Tench on Grub Feeders in Early Season

There’s nothing quite like packing up the van and hitting the road for a few days of fishing. With the bike on the back and a few cold beers in the fridge, I headed south to the New Forest for a mini-adventure. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to do this, blending my passion for angling with the freedom of the open road, all made possible by the fantastic support from the fishing brands I work with. The plan was simple: find a new lake, film a video, and catch some early-season tench on grub feeders.

Vanlife fishing — All set up on a nice plot in the New Forest

A Dawn Disaster

The best-laid plans… I was up at 5 am, buzzing with excitement and ready to capture that magical dawn feeding spell on camera. I packed the last few bits into the van, turned the key, and drove towards the campsite exit, only to be met with a locked height barrier. My heart sank. There was no way to get the van out. I had to wait over two hours for it to be unlocked, and by the time I finally arrived at the lake, it was three hours later than planned. The golden hour was gone, and it felt like a disastrous start to the day.

Maximum height barrier — Not a great start - unable to leave the campsite!

A New Challenge in the Forest

I chose a lake I’d never fished before, which always adds a layer of excitement and uncertainty. Being early in the season, I decided to go in with a classic approach: maggots and grub feeders. The idea is to create a carpet of bait that gets the fish grazing confidently. Tench, in my experience, are grazers—they love rooting around for small particles rather than homing in on big, single baits.

Fishing from campervans — Arriving on a new lake - not knowing what to expect!

The Waiting Game

The morning started slowly. Very slowly. Despite my confidence in the method, the bobbins remained motionless. It’s easy to sit and hope, but sometimes you have to be proactive. After a few blank hours in the first swim, I decided a move was on the cards. And then another. It took me three moves before I finally found what I was looking for: a deeper channel running through the swim. This felt much more promising.

Nick marsh fishing — Lots of fishing in the wrong spots!

Success in Deeper Water

Once I settled into the new spot, I started getting bites. That first pull-around after a tough morning is one of the best feelings in fishing!

New forest tench — So please to see the first tench of the session

Fishing Tips

Feeder Choice: The Korum Camo Feeders are perfect for this style of fishing. Their colour blends in brilliantly on the lakebed.
Feeder Modification: Don't be afraid to cut a few extra holes in your grub feeders. This allows the maggots to escape more quickly, creating an instant cloud of attraction around your hookbait.
Secure Your Rig: I use the Korum Camo Bolt Beads to create a safe, semi-fixed running rig. It offers brilliant bite indication and is fish-friendly.
Hooklength: Keep it simple and short. A 4-inch hooklength made from a 6-8lb mono is ideal for presenting a bait right amongst the free offerings.
Hook: A small but strong hook is key. I opt for a Size 14 Korum Specimen Hook, which is easily hidden by a couple of maggots but has the power to land a hard-fighting tench.

Tench Maggots Feeders — I created large holes to increase the flow of maggots.

Bait Application

My baiting strategy was simple but effective. I consistently sprayed red maggots over the spot with a catapult and, after every bite, I’d introduce a couple of small balls of groundbait to keep the fish interested. The mix was a winner: Sonubaits Marine Green groundbait packed with hemp, 2mm pellets, and more maggots. The action came thick and fast for the rest of the afternoon, and I ended up with half a dozen beautiful tench—more than enough for a decent video for the channel!

Marine Green Groundbait — Sonubaits Marine Green

Van Life on the Bank

With the fishing done, it was back to the campsite for a well-earned pint and some food. Just my luck, the pub stopped serving at 8pm! I just about managed to get an order in for Sausage & Mash. Back at the van, I got straight to work editing the video. I’ve recently installed a massive Bluetti power station, which means I have all the juice I need to run my laptop and hard drives. It’s a total game-changer for working on the move.

Edit video Campervan — Mobile video editing in my campervan

The next morning, I went for a quick bike ride around the forest before packing up and heading home. It's trips like these that remind me why I started Life on the Bank. For more stories like this, check out the rest of our blog.

Tench Fishing Grub Feeders — The last of half a dozen fish taken after a bit of effort

It was a great result on a new water, proving that a bit of effort and the right tactics can really pay off. Hope you get out on the bank soon and have a fantastic time.

Tight lines.

New Video - Tench on Grub Feeders