Rodders hits the Chilterns

Steve Rodwell's been clocking up the miles bringing his one-man show to PAC region's up and down the country this season.

Tonight - Thursday, February 1 - the big fella from the Fens is on the oche at the newly reformed Herts and Chiltern PAC branch.

Rodders will be at the Shefford Memorial Hall, Shefford, near Bedford, from 7.30pm for an 8pm start. All welcome for what promises to be a night of big pike and big laughs.

ET is worth leaving girlfriend for - Chico

Pike fishing legend ET - aka Eddie Turner - will be speaking at a Lincoln PAC meeting on Monday, February 5.

The talk from the Lea Valley drift float maestro is the latest in a series of vibrant evenings' entertainment, with recent visitors including Bill Palmer, Bill Winship, Lee Norbury, Mark Barrett and Steve Rodwell.

Venue is the Turk's Head in Cecil Street, Lincoln, with the meeting getting under way at 7pm and the speaker usually taking to the floor at 8pm.

RO Chico Winterton said: "Come in your droves and make it a night to remember, Eddie is well worth a night away from the girlfriend and definitely a night away from the wife."

More on the Lincoln Blog.

Corby PAC is up and running again

Corby PAC is up and running again and its first meeting for a while will be at the Green Dragon pub in Brigstock, Northants, on Wednesday, February 28 (7.30pm).

The speaker will be Alex Prouse, of Zoota Lures fame. Admission £3 to cover the room hire.

New North Essex region set to meet

The new North Essex region will be meeting on Monday, February 5, at The Beer House, Magdalen Street, Colchester.

This will be an open meeting for everyone for everyone to discuss what they want from the region. It starts at 7.30pm, admission £2 members, £3 non-members.

Rodders to hit Brum

The Birmingham region of the P.A.C. are having a talk courtesy of Steve Rodwell AKA "Rodders", on Tuesday 13th of February at their new venue of The Hill Social Club, 33a Dugdale Crescent, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B75 7EY. Car parking is available.

Steve's talk starts at 8.00pm and will be about his pike fishing exploits on a range of different venues - including trout waters, The Fens, The Broads and more.

A licensed bar is available and there will be a raffle.

Admission is £2.00 for members and £3.50 for non-members.

Plenty of pikey fun to be had by everyone!!!!!

It's been a busy year for Teeside PAC

There's plenty going on up in the North-east if you're a pike angler at the moment.

Teeside and Darlington PAC RO Brian Carragher has just posted a report on last year's activities on their blog.

He writes: "The past year has been a year of measured growth and with some good fishing and successes along the way. Many members have had their best years fishing and the best recorded fish by a member was a magnificent fish of 29lb 15oz.

"Three other twenties were caught by members, two on club trips and both setting the record for biggest fish caught on a club trip until beaten by the other. Shane Patterson being the captor of the bigger at 23lb."

Mind you, it hasn't all been a tale of big fish.

"I have to hold my hands up to being the captor of the smallest pike at 34 grammes (one and quarter ounces) on double maggot when fishing for bits," adds Brian.

They stage monthly trips to waters all over the North of England and are close to clinching their own water.

Much more on their blog, click here to check it out.

Neville Fickling talk at Glossop, Derbys

Former record holder and all round bon viveur Neville Fickling will be sharing some of the ups and downs of his pike fishing career with lads of Region 88, aka The Vassey, at the Conservative Club, Hadfield, Glossop, on Tuesday, February 6.

The meeting starts at 8pm, admission £5 , and we think this bit means that includes supper:

Okay of dokey we throw in a supper that would in of deed sh**t satins belly ) mmmmmmm Hot of thee Trot cook pot ..... (lose 3 stone and a lung with 1 thrutch of joy ..... ) "

RA 43 welcome Irish pike fishing legend

George Higgins, truly one of Ireland's pike fishing legends, will be speaking at Portadown Town Hall, in Co Armagh on Thursday, February 15.

This is a members-only evening, for more information contact Gordon Nesbitt at region43pac@btinternet.com.

For more information on meetings and other events in Northern Ireland, click here.

Downloadable membership form online

You can now download membership leaflets for the Pike Anglers Club online. Why not print a few off and take them next time you go out, to hand out to anyone you see pike fishing who isn't already a member.

Remember, if you're already a member write your details in the box provided so if someone joins we know who recruited them. Every time someone joins using one of your leaflets, you get entered in the draw to win a brand new pike fishing boat from our friends at CP Boats.

To download a leaflet, click here.

For more on the boat promotion, click here.

Thames Gateway region launches blog

Pike anglers in South Essex/North Kent/that funny bit of East London have launched a new region for the Thames Gateway.

