Bad news from Scotland

The proposed Scottish Fisheries Bill could contain a blanket livebait ban, instead of just giving officials powers to ban livebaiting where they claim it is necessary to protect rare species, it emerged today.

The following ammendment has been put before members of the Scottish Parliament's Environment Committee:

"viii Use of live vertebrates as bait

Paragraph 50 of the Policy Memorandum states that the enabling power to specify particular baits and lures (at section 25(5) of the Bill) for freshwater fish would be “considered in the first instance to implement the Executive’s policy of prohibiting the use of live vertebrates as bait throughout Scotland”.

"Some stakeholders have commented that this provision would be better on the face of the Bill. Ministers have an open mind as to whether this policy is better served through primary or secondary legislation and would be prepared to consider an amendment at Stage 2 to make the
prohibition on the use of live vertebrates as bait explicit on the face of the Bill should the Committee recommend it."

The Bill is expected to be debated in Mid-December.

More information in this section of the Scottish Parliament's website.

Details of members of the committee and their e-mail addresses are here.

Our submission regarding the Scottish Fishery Review which was enacted into the bill can be viewed here.

I didn't call for livebait ban, says Bill

PAC founder Bill Chillingworth today insisted he did not call for a livebait ban.

There was anger after the former president appeared in print, purportedly calling for a livebait ban.

But when contacted by PAC secretary Mark Barrett today, he insisted: "The reporter asked me for my opinion on how a ban on livebaiting would effect me.

"I replied that it wouldn't affect me very much as I only livebait on occasion these days, but when conditions warrant it, I will as long as it is legal reserve the right to do so.

"I did not call for livebaiting to be banned and I will quite happily go into print or blow the trumpet for livebaiting where it is carried out to the current law.

"The reporter tried on several occasions to put words into my mouth but I was not biting on that one."

The paper said Bill had abandoned livebaiting and had recently caught three twenties on paternostered sardine.

But he told Mark: " I have never, as reported, used a paternostered sea dead bait, I only use a paternoster for live or dead natural baits, and the big pike that is mentioned in the story, I told the reporter quite openly was caught on a small, live roach."

Members flying in says Brummy John

More than 400 new members have joined the PAC since May, membership secretary John Cahill said tonight.

Forms to take part in our recruit a friend promotion, which gives everyone who signs up a new member an entry into the draw to win a brand new boat, will shortly be in the post, along with tickets for the PAC's winter Mega Raffle, with 100 prizes including a Continental catfish trip.

Blueprint for Water is launched

Anglers and conservation groups have teamed up to launch a Blueprint for Water, with 10 demands to ensure sustainable supplies by 2015.

More here.

ET lands in Walton on Thames

He invented the drifter float and a whole host of tackle items we now take for granted, when he wasn't nailing a string of big fish from Norfolk and Hertfordshire.

Lea Valley legend Eddie Turner, aka ET, is speaking to our Walton on Thames branch on Monday, December 11 (8pm).

For more details, check out their website.

PAC saddened by Bill's call for bait ban

The PAC tonight said it was "saddened" that one of its founding fathers has called for an end to livebaiting.

It said comments made by Bill Chillingworth, which were reported in a regional newspaper, were made in a private capacity and did not reflect the opinion of the club or its committee.

Chillingworth, from Hingham, Norfolk, told the Eastern Daily Press he believed live baiting should be banned.

He went on: "I would support any proposal to stop livebaiting because law and order surrounding these practices has been surrounded by anarchy, with a minority of pike anglers prepared to go to any lengths to satisfy their swollen egos.

"There seems to be growing evidence that moving live fish unlawfully from one venue to another is rife and I believe the authorities are almost bound to step in and ban the use of coarse fish as bait.

"Three of us fomed the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain nearly 30 years ago to promote and protect the image of our sport.

"But now it has become a dreadful rat race to attain fame and fortune by the minority at the expense of the rest of us."

Chillingworth was one of the three founder members who started the PAC, in 1977. The club has campaigned to preserve the pike and pike fishing ever since.

Tonight PAC president Phil Wakeford said: "Bill is speaking as an individual and we don't agree with him, regardless of whether he is one of the founders of the club. His comments do not represent the views of the PAC.

