June 19th 2006
Windermere, Ambleside and District AA - Problems at Grasmere and Rydal Water

A minority of anglers are causing an increasing number of problems on Grasmere and Rydal, two well known pike venues in the Lake District. Fires, overnight camping, damage to woodland, drystone walls and fences and large amounts of litter to name but a few. Repeated instances of permit and rod licence evasion are also of great concern.

Both fisheries are controlled by Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association (WADAA) who offer access to much of the lake shore through agreements with the National Trust, the Lake District National Park Authority and private landowners. The Association is concerned that the poor behaviour of a small number of anglers could well put at risk the current open access to both of these important waters.

In particular visitors will be reminded that night fishing, fires and camping are strictly prohibited at both fisheries - and that not all of the shoreline has access, stretches of private land are clearly defined.

Permits are readily available at £5 day, £10 week and £30 season. These can be obtained from agents in Grasmere Village (Newsagents, Post Office) and at other outlets locally. E-permits are even available from WADAA's own website, www.lakedistrictfishing.net, which includes full details of the access to both Grasmere and Rydal and the available fishing.

You can read the full Press Release and details of all ticket outlets here.

June 16th 2006
John Synnuck Honoured for his work with Juniors

PAC treasurer John Synnuck has won an award for his work with junior anglers.

John does talks in schools about pike fishing on behalf of Junior Coarse Angling UK, an off-shoot of a group called Angling Projects.

Now Oxfordshire County Council's Educational Business Partnership are giving him an Investors in Education Award in recognition of his work.

Les Webber, who runs both Angling Projects and Junior Coarse Angling UK, said: "John goes into schools and does a lesson on pike fishing for us and he's very good at it. It's a very well-deserved award."

John said: "I think it's very positive. For the last 15 years Les Webber and Angling Projects have been going into schools and getting kids with behavioural problems out fishing.

"There's a noticeable improvement when they take fishing up."

Angling Projects has been helping youngsters stay on the rails by introducing them to fishing for 30 years.

Read about the sterling work they do at www.apex-web.co.uk/angling_projects/

June 14th 2006
Reservoir Expansion Could End Piking on Legendary Abberton

Pike fishing is under threat from plans to expand Abberton Reservoir to bolster water supplies and improve duck habitats. Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW), which owns the lake, wants to increase depths by 9m, which would increase its bank area from four miles to six.

The water firm says it would help safeguard water supplies to the drought-threatened South-east, where hundreds of thousands of new homes are set to be built over the next decade. But the move would also flood the causeway which for years has been the only area of the reservoir where angling is permitted, meaning the road will need to be raised.
PAC member Bill Palmer, who has fished Abberton for 40 years, was invited to a meeting to discuss ESW's plans for the water last month. When he asked where anglers would be able to fish once the work was completed, officials told him: "You won't. We're stopping it."

Bill said: "The meeting started at 5.30 and I was on my way home at 6, after storming out spitting blood. The meeting was being held by two Essex & Suffolk managers and a Miranda Davis environment manager.
"When they started to show the plans of the raised road going over the reservoir (the only bit of the reservoir we can fish), I asked if we would still be able to fish from the road when the work was finished. I was told no, so I asked which part of the reservoir we would be allowed to fish. They then told me there would be no more fishing in the main reservoir.

"It's very sad. I don't know if the younger generation of pikers are ever going to get the chance to fish on there."
Bill believes pikers may have at most another season or two on the water before access is lost. ESW also plans to improve the reservoir as a habitat for migrating wildfowl. While anglers aren't allowed to fish vast areas of the water, bird watchers enjoy almost free access to large tracts of its banks. "Abbo" became legendary as a big fish water in the 1980s. It was the venue where Lea Valley legend Eddie Turner and his mates developed the drifter float.
The method brought a string of big fish and today the reservoir, the vast amount of which cannot be fished, still throws up the occasional high 20.

