Tench

[wahunter21]

So i have been noticing lots of large schools of good sized tench at one of my bass fishing lakes. I am unfamiliar with this fish, and on my last couple paddle boarding trips I saw a Ton of them. Maybe saw two nice bass compared to probably 40+ tench. Anybody have experience with this fish, as far as catching and rules etc. I have caught nice bass in this lake and am just a little worried the tench are taking over.  THanks for any input.

[KFhunter]

Great question, I haven't been able to find the answer myself as there's Tench in some of my waters I fish.

I downloaded the fishing pamphlet in adobe and did a search for "Tench" with zero results, I did the same with "doctor fish" and only found doctor as in health provider.

The only thing I found that could relate to Tench is statewide rules might be this:

You May Not:
Fish in closed waters.
Retain wild STEELHEAD or DOLLY VARDEN/
BULL TROUT except where specially authorized
in the special rules.
Retain a GREEN STURGEON.
Take, fish for, or possess PACIFIC LAMPREY,
WESTERN BROOK LAMPREY, or RIVER
LAMPREY, or use any species of LAMPREY for
bait.
Harvest in freshwater any fish not classified as a
Food Fish or Game Fish except for NORTHERN
PIKE.
Fish for, retain, or possess YELLOWEYE or
CANARY rockfish, SIXGILL, SEVENGILL, or
THRESHER Sharks, PYGMY WHITEFISH,
MARGINED SCULPIN, or O

[KFhunter]

but then I found this


http://wdfw.wa.gov/ais/tinca_tinca/
Tinca tinca (Tench)

Animal Fish
Family: Cyprinidae
Classification: Regulated


Tench are a member of the carp family that is sometimes raised commercially for food, they are also used as forage feed for bass in some areas. They get up to about 18” long and 10-12 lbs. The golden form is sometimes used as an aquarium species. It inhabits lakes with weedy/muddy bottoms, eating bottom invertebrates and aquatic insect larvae. In winter, it stays in the mud without feeding itself. Tench are fished for as game fish in some regions. If they become established they would compete with other species, and may lessen water quality. They are able to tolerate very low oxygen levels.

[KFhunter]

Aquatic Invasive Species

WAC 220-12-090 Classification - Nonnative aquatic animal species. 

(1) Prohibited aquatic animal species. RCW 77.12.020

These species are considered by the commission to have a high risk of becoming an invasive species and may not be possessed, imported, purchased, sold, propagated, transported, or released into state waters except as provided in RCW 77.15.253. The unlawful use of a prohibited aquatic animal species is a gross misdemeanor. A second violation within five years is a class C felony.

The following species are classified as prohibited animal species:

Tench




(i) All nonnative fish classified as food fish and game fish.

WAC 220-110-020 Definitions: (33) "Food fish" means those species of the classes Osteichthyes, Agnatha, and Chondrichthyes that shall not be fished for except as authorized by rule of the director of the department of fish and wildlife.

(35) "Game fish" means those species of the class Osteichthyes that shall not be fished for except as authorized by rule of the fish and wildlife commission.

(ii) Family Cichlidae: Tilapia: All members of the genera Tilapia, Oneochromis, and Sartheradon.




Sooo, they're invasive but you can't fish for them.         

[cbond3318]

Interesting , I had to google a Tench Fish. Never heard of or seen one! I know it can't be good for your bass fishing if you are seeing that ratio! Hope you get clarification and slay em'

[KFhunter]

Had a thought, Tench might be a good archery fish. 

Would be challenging though

[wahunter21]

Thanks for the info KF. Well I'm gonna check but hopefully they are legal to bowfish. I could have got a few of them tonight with a bow. Guess I will make some phone calls and maybe talk to the local game warden next time I see him.

[cbond3318]

How big are they?

[LDennis24]

If I catch one I poke my knife thru it and throw it back. Slimiest fish ever and stinky.

[KFhunter]

Let us know

I can't imagine you couldn't fish for them being invasive species.  It hasn't been a big enough issue for me to bother pursuing.

[KFhunter]

If I catch one I poke my knife thru it and throw it back. Slimiest fish ever and stinky.

 


They eat them in Europe, I had German neighbors and they ate carp....I tried, couldn't do it.

[wahunter21]

They were all roughly the same size. Just a ballpark but I would say 3-5 lbs.

[splitshot]

   they will take over like carp.  they fight really hard and are picky eaters.    mike w

[wahunter21]

Fish and wildlife stocks this lake with rainbows and Browns and it has had a good population of largemouth and crappie. We will see what happens in the future. Would be fun to bowfish them from my paddle board though.

[wahunter21]

Anyone have ideas on what number to call to get answers about the rules on this fish? Thanks for the input.

[bhawley76]

I have caught a few of those in Curlew lake and always wondered what they where. 

[KFhunter]

Anyone have ideas on what number to call to get answers about the rules on this fish? Thanks for the input.

here you go.

I would print the email and carry it with you fishing if you get the green light 

[wahunter21]

Thanks KFhunter. I will try and email them and I'm sure I will see a gamie in the next few days if not

[Ridgeratt]

If your from Medical lake I can tell you silver lake had tench 40+ years ago. I doubt much has changed

[Machias]

They are a hugely favorite fish in the UK.  Highly sought after.

[wahunter21]

Yea ridge rat silver could have them but I don't fish there too often. What I don't like is the amount of them I've seen this year in a small lake compared to other fish.

[MtnMuley]

Most bass fisherman confuse tech as giant smallmouth. Vrry similar to 5-8 lb smallies, but their fins are a bit more rounded. Very hard to catch. Super quick when spooked. Maybe carp bait would work. Most of the time they're well under the surface making bowfishing nearly impossible. Just my experiences anyhow.

[Machias]

They are caught using maggots in the UK.  Maggots are a preferred bait over there, all kinds of colors.  If you want to fish for them search out some UK Fishing sites, they have the techniques refined on how to catch them.  Light line and very small hooks compared to the US.  Easy enough to raise your own maggots, raise bluebottle fly larvae.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Breed-Maggots-For-Fishing&id=5490749


P.S.  Maggots are also a super effective panfish bait AND they are so effective on trout that they are banned for use for trout in the UK.

[Terrafirma]

I have caught and eaten tench out of Fish Lake and they were delicious.  Now, of course, Fish Lake is relatively cold clean water. The favor was good but what I was the most impressed about was that the flesh was so meaty.  It made the best fish chowder I have ever eaten.

[Yelper Guy]

A buddy speared one years back in one of the Twin Lakes in N Idaho.
We were snorkeling with our home-made spear guns. It was hugging the bottom.
What amazed me was its bright orange eyes.

[idaho guy]

If your from Medical lake I can tell you silver lake had tench 40+ years ago. I doubt much has changed

I caught some in silver lake fly fishing with a streamer about 15 to 20 years ago. It was pretty disappointing as I thought the first one was a big trout at first. they are pretty disgusting fish I thought. I always believed they were a trash fish and could be taken at will by fishing spearing whatever . If I see one in Idaho it will die my understanding its invasive and will screw a fishery up. I was coming all the way over from Idaho to fish silver there was some big trout in there at that time and my cousin was living in Cheney.       

[andersonjk4]

Looks like it is legal to kill and keep them