tench in October, you should use bait, which is delivered to areas with differences in depth, located near reed islands.

Lin in November. After the first frost, the tench enters the bottom depressions (pits), in which they will live during the freeze-up period. The fish does not move far from wintering grounds, even on relatively warm days. The basis of tench's food in late autumn consists of the remains of aquatic vegetation and detritus (the remains of invertebrate animals).

In cold water, the metabolism in the tench's body slows down, but it continues to feed. When fishing for tench in November, you have to look for fish. Successfully placed bait in a wintering pit can attract inactive tench to the fishing site. A successful choice of place for tench fishing in the fall has a positive effect on the fishing result. This is also true when fishing for tench in winter.

Tench in autumn water

Photo by the author

This is one of the most unpredictable fish. When paired with crucian carp, sometimes he “throws out” such tricks that the poor angler’s head is spinning. The slightest difference in atmospheric pressure, incorrectly chosen fishing time, bait and bait, and just an extra breath of the “wrong” wind or a banal cloud on the horizon can reduce the tench’s bite to nothing.

These judgments apply to a lesser extent to September tench fishing. At this time, the fish, which throughout the warm water season stay alone or in small schools, begin to gather in schools and feed heavily - wonder, winter is just around the corner! It is for this reason that in September tench catches reach fantastic sizes.

Place

In early September, when the water is still quite warm, tench stick to summer habitats and feed there. Aquatic vegetation is in no hurry to die off; there is always something to eat and an opportunity to hide from the teeth of a predator, which is what the tench takes advantage of. Places with a silted bottom, a decent depth (from a meter) and the presence of thickets of reeds, reeds or water lilies are good for fishing. It is among the thickets of aquatic vegetation that fishing is carried out. Just in case, you should know several such places, so that if there is no fish, you can move to a spare one.

The situation is somewhat different when it comes to fishing in late September-early October, precisely at the time when golden autumn comes into its own. In most regions of the country, the first frosts are possible at this time, greatly “killing” the activity of fish. Then the catch depends on many factors, the place of fishing among which is far from the most important. During frosts, the fish goes into deep places and becomes passive, stops feeding, greatly complicating the life of the fisherman. However, once the sun shines and the water warms up a little, you can find active fish... in shallow areas of reservoirs - creeks, bays, backwaters. If, in addition to everything, a warm southern or southwestern wind blows, driving the heated water to your shore, a catch is almost guaranteed! In addition to tench, in such a place there is a high probability of catching other heat-loving fish, primarily crucian carp and crucian carp. And this despite the fact that at depth anglers may not even see a bite.

Fishing time

At the beginning of autumn, the summer feeding regime of fish works relatively accurately - feeding outings in the early morning and late evening are quite predictable. This is not surprising - in the middle of the day the sun is still hot like summer, so the fish prefers to stay in the grass. Closer to mid-September, with the gradual cooling of the water, the situation begins to shift along with the sun - cool hours begin as the air warms up and last until sunset. Towards the end of September, the tench bite may even “unexpectedly” begin in the afternoon and end after 2-3 hours.

Tackle

Tench, despite its passivity and phlegmatic nature, is a very strong and assertive fish. Considering that fishing in most cases takes place either in the thickets or in close proximity to them, the requirements for gear are appropriate. Fishing with a float rod has gained the greatest popularity among our fishermen. However, modern fly tackle is poorly suited for tench; this “giant” is capable of crushing thin, elegant tackle literally from the first pull, leaving the angler with nothing. It is for this reason that powerful Bolognese fishing rods are in use, reaching a length of 6-7 meters, with a dough of up to 20-30 grams. It is this kind of fishing rod that allows you to hold the fish and not let it into the thickets of aquatic vegetation. There is, of course, little sportiness in such gear, but if we are talking about 2-3 bites per morning, culminating in hooking a fish weighing well over a kilogram, and all the action takes place among thickets of aquatic vegetation, then there can be no talk of any “sportiness” .