ESW is also applying to increase the amount of water it extracts from the Ely Ouse. Water is pumped to Essex via the Cut-Off Channel and a pipeline which runs from Blackdyke Pumping Station. There are fears the move could further reduce river flows in both the tidal and non-tidal river, which could in turn increase siltation. Siltation around the sluices at Denver has meant water is run off the freshwater river into the Relief Channel between tides. Last month, an EA scientist told King's Lynn Angling Association's AGM savage winter run-offs had decimated fish stocks, with whole year classes of silver fish being literally sucked out to sea through the tail sluice at St German's.

June 13th 2006
Scottish Fisheries Review backs Call for Livebait Ban

Pike anglers on both sides of the border were today studying proposals for a blanket ban on livebaiting in Scotland.

Announcing its response to the draft Aquaculture and Scottish Fisheries Bill yesterday, the Scottish Executive said:

"The Scottish Executive proposed a complete ban on the use of live vertebrates as bait due to the potential impact on the biodiversity of water bodies through competition and predation as well as the increasing the risk of disease and parasites to existing stocks.

"A majority of respondents agreed with the proposal. However a substantial minority of individuals objected, pointing out that most live bait users are responsible.

"The Scottish Executive intends to implement this proposal by drawing up an SSI to prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait throughout Scotland. The Bill will contain an enabling power enabling the Scottish Ministers to prohibit such baits and lures as they may specify by statutory instrument."

The draft bill is now expected to go before the Scottish Parliament later this year.

A Pike Anglers Club spokesman said: "We're now studying the draft bill and speaking to our Scottish colleagues about its profound implications for all pike anglers.

"While we are still considering our response, these draconian proposals show why pike anglers need to unite and fight all threats to their sport - regardless of where they appear."

The Scottish Executive Response to consultation on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill can be viewed here.

June 12th 2006
PAC Urges Summer Pikers to Look After Esox

With the new river fishing season about to get under way, the Pike Anglers Club is calling for people to fish responsibly for Britain's top predator. "Pike are easily damaged by poor handling at any time but at this time of the year there is an added risk when oxygen levels in the water are low," said PAC chairman Colin Goodge.

"For this reason many of our members choose not to fish for pike in summer but we also recognise there are anglers who do, particularly with lures.

"We would appeal to anyone to think carefully before they go out: Is my tackle strong enough to land a fish quickly, especially in weedy water..? "Do I have the right tools to hand to unhook a pike quickly to minimise the amount of time it spends out of the water..?

"And extra care should exercised when bait fishing, with good bite indication and prompt striking the keys to avoiding deep-hooked fish.

"This is particularly important for those who may choose to pursue other species, such as zander, over the warmer months, on waters which also contain pike."

The PAC is urging all predator anglers to follow its code of conduct, which can be viewed here.

June 9th 2006
PAC Launches Extended Membership Offer

Celebrate the new season by joining the Pike Anglers Club and taking advantage of our special extended membership offer. Anyone who joins the club between now and September 30th gets membership until the end of September 2007 for £19.50, the normal price for a year. Membership secretary John Cahill said: "Joining now means you get six copies of our celebrated magazine Pikelines, along with all the other benefits of belonging to the PAC for 16 months instead of 12.

"And if you join by the end of July, you've got time to apply for tickets for privileged access events on some fantastic waters which aren't normally open to pike anglers.

"You also get access to our network of regional associations with their talks, social events and fish-ins. A lot of people rate the chance to meet other pikers and exchange ideas as among the most important advantages of belonging to the club.

"There are other benefits like the club's third party indemnity insurance to the value of £5m, not to mention supporting the club which campaigns to protect the pike and pike fishing."

Joining the PAC couldn't be easier. Just click here to use PayPal or download an application form to pay by cheque or postal order, or write to the membership secretary, PAC, 312 Hobs Moat Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 8JX

June 2nd 2006
Privileged Access Days Latest

Special events organiser Mark Skinner is putting the finishing touches to some more PAC events.
We already have a day booked on Esthwaite, on September 10th, and we now have what promises to be a cracking weekend in November to kick off the winter with.

