PAC tops Google rankings

Companies spend thousands getting their names and products on the first page of rankings on the search engine Google.

The PAC now occupies the two top spots on google.com and google.co.uk when you tap pike into the search box - thanks to all the other sites who've linked to us and the growing number of people looking for information about pike fishing, who've clicked to find out more about the club.

Click here to google us and see.

Dave Pugh kicks off at Cambridge

Dave Pugh kicks off Cambridge PAC's programme of winter meeting with a talk on lure fishing for zander.

It's at Bottisham British Legion on Wednesday, September 3 (7.30pm).

Meetings are on the first Wednesday of every month.

Click here for more details.

Lodes - more good news from the EA

Campaigners fighting to save historic Fenland pike fisheries received a fresh boost today when the Environment Agency declared: "We won't abandon the Lodes..."

Pike anglers across the UK signed an online petition after the PAC joined retired councillor Geoffrey Woolard's campaign to stop Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes being lowered, when it emerged their future was under review.

There were fears the National Trust's plans to buy up farmland to extend its Wicken Fen reserve, north of Cambridge, would have dire consequences for Reach, Burwell and Swaffham lodes, which are believed to date back to Roman times.

Many pike anglers learned their craft on these ancient waterways, like Ian Moules, pictured above with a fine lodes twenty. The lodes remain popular with a wide range of anglers , along with dog walkers, boaters and bird watchers.

The PAC set about publicising the issues as widely as possible. As the campaign was taken up by the local and regional press, the trust held a briefing for journalists at which it insisted its Wicken Vision did not require the lodes to be lowered.

Anger erupted after Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office responded to the online petition, saying the trust's plans would dictate the way the lodes were managed after all.

But the trust hit back, saying the statement from 10 Downing Street was "unhelpful at best".

Then the PAC was leaked documents confirming that the Environment Agency intended to maintain the lodes because of the outcry over the threats some of the options on the table posed to them.

Today EA Lodes project manager Jonathan Fearnley said: "'We have investigated a number of possible options for the future of the Lodes, and have taken into account the views of all interested parties including parish, district and county council, other key stakeholders and the public.

"There were eight options considered, and each was subject to a full technical, economic and environmental assessment.

"The preferred option is to maintain the lodes at their current levels, providing maintenance as and when it is required. However, if changes in land use alter the risk of embankment failure, it will be necessary to consider other options, such as carrying out advance works to the banks to reduce their risk of failure."

The lodes are artificial river channels that carry water across the low lying fens to the north of Cambridge to the River Cam. Centuries of drainage has caused the land surrounding them to sink.

As the land has sunk, the lodes have been retained at their original level by bank raising so they can continue to drain into the River Cam and be used for navigation. The water level in the lodes is now up to 3m above the surrounding ground level in places.

Mr Fearnley added: "One of the benefits of our preferred option is that it provides a cost-effective and flexible approach, which can take into account future land use changes in the area, and should not have any significant environmental effects.

"For now, reactive maintenance is the best maintenance option for the Lodes, but we will review the strategy every five years to make sure that the most appropriate management regime is being followed."

What you can do...

I you haven't already signed the petition, please add your name in support by clicking here.

A copy of the EA's final consultation document is available if you click here.

Comments can be sent to: Jonathan Fearnley, Project Manager, Environment Agency, Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4NA.

Cambridge PAC's winter programme

Cambridge ROs Rik Wesley and Andy Blazey are the latest to announce their winter programme of meetings, which be held at their normal venue of Bottisham British Legion.

September 5th 2007 Rob Christen
Rob talks about some fantastic captures he has had from the Fens, including Fenland Pike in excess of thirty pounds.

October 3rd Matt Rand
Our very own Regional member and Fox Consultant Matt Rand, explains how he uses modern technology, to track down new waters. Being an all rounder, expect to see large fish of different speices in this talk.

November 7th Graham Slater
Better known to some for his Carp fishing antics, Graham has had some fantastic captures of Pike over the years. A regular contributer to Pikelines and Pike and Predator. Graham tells how he goes about his Pike fishing.

December 5th 2007 Jason Davies
Jason is about to reveal some fantastic catches he has kept quiet over the last few years in a new book written with Eddie Turner entitled Megapike The Return. If you miss him at the Piking 2007 Conference or wish to see him again , now is your chance. Dispel the rumors and listen to Jason's own account of the catches first hand.