In tandem with a powerful fishing rod there is certainly a spinning reel, which must have sufficient high-torque power and certainly fine-tuning the friction - this is the only way to “win” a trophy fish. In addition, if it is necessary to make a relatively long cast, a spinning reel will easily allow this to be done. When hunting for large tench, you should not go small with the diameter of the main line - the best option is 0.18-0.2. Of course, it is far from the elegance of modern fly fishing rods, but such tackle solves its problems. The softest line with a diameter of 0.14-0.16 mm should be used as a leash. Its strength is quite enough to fish out large tench. However, many anglers prefer to fish without a leash at all, tying the hook directly to the main line. There is logic in such an act - it is better to see one or two bites and stay with the fish, than to see three and not catch anything.

You shouldn’t be too fussy with your choice of hook. Of course, the hook is selected according to the size of the bait used, and for tench, fairly voluminous baits are used - several grains of corn, a large bunch of worms and maggots, and the hook is selected based on this. Its size should not be less than number 12 - otherwise gatherings will be tormented. Regarding the shape, the ideal option would be hooks made of thick wire, with a forged hook and a sting bent inward.

"Delicacies" for fish

For large tench, a standard set of baits and attachments is used, which all white fish prefer to eat. Of course, you should start with the traditional trio “bloodworm-maggot-worm” in different combinations. If small things don’t bother you, it makes sense to try miniature bait like 1-2 maggots or bloodworms - in cold water this can bring impressive results. Don’t forget about plant baits - contrary to all assurances, they work not only in warm water, but are also quite capable of “shooting” in September and even in October. When going for tench, don’t forget to take with you a jar of steamed pearl barley, semolina, a handful of canned corn - who knows what tench will like at a given time?

The same applies to bait - until the water has cooled down, all kinds of summer “sweet” bait work great, perfectly luring fish to the fishing point. The color of the bait is very important - a light spot of bait on a dark muddy bottom has a frightening effect on the tench. In addition to the correct aroma and color, important importance is paid to the mechanics of the mixture - no active components that attract fines! The bait should spread along the bottom in an even carpet and wait for the large fish to approach. In addition, it should have a large number of large components - what is on your hook. Only in this case there is a chance to attract the attention of the tench. Tench fishing is largely based on waiting. Success depends on whether you are able to wait for the fish to bite and “hatch it out.” Don't forget about this...

Alexey Murashko October 15, 2014 at 00:00

Choosing a place to catch tench in the fall

On an unfamiliar body of water, the choice of place for catching tench is carried out according to external signs. Then reconnaissance of the relief and bottom conditions is carried out. If favorable conditions for tench habitat coincide, you can start fishing. Signs of a promising place:

Abundant coastal vegetation;
Presence of emergent plants;
Lush algae;
Slow flow or no flow. On rivers there are low-flow bays, creeks and channel bends;
Bottom turbidity rising to the surface along with air bubbles;
Islands of reeds or other vegetation;
Silted bottom;
Depth changes;
Bottom depressions (pits) in the coastal zone and near islands of vegetation sticking out on the surface of the water. Tench enter such places in late autumn.

Tench is not found in areas with a hard, silt-free bottom. Avoids fast channel currents and rapids.

In which bodies of water and where exactly should you catch tench? Photo. Video

Tench is a rather rare fish for amateur fishermen, but professionals readily catch it because they know exactly where, when and how to do it correctly . As a rule, tench are more active in the off-season than in the summer. Therefore, with the beginning of autumn , it’s time to go to reservoirs to catch large individuals that are preparing for winter and actively gaining weight during this period.

Where does tench live? And which bodies of water should you choose for fishing?

In order to answer these questions, it is important to know the habits and behavior of the tench. Then it will be possible to catch it quite often and in quite large quantities.

After all, this fish is not only tasty, but also interesting in nature.

Why is it important to choose a location?

Lin is excellent at hiding, leading a cautious and “mysterious” lifestyle. can also hide in other places with vegetation. But you can outsmart him. To do this, you just need to choose the right place and time.

