Concentrations of 10 metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in muscle tissue of tench (Tinca tinca), water and sediment in Beysehir Lake were analysed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). Tench is one of the most abundant fish species in Beysehir Lake. Metal levels were analysed in only the muscle tissue of the fish, because this provides information on the potential risk to the fish themselves and to consumers of these edible portions of the fish. The Cu concentration was the highest in all the samples of the lake's sediments and waters, studied in all seasons, and ranged between 24.01 μg g-1 (in spring) and 90.30 μg g-1 (in summer), but Cu concentrations in T. tinca were low: 0.03 μg g-1 (in summer) to 0.21 μg g-1 (in spring). Metal concentrations in sediments, waters and tench varied seasonally. All metal concentrations in sediments were higher than those in water and fish. However, all metal concentrations, except Zn, were lowest in fish muscle tissue. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.