Who dares to dream?

Arguably Ireland’s top big tench angler, Jason Summers, lifts the lid on how he smashed the long-standing Irish record

 Issue 13 (Nov-Dec 2016)     Jason Summers 

I always remember the chapter; chapter 9, I believe, of Chris Turnbull’s A Time for Tench, Part 2 read “deep swig at the last chance saloon”. Somehow, for this article, it seems relevant. Big tench are like hens teeth in Ireland. Yes, we have many, many tench and many tench venues but, in terms of size, very few mega-tench. Only a lucky numbers of anglers have been graced with their presence. This is a country where information is seldom shared, where no up to date fishery information or catch reports are available. The venue’s which big tench often live in are very low stock, rich waters open to predation and not keen on angling pressure. An old water I used to fish is a prime example of big tench fishing in Ireland. These waters seem to go through natural cycles, and at the time it produced big fish to 8lb plus, some backup 7’s and a good head of good 6’s – I happened to catch it at the right time. A few years later and the water was never the same again, the fish slowly started to disappear and weights started to drop. It had reached its peak. Today the water only produces a smaller stamp of tench.

For 20 years now I have been keeping a log of my catches and tench campaigns, taking notes and jotting down hints that may help in future sessions. What has become apparent is that, for a specialist like me, a season could and often is defined by just one bite. One mistake on the angler’s part and it could take another season to rectify. What is a specimen Irish tench? A 6lb plus fish is deemed an above-average, noteworthy fish in our waters. A lot of waters hold fish that could break this size barrier. The rich lakes of Carrickmacross to the lovely loughs of Leitrim or Roscommon, the untamed wild waters in Clare or Cavan, all these and more will produce 6lb fish. Now, 7lb fish are slightly different and to find these you really need to search, but they do exist. And then there is the 8lb fish; well, it’s hard to explain how rare fish of this calibre are. You could count on one hand the waters capable of such feat on the entire island and at that they may only contain one or two fish which may go over that magical size at certain times of the year.

“A lot of waters hold fish that could break this size barrier. The rich lakes of Carrickmacross to the lovely loughs of Leitrim or Roscommon, the untamed wild waters in Clare or Cavan, all these and more will produce 6lb fish. Now, 7lb fish are slightly different… And then there is the 8lb fish; well, it’s hard to explain how rare fish of this calibre are”

By now, you are probably getting the picture. Hostile environments, hidden away from humanity are probably how these fish grow so big in the first place. Fishing and sleeping beside such remote places is an experience in itself, pure isolation. Forget bivvies, forget all the creature comforts that you may like to bring – lack of swim choices, or swims period, see to that. Sometimes, in addition, you may have to deal with farmers and landowners who don’t want their land to be tampered with. Even the normality of parking becomes an issue. These type of lakes are not designed for anglers, they are totally natural but that also has its benefits. They are without doubt some of the most beautiful, tranquil and idyllic overgrown treasures within Ireland and you truly feel at one with nature when there. These are wild loughs and the tench fishing is of a different kind to the norm. This is often jungle tenching, where chest waders are a must, Ray Mears-like skills essential and most definitely a sense of humour is needed! I have fallen in cow shit as I haul my gear to different swims, chased by rampaging bulls. I have ripped every angling garment I own crossing barbed wire fences or thorn-filled gaps. And my God, the raking; sometimes hours of effort are needed to prepare and clear the swim. Often I sit back and question my sanity but I know what my reward maybe so I crack on. It is no wonder the Irish tench lakes are kept so hush-hush; a lack of swims, problematic parking and disgruntled farmers with private land. Too much attention and a water could be lost to angling forever…

“Often I sit back and question my sanity but I know what my reward maybe so I crack on”

Now, even if you have found a decent water capable of that one bite, you still have a few factors to weigh up. For a tench to get to this huge size everything has to be right. Erratic spring weather can be the kiss of death, with fish unable to build spawn and weight, or with bursts of heat some can drop it early. Weed levels and growth are a constant problem; the battles I have had recently with the bigger fish have to be seen to be believed. Leads have to be dropped. These are straight lead waters, where conventional feeders and the likes are un-retrievable. PVA is a must as weed growth hinders presentation. Contrary to what some believe, too much raking is the kiss of death on such quiet waters, and the balance between am excessively cleared swim and one that is fishable is the difference in getting a bite or two. The window for opportunity for tench at their peak weights is very small and can pass very quickly indeed. Several of my seasons have been written off before they even started, but you have to dream don’t you?

