Fished Hamstall Ridware in Staffs last week. Cold, grey, mirky, but dry day... just before the deluge. Fished a mixed pool, pool 3 I think, known for its head of Bream and Tench.
Had a good catch of Skimmers, Roach, 1 lovely Rudd, and good size perch. However, the margins interested me, and whilst fishing a feature of lillies some 20 ft out, constantly kept feeding a margin swim where Tench bubbles were constant.
Everyso often, changed tactic and fished the margin swim I had been feeding. Fished REd maggot, caster, sweetcorn, luncheon meat, cocktails. everything, on a waggler between 2 and 12 inches overdepth. Bubbles all around the float but not one bite.
Do bubbles simply indicate Tench are present, or that Tench are feeding?
By the way... Hamstall Ridware is a cracking venue... not just a whole in the ground, but a beautifully developed fishery, with 4 lakes and 700 m of River Blithe, which despite no rain for weeks, still yielded some lovely Chub. Spent an hour or so missing bite after bite because I watching a pair of Kingfishers. If you want a commercial fishery, with good heads of fish, but looks and feels very natural, then give it a go.
Guy I went with fishes Makins regularly, and was very very impressed with Hamstall