We have a limited number of tickets up for grabs with 30 boats on our lure only event at Menteith on Saturday, November 11, and up to 20 boats on Loch Venacher on Sunday, November 12. The cost of a boat on Menteith will be advised shortly. This will be a lure-only event, while both lures and deads can be used on Venacher.

Mark said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge of finding the very best and productive venues for PAC members to enjoy.

"I know pike fishing's not always about catching big pike, but plenty of people have done so at similar events and beaten their PBs.

"Fishing a PAC special event is just as much about being out in the fresh air, forging new friendships, renewing old ones and meeting fellow members from all parts of the country.

"By attending these events you will also be helping to spread the word that all pike are important and are not just eating machines that should be hit on the head and thrown up the bank.

"By showing others how important pike are, we can spread the word to other fisheries that pike are important to any water and worth looking after."

Watch this site for updates nearer the time. For details of how to apply for these and other members-only events, see Pikelines.

Mark Skinner
Special Events Organiser
events@pacgb.co.uk

May 29th 2006
RO/LO Database

In line with getting the best service for our members its essential that all ROs and LOs of the club are contactable.
To this end the Secretary is compiling a database for the club's ROs and LOs. Could all current RO/LOs please pass on a telephone number and email address to the Secretary as soon as possible at secretary@pacgb.co.uk

This database will also include details of speakers for forthcoming regional meetings, so if you are struggling for speakers then just ask the Sec!

New Liaison Officer

The PAC committee are pleased to announce that Martyn Cattermole has agreed to take over the LO position for the South West following the sad passing of Jon Cotton.

Martyn has also agreed to look after the LO position in South Wales which is currently vacant. The committee are delighted to have such a hard working PAC member take over the roles and will endeavour to give Martyn all the support he needs to fulfil this task.

The committee are always looking to increase the spread of the regions, and any PAC member who may be interested in setting up a region should contact the General Secretary, Mark Barrett at secretary@pacgb.co.uk

May 22nd 2006
Fish Movements

Following the well publicised incident involving pike anglers being caught in possession of live fish at Holyhead the PAC has issed a statement which can be read here.

Keswick Anglers Permit Outlets

Keswick Anglers Association has informed us that they have opened up further permit outlets particularly to provide a service to visiting anglers seeking permits for Derwentwater and the rivers Greta and Mid Derwent outside shop hours and on Sundays. The list of permit outlets can be found here.

May 16th 2006
PAC Responds to CEFAS Warning to Pike Anglers

Inspectors from the Fish Health Inspectorate, part of the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), working with HM Customs officers intercepted two vehicles containing in excess of 200 small live fish at Holyhead port on Friday 12th May. It is reported that these fish were being taken to Ireland for use as pike baits in breach of fish health movement certification.The full CEFAS story can be read here.

No further details are available at present and the PAC has issued the following Press Statement:

The Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain has responded to reports two anglers intercepted boarding a ferry at Holyhead were allegedly caught in possession of live carp and roach for use as pike baits in Ireland.

PAC chairman Colin Goodge said: "At present no-one has been charged with any offence and it would be wrong for us to speculate or comment on the specifics of this case until the facts are known, since anyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"Clearly unfounded speculation could prejudice the CEFAS investigation or subsequent proceedings should these become active.

"In the event charges are brought, it would become a matter for the courts and we would await their deliberations before deciding what response, if any, is required from the PAC.

"The PAC takes the matter of illegal transportation of fish very seriously. We believe that the protection of wild fish stocks is of paramount importance.

"We have a code of conduct which covers this and other issues. Members found in breach of it face disciplinary action which may include expulsion and a ban from all PAC events and activities."

The statement is also available here.

Information about the use of livebaits can be found under Good Behaviour in the Pike Fishing Information section of this website.