Steve Gould and John Synnuck would love to see you at their first meeting on Tuesday, February 6, when Essex boy Bill "Dimples to Wrinkles" Palmer's going to be on the oche.

They've also launched a blog, which - between you and us - features what we think might be one of the biggest pike caught this season.

Click here for more.

Matt shells out for bizarre capture

Thames Valley lure man Matt Jahans hooked what will probably go down as one of the more unusual captures of the season today - a terrapin the size of a dinner plate.

Matt nailed the critter on a perch-patterned jerkbait on one of his local gravel pits.

"I didn't weigh it but estimated it at about 3lb," he told the PAC forum. "I did catch a jack a little later but the turtle probably beat it by a few ounces."

The creature - which was later identified as a terrapin - was returned unharmed to the water. It was not hooked, a point caught under the edge of its shell.

Keeping the PAC in the family for a fiver

Any PAC member who wishes to upgrade to family membership can do so at any time by paying another £5 and letting us know the names of any additional member or members who'd like to join the club.

Thanks to the Irish members who suggested this.

Entries rolling in to win a boat

Nearly 50 people are already entered in the running to win a brand new boat, PAC membership secretary John Cahill said today.

And your name could be in the hat for the draw to win a brand new Sea Nymph if you recruit a new member to the club.

You can download membership forms from our website. Why not print a couple off and take them next time you go fishing. Don't forget to put your name and details in the space provided, so when someone joins we know who recruited them.

For more details of our exciting new promotion, click here.

Thames Gateway kicks off with Bill

Bill Palmer is the speaker when the new Thames Gateway Region holds its first meeting on Tuesday, February 6.

Venue is the Papermakers Arms in Hawley Road, Dartford, and the evening gets under way at 7.30pm.

Steve Gould, who's organised the meeting with PAC treasurer John Synnuck, said: "The man who's caught more big pike in one season than most of us mere mortals will see in a lifetime, is to regale us with tales of fishing exploits past, and battles with leviathans of the esoxy kind.

"I saw Bill's talk at the conference and it was inspiring, to say the least. All members and non-members alike are more than welcome, there will also be sarnies laid on and of course as much ale as you want to buy!"

Admission is £2.50 for PAC members, £3.50 non-members.

New region in Southport, Lancs

A new PAC region in Southport, West Lancs, is holding its first meeting on Tuesday, February 13.

It's at the Mount Pleasant Hotel in Manchester Road, Southport, from 8pm.

Livebaiting latest: 'We'll listen,' says MSP

Pike anglers have been e-mailing Scottish MPs, asking them to think again over the livebaiting ban which was added at the eleventh hour to new Scottish fisheries legislation.

One has received the following reply from one MSP, who promises they'll take all views into account.

"Thank you for your e-mail.

"A number of people with an interest in this issue have written to me in similar terms, and as a member of the Committee doing the detailed work on the Bill, I will take these views into account when we consider amendments to the proposed legislation.

"I hope that by working with all the various interest groups and listening to those people with practical experience and most directly affected we will end up with a sensible and effective piece of legislation.

"I appreciate your taking the time and trouble to make your views known.

Yours sincerely

Nora Radcliffe"

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Submissions from the Pike Anglers Club, Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland and Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling on the livebaiting issues were ignored.

For more on the ongoing campaign in Scotland and a list of addresses you can e-mail, click here.

Fifty boats fish in PAC charity bash

Fifty boats have been reserved for a major PAC charity event this autumn.

Special events organiser Mark Skinner has arranged accesss to Rutland Water Reservoir two weeks before it officially opens for pike fishing.

The idea of the event – two days after the PAC’s 30th birthday convention – is to raise cash for a chidren’s cancer charity.

More details of the event on Monday, September 24, will appear on the PAC’s website and in Pikelines shortly.

Mild weather hits US ice fishing

So mild there isn't enough ice over there for the first time in living memory. You do wonder how climate change is ultimately going to affect our pike fishing.

Anyone remember the last frost..?

Click here for story.

Sunday newspaper report - a clarification

Today's Sunday Telegraph reports the Scottish Parliament's banned livebaiting because MPs think it's cruel.

As we've reported at some length on this blog and elsewhere, the objective of the proposed ban - which is still a proposed ban - was to stop people moving fish from water to water.

For the most recent news on the issue click here.

Devon PAC see out the year in style

Exeter-based all-rounder Pete Gregory is doing the honours at a Devon PAC meeting on Monday night (Jan 8).

He'll be talking about a year in the life of someone who fishes for coarse, sea and game fish,

Venue is the Swan's Nest, Exminster. The meeting starts at 7.30pm, admission £2.

For more info on events in Devon, click here.