A scrawny tench from a legendary lake

[Russell Brown]

Back in mid 80's my friend and I secured permits to fish Longfield.Certainly the toughest place we ever fished.I was ensconced in a corner swim called 'The Goose Pool' where I had seen 3 very large fish of the Cypry genus snuggled under a bush.Wanting to approach the situation differently,I adorned my line with a small running lead then threaded 20 mags on a bit of thread and tied them to the hook.So I flicked it out and hung a very light bobbin on the line.For a couple of hours all was still,then........it lifted a bit and stopped,then lifted slowly and slowly....My heart was pounding big time.I bent into it but could feel little resistance.'NET' result......A very underweight tench of 5lb 13oz.Neither of us ever caught a c**p at Longfield (My friend accumulated 1500hrs trying to),but I cherish that tench for the excitement it gave me.All these years later,my biggest tench is still THAT Longfield tench.

[Dave Burr]

Nice tail but why, may I ask, have you not used the full word 'carp'?

[Lea Dweller]

Nice tail but why, may I ask, have you not used the full word 'carp'?

Is it an anagram?

[Dave Burr]

Nice tail but why, may I ask, have you not used the full word 'carp'?

Is it an anagram?

[Liphook]

I've never heard of Longfield, is it a cult carp water of old? Please do tell me more!

[Olly]

Very much so!

Owned by RMC/Leisure Sport - and let out to various bodies. Eventually to be filled after the fish were removed - (there is a video of that!).
Applications for a crocodile/alligator skins farm - warehouse - and others were refused. So - it became a fishery again - restocked.

No idea now! - - - - - but try this - - - - https://www.longfield-fishery.co.uk/

[Russell Brown]

This being a Tench Forum,I was hesitant to tell the tale because I was fishing for carp and the tench could be viewed as an accidental capture.

[Dave Burr]

This being a Tench Forum,I was hesitant to tell the tale because I was fishing for carp and the tench could be viewed as an accidental capture.

An awful lot of fish are 'accidental Russell.... if you admit to them

[Russell Brown]

Fair comment.I'm amazed when I reel in ANYTHING !

[Olly]

A river 2+lb roach whilst fishing for the river carp I could see - accidental!