Choosing a reservoir for tench fishing.

Tench lives in many bodies of water: rivers, lakes, bays, rates, etc. It is important for it that the bottom is muddy, the current is extremely weak or completely absent. In such places, the water may even stagnate and not smell pleasant.

loves abundant vegetation: sedge, egg capsule, horsetail, reeds, reeds, duckweed and other thickets, which help it hide from the fisherman’s hooks. But in reservoirs with a bottom made of sand, pebbles or stones, tench is practically impossible to find. Therefore, you will have to look for it in a very limited area, which, as a rule, is several tens of square meters.

Rules for choosing a reservoir.

So, the more “swamp” there is in a reservoir, the more tench live there, which means fishing in that place will be more successful. But this does not mean at all that you can catch it in every dirty “puddle” or stinking swamp. It is enough just to follow two simple rules when choosing a place to catch tench: 1. No current. 2. The presence of duckweed and a large amount of abundant aquatic vegetation. But where to look for such places in the fall, when the vegetation dies off?

Autumn places for tench fishing in reservoirs with dense vegetation.

With the arrival of autumn, tench involuntarily move from the emptying bottom, where algae grew abundantly in the summer. Now he has to swim closer to the shore in search of the edge of reeds or any other vegetation that remains green and can become a reliable shelter for him with the onset of cold weather.

Fishing for tench in ponds and reservoirs with duckweed.

Where there is duckweed, there will definitely be tench - this rule works in 98% of cases when searching for this fish. difficult for large autumn specimens to hide in such vegetation .

But, as you know , fish are not distinguished by special mental abilities, and feeding and living in vegetation is inherent at the gene level of the tench . you can find it in duckweed without any problems. So, another true rule is the fact that when fishing in ponds or other bodies of water with the presence of algae and other vegetation, tench will not provide a 100% guarantee of a catch. But in places where duckweed grows it shows a high level of catch.

Results.

At different times of the year, the behavior of tench will be different . In summer it is easier to find it in dense thickets on a muddy bottom. And in the fall it approaches the shore with sedge, reeds and other abundant vegetation. If there is duckweed on the reservoir, then you are in luck ; tench can almost always be caught directly from the shore using the most ordinary float rod.

Tench on a float rod in autumn

The equipment of a float rod for a tench is carried out taking into account the conditions of the upcoming fishing. Any type of float tackle is suitable. The most popular is the Bolognese fishing rod. Fishing for tench in the fall with a float rod is carried out from the shore or boat. Fishing features are taken into account when equipping a fishing rod:

Rod. For fishing from the shore, rods with a length of 2.7 m to 6 m are suitable. The main thing is that its length ensures accurate casts. Models with a fast action are well suited for timely hooking (when shaken, only the tip bends). When fishing from a boat, the length of the rod does not play a special role;
Coil. When retrieving caught fish, the reel plays an important role. For a float fishing rod for tench, spinning and inertial reels are suitable. The choice depends on the desire or habit of the angler;
Fishing line. An inconspicuous fishing line is selected. The best option is fluorocarbon line. Its only drawback is its relatively high cost. Other high-quality fishing lines with a load capacity of at least 3 kg are also suitable. Selection principle: the thinner the better;
Float. A blind rig or a sliding float is used;
Sinker. It is important to load the float correctly. A single sinker or a spaced load with an underlay is used. Considering that tench fishing is carried out on a slight current, the second option is preferable;
Leashes and hooks. Leashes are tied 10% thinner than the main line. Leash length 15-30 cm. Hooks No. 5-7 according to domestic numbering.

How to catch tench with a float rod

A prerequisite is compliance with masking. Otherwise, it will be possible to observe in clear water how the lines slowly move, not paying attention to the offered bait.

Casts are made into windows of coastal surface vegetation or algae. If they are absent, it is necessary to clear several coastal areas. Do not rake out all existing algae to reduce the likelihood of snags. It is enough to make a narrow (1.0-1.5 m) strip and cast the remaining algae under the border.

