Welcome to the Tench Fishing Guide Victoria. Tench is an introduced species brought in from Europe in the 1870s after being introduced into New Zealand waters in the 1860s. They have thrived in our environment and can be found in many rivers and lakes around Victoria. An interesting looking fish with a bright yellow tinge. Many consider tench to be a noxious pest like European carp however they are not as invasive or damaging to the environment and will generally fit in well with other species like trout, redfin, yellowbelly and cod. They have small mouths but surprisingly will take a variety of baits, soft plastics and lures.

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Tench Facts & Catch Limits

  • Their scientific name is Tinca tinca. 
  • There is no size limit for Tench.
  • There is no catch limit for Tench. ( prior to 2022 it was a limit of 5 but that has been removed )
  • The most common catches are between 30cm and 50 cm.
  • VFA recommends not returning Tench back into the water

Best time to catch Tench ( Seasons )

In Victoria, Tench ( like Redfin ) can be caught most of the year. However, they are more active in warmer months ideally between Summer and Autumn. They are often best targeted at Dawn/Dusk. In the warmer months, you catch them in volumes in cooler months you won’t catch as many but they tend to be bigger size catches. 

Redfin Fishing Calendar

How to catch Tench

Tench likes to congregate in shallow weedy systems, often found in schools just outside the thick weedy areas. They prefer slow-flowing waters and avoid fast moving areas. They are bottom feeders and traditional coarse fishing techniques with baits work great for catching tech, however, they will also take soft plastics and lures. When targeting Tench on soft plastics and lures we recommend a light 1-3, 2-4 or 2-5 kilo spin rod around 7 feet in length. Coupled with a light 2000 or 2500 size reel, spooled with 6 to 10 lb line and leader. When bait fishing use a 2-4 or 3-5 kilo rod around 7 feet in length. Coupled with a 2500-3000 size reel. Then a paternoster rig with a small sinker at the bottom and a couple of scrub worms. Tench breed in large numbers so keep moving around until you start getting bites. It’s worth noting that tench is generally more active in the warmer months, however, some of the big ones can be caught during winter. They’re great to target in the first hours of sunlight and the last hours of sundown, or on overcast days.

 

 

Rod, Reel and Line to catch Tench 

When targeting freshwater species such as tench we recommend fishing with a light spinning outfit. This will make the experience more enjoyable and improve your catch rates. We suggest a 1-3 or 2-4 kilo fishing rod, coupled with a 2000, 2500 or 3000 size reel. Spooled with a decent quality braid between 6-10 pounds and finished with one-rod length of equivalent fluorocarbon leader.

Best Baits to Catch Tench

Tench have small mouths so we recommend using small hooks. Our best bait recommendations include scrub worms, minnows and yabbies. The are several ways to present baits either a running sinker rig or a paternoster rig. The rig choice will be dependent on where you are fishing, the casting distance required and the conditions such as tidal strength. Where possible fish with as little weight. When land-based you may need a heavy sinker to cast out as far as you can.

Bait Choices

  • Scrub worms
  • Corn
  • Mudeye
  • maggots
  • bread

Best Soft Plastics to Catch Tench

A great starting point is a brightly coloured soft plastic curly tail on a 1/8 – 1/12 jig head. Cast the plastic and let it sink to the bottom. Wait a few seconds then lift and retrieve then stop again allowing the plastic to hit the bottom. Alternatively, a slow constant slow roll keeps the plastic close to the bottom. Cast in one area for a few minutes if you don’t get any bites then move on. Keep doing this until you start getting some bites. Mix up colours and lure styles if the bite goes quiet. Some days bright colours work great the next day natural colours. For jig head selection it’s a good idea to have multiple weights and sizes with you. This way you can adjust based on the current strength and weather conditions. We generally would have a 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, and & 1/12 jig head in a 2/0 and 3/0 size. Take your time when rigging and make sure the plastic is on straight, this improves the plastic action.

Soft Plastics

  • Strike Tiger curl tails
  • Zman 3 inch MinnowZ
  • Daiwa Bait Junkie 2.5 inch grub
  • Berkley powerbait grub
  • Gulp 3 inch minnow
  • Zman 2.5 inch grubZ
  • Zman Slim SwimZ
  • Dawia Bait Junkie paddle tail minnow
  • Kietech swim impact fat
  • Squidges biotough grub
  • Kietech flapper grub

 

Best Lures to Catch Tench

Remember Tench have small mouths so your lure choice needs to have relatively small trebles. Good options include soft plastics, spinners, blades and hard bodies. Tench will often strike a lure as it’s floating down to the bottom. Wait a few seconds then lift and retrieve then stop again allowing the plastic to hit the bottom. Alternatively, a slow constant slow roll keeps the lure close to the bottom. Cast in one area for a few minutes if you don’t get any bites then move on. Keep doing this until you start getting some bites. Mix up colours and lure styles if the bite goes quiet. Some days bright colours work great the next day natural colours. 

Lure Choices

  • Bluefox spinners
  • Squidges Wrigglers
  • Daiwa Presso minnows
  • Bullet lures 3cm lure
  • strike tiger nymph
  • Nories Wasabi spoon
  • Rapala countdown floating minnow
  • Daiwa Double Clutch
  • Tasmanian Devil lure
  • Zerek fish trap
  • eco gear ZX40
  • Samaki Vibelicious

 

Best Rigs to catch Tench

Our rig recommendations when bait fishing would include a running sinker rig, float rig or paternoster rig as shown in the images below. This can also work really well completely unweighted with no sinker in some situations. Please note we have detailed step-by-step video guides in our member’s area on how to create these rigs.

Simple running sinker

Running sinker fishing rig

Thread a small running sinker through the mainline shown in blue. Tie a small barrel swivel to the end allowing the sinker to run up the mainline freely. On the other end of the swivel add 50cm of fluorocarbon leader ( shown in grey ). Finished with a small long shank hook.

 

Using a float

Attach a quill or bubble float to your mainline. Thread the line through and adjust the length using a size 6 bait keeper hook or size 10 long shank to keep your bait suspended at a good depth. Ideally cast down a breeze which will stop the float from coming back to you. If you’re not getting bites then adjust the line depth and If necessary add a splint shot to add weight.

Float fishing rig

Paternoster Rig

Paternoster Rig

Tie your mainline to a barrel swivel. Create 2 loop knots and thread a hook over each loop knot allowing you to run multiple baits. At the end attach a sinker again threaded on via a loop knot.

 

Best fishing locations to catch tench in Victoria

  • Lake Wendouree
  • Malmsbury
  • Loddon River
  • Pakenham Lake
  • Glenelg River
  • Murray River
  • Jackson Creek
  • Deep Creek
  • Maribrynong River ( Brimbank area )
  • Ringwood Lake

You can obtain a free Victorian recreational fishing guide from the Victorian Fisheries Authorities

Images of fish supplied VFA and DEPI. All other images and videos shown on the Tench Fishing Guide Victoria are Fishing Mad originals. Thank you for reading the Tench Fishing Guide Victoria. If you feel this guide is missing key information or needs any corrections. Then please let us know by emailing our team at enquiries@fishingmad.com.au with specific details in the email. Thank you