January 9th 2008 James Gardner
James talks about his very successful Catfishing captures on the Continent.

February 6th 2008 Tim Kelly
Tim needs no introduction as a lure angler, listen to him as he accounts a trip he took to North America in search of Muskie.

March 5th 2008 Mick Bowen
I am told LO Mick Bowen gives an hilarious slideshow, your chance to see it now at Cambs PAC!

April 2nd 2008 Quiz night and Mega Raffle.
Join us for a quiz night as our very own Dennis 'Bamber' Moules takes the chair as quiz master. If funds are healthy then some will be put back into a Mega Raffle later in the night.

Rik and Andy have sent us a report on last season, when their meetings were attended by up to 70 people.

"We have completed our first year as RO's for Cambridge PAC and what a great year it has been too," they write.

"We were very fortunate to take on a very strong region from Dick Culpin and were able to build on that. Piking friends, old and new rallied round and gave their time to give some excellent talks during our monthly regional meetings.

"In September Mike Green came and gave an excellent talk on Fly fishing for Pike coupled with a section on Jerkbaits. He showed us some big fish he had caught and introduced many to a new section of our sport that is growing rapidly.

"Andy Lush of The Friendly Fisherman was our speaker in October talking about his trips to Spain to fish for Barbel on the fly/Lures, Andy is a real 'thinking angler'and very thought provoking when you listen to him, an excellent talk.

"Gary Knowles combined a fishing trip joining a group from Cambs PAC on the Anglian Reservoirs with an excellent talk in November. The Reservoir fished poorly so Andrew Blazey took him out on the Ouse and the inevitable happened, Gary boated a 21lb Pike within minutes of setting off! Good work Fella!

"Eric Edwards came and gave his superb new talk on Big water Pike fishing in December, Very different from the Fens! It was my turn to guide a speaker for a spot of Fenland fun and afloat in Gale force conditions we braved a Drain and River in search of a Lure caught Zander for Eric, the inevitable happened and Eric Caught Pike while I caught Zeds!

"January saw a informal members night with David Wesley and Andrew Blazey taking the limelight with half hour slots of thier given subjects. The rest of the night was spent talking with plenty of banter thrown in.

"It was back to Fly fishing for Predators in February as Nigel Savage took the stage and gave us an excellent insight into 'fluff chucking' for Zander and Pike. What Nigel does not know about this subject probably ain't worth knowing. With years of experience and some very big fish under his belt he amazed us, showing just what you can do with Feather,EP,Glue and Whipping!

"The PAC Committee arrived in March in what has become quite a tradition over the years for us.They discussed their first year of term and how they felt it had gone, what, also they hoped to achieve. Excellent work guys, keep it up.

"Finally in April, Derek Macdonald came and gave a rare appearance to a packed venue of Pikers. With some of the finest Pikers in the country present, Derek gave us a glimpse into his Piking styles, his section on lures was quite fascinating attracting our biggest turn out of the year of 70 people.

"Average attendances of the year went to around 40 people a night.A big thank you to all speakers and anyone involved in making these evenings the fun they were from all at Cambs PAC."

Derek MacDonald in Cambs on Wednesday

Derek MacDonald will be making a rare appearence at Cambridge PAC's meeting tonight (Weds, April 4).

Derek, who doesn't usually do slide shows, will be offering an insight into a pike fishing career which has just seen the capture of his 20th fish over 30lbs.

The show, entitled I Did It My Way, will be at Bottisham British Legion, with doors open around 7.30pm.

ROs Rik Wesley and Andy Blazey are expecting a large turnout.

For more info, directions to venue, maps etc check the Cambridge PAC website here.

Catch Derek MacDonald at Cambs PAC meet

Derek MacDonald doesn't do many slide shows. He's largely kept his catches and his pike fishing to himself, until now.

But as Angling Times reports he's just caught his twentieth 30lbs-plus pike, we can reveal Derek will be on the oche at the next Cambridge PAC meeting on Wednesday, April 4.

He'll be doing a show entitled I did it my way at their normal venue, Bottisham British Legion.

For more info, check the Cambridge PAC website.