The tench bite has its own characteristics. First there is a slight twitching of the float, and then there is a lull. The next approach is characterized by a more active bite followed by moving the float to the side or under the water. Now, after the float has clearly shifted, you need to perform a sharp hook. The main thing is to break through the fleshy lip of the tench. When fishing, do not allow the fish to go into existing algae or reeds.

Tench tackle

Tench fishing gear is also a special matter. There are no special line equipment. However, when equipping fishing rods, you need to take into account the peculiarities of fishing - thickets, as well as seasonality. The main tackle, of course, is a float rod. This is for the classic conditions described at the beginning of the article. However, you can also catch it with a donkey, a feeder, a summer jig, and even a girder.

Float rod

The line rigging must be both sensitive and strong. There is no need to use huge floats - a maximum of 2-3 grams is enough. Especially in the middle of summer, when he selectively and takes a long time to try the bait. A great classic option is their goose feather float.

In reeds, a fishing line of 0.18-0.222 mm is usually used; it is not thinner - it will be difficult to remove from the thickets. The tench resists with dignity, stubbornly trying to go into the mud, reeds, and wrap the fishing line around the stems. He is not afraid of thick fishing line, since the whole thing takes place among an abundance of vegetation. However, in clean, clear water it may be worth switching to a diameter of 0.14-0.16 mm.
It is better to place the sinker in a spaced version. Not one heavy one, but several. The bottom one is the smallest one, like an under-pastor. The simplest do-it-yourself tench tackle, made from feathers, on a simple rod, will work if the strategy, location, groundbait and bait in general are correct.
Be sure to put the bait on the bottom. However, if there is an abundance of filamentous algae or on too soft silt, you need to adjust the tackle so that the bait barely touches the bottom or layer of mud, and does not sink into it. Otherwise, the tench may rummage through these sediments for too long, trying to find it by smell, but will never find it.

Detailed article - fishing rods for tench with a float

Side nod

A summer jig with a side nod is well suited for active, exploratory fishing through windows - from a boat, in waders or from a bridge. However, of course, fans of this method can also fish using bait, stationary. The principles of finding a place are the same. The gear is equipped like for crucian carp - a nod on a suitable rod, a fishing line and a jig. A simple pellet, moved along the line to the hook, will do. They don’t actually play with the jig, but simply lower it to the fishing point, occasionally moving it. Tench readily responds to such bait if the right bait is available.

Article about fishing with the summer side nod

Donka

Tench is usually not purposefully caught on the bottom - however, this fish can be taken with this tackle. If it is thrown somewhere where fish are constantly hanging around, and the bait on the hooks will attract it. Due to the love for thickets, fishing with donka is problematic. In addition, the constant splashing of a sinker or feeder on the water can alert a cautious tench. Moreover, fishing usually takes place in shallow areas.

Donka is useful for reservoirs without obvious linear places visible from above. On ponds with uniform sparse mud and underwater vegetation. It’s better to fish with a donk with an elastic band - place the weight on the point once, and carefully remove the equipment, rather than splash it with casts. The nozzle on leashes must be located at the bottom or directly above it, 1-2 cm.

Feeder

Feeder lovers can also use this gear for tench fishing. Especially where there is a lot of it, or on paid sites. Tench will willingly take a worm or boilie of its choice using the flat method if it is present near the feeding point. This is rather not targeted fishing. It can usually be taken as by-catch when fishing for carp or crucian carp. But it is important not to make frequent casts - so as not to scare them away. And this fish is slow. So we abandoned it after the starting feeding and waited. Fishing for tench on a feeder is never tempo.

Zherlitsy

In some places, fishermen use girders for crucian carp or carp, placing them along promising windows in the reeds. Naturally, tench can also be caught on the hook. The bait for tench is the same as for crucian carp, no special tricks are required - the important thing is time, place and the right bait with bait.