By the end of June 2014, and I had already had a hard season. I had caught some good fish but also endured countless blanks. The hook bait that I’d been using had seemed to have become “blown” (no longer effective) and I was happy enough to call it a day. But, talking to my wife Lorraine one evening I decided to go ahead with one last session that had previously been pencilled in. I still thought it pretty pointless though due to the lack of tench activity I was seeing. The lake was alive with naturals at this point both under and above the water, which can make tench almost uncatchable. On top of this, to further sap my confidence, earlier that spring I had found a few dead tench carcasses, two of which were clearly very big fish. Was this the beginning of the lake’s slow demise? Was it the beginning or end of the tench cycle? Bites up to that point had only been over small patches of bait using small hook baits and I was nicking a fish here and there, one-bite tactics using a small solid or mesh bag.

Watching the weather I knew this was the best spring and early summer yet in my tenching, with gradual rising temperatures and no sudden weather jumps – perfect, but my catches had peaked at the usual high for Irish tench fishing. Low-8lb fish, like Nick Parry’s long standing record from 1995, seem to be the ceiling weight for Irish tench. I set off from home with little optimism but happy and energetic as usual and just happy to be heading off for a bit of tenching. I had had a fantastic tench career up to this point and whenever I go nowadays I feel relaxed and content because of my previous catches. I had reached the top surely?

On the Friday evening of a weekend session, I sat by the rods contemplating what to do. I decided there and then to go for it and I mixed up my favourite ground bait, 2-3kgs in total, flavoured with an array of additives, micro pellets and a little particle. It was designed to draw the fish down to the bottom and keep them there but with little food content. I put the lot out on the spot; a clearish spot just starting to turn as summer weed growth was starting to win. With both rods over the same small area, I sat back drinking coffee and watching the water hoping to see some signs. Just before turning in for the night I noticed two or three good fish slowly roll over the spot, like dark apparitions. They stirred the excitement inside me and I lay on the bed chair that night with my eyes refusing to close, just in case. Just in case…

At 3.55am my left hand rod beat once and I jumped from my bed chair. As I made my way sleepily to the rod it went into meltdown. I had to wake up sharpish, and bending into the fish I could feel the shear bulk and power on the other end. Epic battles can be unforgettable for most anglers, and I certainly remember every kick of that battle. My legs had begun to shake. The fish smashed through several weed beds and three or four times she drove for heavy weed growth. As I held firm she trickled line off the spool bit by bit, and I could feel every stem as she bored down, each time making me constantly worry and panic about the hook hold.

I held firm for one last time as she made a late bid for freedom but that only tired her further and luckily covered her face in duckweed – the battle was over, she was mine. I bundled her, weed and all, into the net. Upon lifting her I had to pause for a moment; the battle had taken its toll on the two of us. When I gathered myself, I peeled back the mesh and discovered that she was huge. I trembled as I zeroed the scales. I knew she was a PB but how big? The needle swung round 8lb, then high 8lb and then settled over 9lb. I had to gather myself once again and I re-zeroed the scales. “They must be wrong?”, I thought to myself. 9lb 2oz they settled on, the Irish equivalent of a Dai Gribble-sized English fish. I don’t mind in admitting that I think I actually shed a tear at that moment, for I had not just broken my PB, I had smashed it out of sight!

“I knew she was a PB but how big? The needle swung round 8lb, then high 8lb and then settled over 9lb. I had to gather myself once again and I re-zeroed the scales”

I did another night but nothing else occurred. I didn’t care. I was on a high that lasted for weeks on end. On the Sunday morning I packed up and the only place I felt I had to go was to Dad’s grave, to say “thanks”. Thanks for bringing me everywhere, Dad. I did it, I told you I would!

Who dares to dream? I do. I had had my last swig at the at the most beautiful of Irish saloons.

Jason Summers

Note:
Jason’s personal best tench comfortably beat the current official Irish record of 8lb 2.4oz (3.697kg) famously set by Nick Parry in 1995. However, as the specific venue must be disclosed to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee  when claiming a new record, Jason chose not to submit a claim in order to protect the fish and the water itself.