May 9th 2006
PAC Refutes Fish 'Theft' Claims

The Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain (PAC) is refuting claims made in a national angling newspaper that coarse fish are being stolen to supply baits for predator anglers.

Peterborough-based Angling Times offered a £10,000 reward for information, in what it claimed was an exclusive expose. It said crooks were targeting silver fish for the deadbait trade, but the PAC has dismissed the story as "unfair and untrue".

PAC chairman Colin Goodge said: "We are strongly rebutting this story because it is simply not true that fish are being netted wholesale to supply the bait trade. "Most pike anglers do not even use coarse deadbaits, as these are inferior to so-called sea baits such as mackerel and herring. It is unfair to suggest that pike anglers are directly or indirectly responsible for any significant loss of coarse fish, either in Norfolk, or anywhere else."

Most bait fish which appear in tackle shops are distributed by reputable companies, whose names and addresses appear on the packaging. These are sourced either from fish farms or other sustainable sources.

Mr Goodge said: "We do not dispute that coarse fish are in decline in some areas of the country. What we strongly refute is that this is due to their being netted for the bait trade. "Blaming predator anglers does nothing but create divides in angling and divert attention from the real problems which exist in our rivers."

The PAC is disappointed Angling Times did not contact it to offer it the chance to respond on behalf of pike anglers to what are damaging and divisive allegations. The story first appeared in the local media in Norfolk last year.

Since then, no evidence has been produced to support the claims fish are being netted commercially from rivers to provide pike baits. Instead of checking the story through, and obtaining any kind of factual corroboration, Angling Times has merely repeated hearsay which has been circulating for over a year. During this time, no evidence has emerged that the deadbait trade has been responsible for any decline in silver fish. We do not dispute that populations of species such as roach have fallen in a number of areas. But since their "exclusive" story first appeared, more than a year ago, the Environment Agency has published reports into silver fish declines in East Anglian rivers.

These have blamed changing river levels and flow patterns around the time fish spawn, for reducing egg and fry survival. We note the EA, which routinely carries out surveys to monitor fish populations in Britain's rivers, has so far not been approached to comment on or corroborate the story.

The source of this story would appear to originate from a group of people who obtained access to a boatyard at Potter Heigham, which in previous winters has been packed with fish.

Our climate is changing, and the effect of this upon our environment, including our rivers, has been well-documented. It is highly possible that migration patterns of fish on the Broadland rivers are evolving as a result of this and this would seem a far more plausible explanation. There is also the 20 % yearly growth in the population of the non-native European Freshwater Cormorant, these figures were quoted by the RSPB at a recent seminar on Cormorants.

This increase in the cormorant population is having a devastating impact on all of our freshwater species. The 400lb of fish taken each year by every cormorant and the effect of climate change described above are the most likely cause of the reduction in fish stocks, not "wholesale netting by criminal gangs".

No-one in the deadbait industry was contacted prior to publication. Had AT done so, they would have learned that coarse fish account for a small percentage of the trade, with most pike anglers favouring so-called sea baits.

We are even more disappointed that as the body which represents all pike anglers, the PAC was not given the chance to comment on this story, which clearly reflects on both our members and the wider predator angling community.

May 2nd 2006
Region changes

John Dinewell has taken over as RO for Region 40, Selby, and Region 61 (formerly SW Scotland) has been renamed Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright and is now being run by Alan McFadyen. Contact details to appear in the next issue of Pikelines or contact secretary@pacgb.co.uk.

March 9th 2006
British Pike Squad News

The BPS have a few places left in their team selection final - details here.

February 20th 2006
Region 25 Bristol Meeting dates

Details of the February and March meetings of Bristol PAC can be found here.

January 1st 2006
Scottish Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill:
Consultation Paper and Draft Regulatory Impact Assessment

This bill is now in it's final consultation period and the consultation paper can be read here, or downloaded in Acrobat Reader format here (right click, save as).