Tench on the feeder in autumn

The selected feeder rod should be comfortable for making accurate casts. The fishing line and reel are selected in the same way as for a float rod. Particular attention should be paid to choosing a feeder for the feeder. Fishing for tench in the fall using a feeder is carried out in silted areas. Therefore, you should select a feeder model made of lightweight material that allows it to remain on the surface of the bottom until the bait is washed out. To ensure casting, an additional sinker is used, which is tied below the feeder.

A slight burying of bait in the mud is acceptable. If she shows signs of life, then the tench will not leave her unattended. While eating complementary foods, he will not miss the opportunity to enjoy more attractive food. Tench does not leave room with enough food.

Catching tench on a feeder involves self-hooking the fish. To prevent “unpunished” eating of bait, you should pay attention to sharpening the tied hooks. Having felt the resistance of the bait, the cautious fish will refuse further attempts to capture it. The result is a “idle” bite.

Habitats

With the onset of autumn, the vegetation in the reservoir dies off. And these, as you know, are the main stopping places and shelters for tench in the summer. Therefore, its habitats in the fall are:

areas of water where the water is the cleanest (without the presence of algae and other vegetation on the bottom);
coastal areas of the reservoir where there are reeds or flooded bushes and branches;
near small islands;
on the border of a deep and shallow section of a reservoir.

Fishing for tench in September gives the best results. With the onset of deep autumn, the water temperature decreases, and the fish go to the deepest parts of the reservoir for the winter. Tench in October and November will no longer be such an easy catch for anglers as in early autumn.

Photo 1. Autumn on the pond.

Tench in autumn on an elastic band

The elastic tackle is used for catching predatory and peaceful fish. Lin is no exception. Catching tench in the fall with an elastic band is possible before the onset of freeze-up. Fishing with a rubber band from a boat expands the possibilities of using this equipment.

When fishing with an elastic band, it is easier to determine what tench are biting on in the fall on the day of fishing. This is facilitated by the possibility of simultaneously placing all the baits in the arsenal on different hooks.

How to catch tench with an elastic band

The number of gear is limited by the conditions of the reservoir. The optimal quantity is 2-3 pcs. Gear is thrown to promising places at different distances. To flood hooks with bait to the bottom, you can additionally use a feeder, which is tied between the hooks on a longer leash. If the feeder is not used, the elastic band is equipped with leashes of different lengths. It is advisable to ensure that they do not overlap when the gear is in working position.

After determining the beginning of the bite, do not rush into hooking. You need to hook when the bite alarm is actively moving. If the weight at the other end of the tackle is not felt, then the elastic band returns to its original position. The caught fish is brought to the shore or boat on a constantly stretched line. The resisting line “sits” even more reliably on the hook. Even a short-term slack in the fishing line can provoke a fish escape. It happens in cases where the lip is not completely pierced with a hook.

basic information

With the arrival of autumn, mass rotting of algae begins, which are the usual summer shelter for tench. This phenomenon forces fish to get out of their shelters and migrate en masse to more promising points. These include clean spaces along the coastline, as well as water areas with remnants of reeds and other vegetation. If the fish stays close to the shore, it can be caught with a regular float rod.

When cold weather sets in, the tench activates an incredible appetite, which forces it to look for any source of food. This is another reason to immediately go fishing.

When searching for promising places for throwing gear, preference should be given to water areas with a depth of 2-2.5 meters, which are located at a short distance from thickets of reeds, cattails or reeds. Often such areas are located near the shore, so it is not necessary to use a boat for fishing. Tench can be caught using regular float gear.

Read: Fishing for tench in spring

When equipping a fishing rod, you do not need to comply with any specific requirements. Tench lack good eyesight and caution, but its bites are accompanied by strong jerks, so it is better to take powerful tackle with a good margin of safety. In addition, in the autumn, trophy representatives of the species begin to peck, reaching impressive body weight and size.

Unlike many other fish species, tench are characterized by a predictable lifestyle. Its movement routes may not change for years, which allows you to start fishing without using a bait mixture. The following is used as a hook attachment:

Muckworm.
Subleaf.
Crayfish meat.
Bloodworms.

Plant-type baits are practically ineffective, although in the summer they gave excellent results.

Bait for tench in autumn

Bait for tench is usually prepared based on personal experience. Even experienced fishermen constantly experiment with complementary food ingredients. As a basis, you can take a proven recipe for bait for tench in the fall. Ingredients:

Steamed wheat – 1 part;
Millet for bait – 1 part;
Canned or prepared corn for fishing – 0.5 parts;
Chopped worms, small maggots or bloodworms – 0.2 parts;
A pinch of hemp seeds;
A handful of crushed cake;
Cottage cheese – 0.2 parts.

All ingredients are mixed on the shore. Soil and water from the reservoir are added. The bait is mixed to a consistency that ensures disintegration immediately after entering the water.

Lin in October

When choosing a promising place for fishing, it is important to take into account the behavior of tench in October. On an unfamiliar body of water, areas where tench are unlikely to appear should be ignored:

Fast channel currents or rapids on small rivers;
Lack of algae and silt deposits;
Areas without vegetation sticking out of the water;
No remains of emergent plants.

Tench does not leave room with enough food in October. It successfully searches for aquatic insects buried in silt using its whiskers, which act as a natural locator. In the second half of October, the amount of food decreases, and tench does not neglect the opportunity to satisfy its hunger with the remains of invertebrate aquatic inhabitants (detritus).

In October, small flocks of tench concentrate in the depressions near the reed islands. As the water temperature drops at the end of October, tench move to wintering pits, and on relatively warm days they look for food at the exits (entrances) to the bottom depressions. Detected areas with differences in depth where bottom vegetation remains are a good sign of the presence of tench.

Tench is a cautious fish. Precisely, cautious, not timid. The tench does not shy away from the slap on the water when casting bulky gear. He simply ignores her. Camouflage plays an important role when fishing for tench. It is advisable that the coloring of outerwear matches the coastal landscape. If this is not possible, then you need to set up a fishing spot behind the coastal thickets. Neglecting camouflage, you can observe flocks (3-5 individuals) of tench in clear water, which slowly move in search of food, not paying attention to the offered bait.

What do tench bite on in the fall?

Practical tench fishing shows that the best tench bite in the fall is observed with bait of animal origin:

Dung worms;
Bloodworms;
Caddisfly larvae;
Maggots.

In the first half of autumn, plant fishing baits should not be ignored. As the water temperature drops, tench are well attracted to bite on a hook, various combinations of bait and plant baits. When fishing for tench in cold water, preference is given to bait.

It should be noted that catching tench in the fall requires preliminary preparation of gear and taking into account the peculiarities of fishing. The correct choice of place for tench fishing also plays an important role. The correct technique for catching this wary fish is the key to successful fishing.

What to use to catch tench in November

When fishing for tench in late autumn, it is important to pay special attention to bait. The bait can include steamed cereals with the addition of fishmeal. To make the complementary food more attractive, it is necessary to add crushed bait used. Taking into account the fact that tench feed little in November, lumps of medium consistency are prepared, sprayed in water, 50% of which is soil from the reservoir. Prepared bait for tench is thrown into promising places in small portions. If there is no bite for a long time, you should add a little extra food.

Bait for tench in October

In October, after eating food in a certain area, tench begins to move in search of additional food. The sedentary lifestyle of the fish forces it to linger in areas where zooplankton representatives are concentrated. As a rule, these are river bends and river bays.

The amount of natural food is gradually decreasing. During this period, bait for tench in October plays an important role. Complementary foods are filled with steamed porridge, breadcrumbs and cake. The filler is mixed with the soil in a one to one ratio. Crushed parts of bait (worms, bloodworms, maggots) and flavorings are added to the resulting mixture. Sunflower, hemp or anise oil is used as a flavoring.

It should be noted that with a successful choice of fishing location and the correct equipment for tench gear, you can count on a good catch. In addition, it is important to replenish your arsenal with all available baits and vegetable baits for tench.