"It won't just stop at livebaiting and that's why we have to make a stand. That's where the club and the majority of its members are.

"We are saddened that one of the great pike anglers of his generation should be so scathing about his fellow anglers at a time when we are trying hard to promote unity and the importance of following our code of conduct."

The PAC stall at the Sandown Winter Carp Show, on December 9 - 10, will have copies of the club's livebaiting code, which urges pike anglers to follow bylaws and not move livebaits from water to water.

Chillingworth's comments came after a high profile court case in which two members, who have since resigned from the club, were caught taking livebaits aboard a ferry to Ireland. Both pleaded guilty.

Nige Williams, one of those charged, later spoke of his regret at the damage he had done to the sport.

The PAC has made it clear it expects members to follow its code of conduct and has recently expelled a member for breaching it.

North Lanarks hosts talk on Awe

Our North Lanarkshire region is hosting Dave Mcinally on Tuesday, December 12.

He'll be talking about his experiences of fishing Loch Awe.

The do's at the Joker Bar in Calder Road, Mossend. It kicks off at 8.00pm, £3 to get in and a light buffet will be served.

PAC president talks in Herts next week

PAC president Phil Wakeford is doing a talk in Hertfordshire on Thursday, December 7.

He'll be speaking about his lifelong love of the pike and pike fishing at Aldbury Village Hall, near Tring.

Doors open at 7.30pm for one of only two talks El Pres is so far booked to give this winter.

Admission is £3 for PAC members, £4 non-members.

New PAC region starts in North Essex

John Hartill is the RO for a new PAC region kicking off in North Essex.

Anyone in that part of the world can get in touch via J(dot)hartill(at)hotmail.co.uk

or phone him on 07946-168624

Peter Green is on the mend

Peter Green - former membership secretary and RO for Wakefield - was admitted to hospital with kidney problems over the weekend.

Good news from Andy "Kosh" Kershaw tonight, who reports he has spoken to Peter's family, things are improving and he'll hopefully be out tomorrow.

Guide was misquoted over pike killing

A Scottish fishing guide today said he was misquoted over claims the pike could be the latest food fad north of the border.

An article in Saturday's Daily Mail said the pike had "had its chips", because more and more of them were being eaten.

But Stuart Collingswood, of Alba Game Fishing, who was quoted in the piece said he was misrepresented.

"We staged five pike trips last season and no pike were killed by our clients," he added. "We practice catch and release and have a massive respect for the pike.

"Not a single pike's been killed by one of my clients, we promote the environment and fish stocks. It's hard to swallow when you've been branded some sort of fishmonger.

"I don't condone killing fish unnecessarily and we're very strong on maintaining a balance. I've kicked poachers' arses off our lochs."

Mr Collingswood said he did kill two jacks last season but said this would have had no impact on the lake concerned.

"They were both jacks, killing a 25lbs fish would have taken away one of the predators that maintains the natural balance but a couple of jacks won't have any impact."

UK's £500m tackle trade employs 18,000

The tackle trade employs more than 18,000 and turns over more than £500m a year, says a survey out this weekend.

Figures included in a survey by industry journal Tackle and Guns Magazine show the trade overall has grown by around five per cent since the last survey three years ago - and carp fishing has grown by a mammoth 42pc in that time.

We spend more than £100m on bait a year, more than twice what we spend on clothing, the T&G survey says.

Coarse anglers spend £169.7m, carp anglers £110.69m, game anglers £138.29m and sea anglers £97.12m.

See you at the shows next year

We plan to attend at least four of the major shows next year, after discussing some of the benefits at today's committee meetings.

They'll include Go Fishing; the CLA Game Fair; Cambs Country Fair, Stow-cum-Quy; The Carp Show, Sandown.

PAC30 project gets the go-ahead

Plans for a book to commemorate the PAC's 30th anniversary were given the go-ahead by the committee today.

Members will be given the opportunity to subscribe in advance to both reserve a copy and have their name added to a list of pike anglers who have supported the project.

Boycott matches which don't follow code

PAC members are being asked to avoid any pike matches which do not observe the the club's Code of Conduct for pike matches, the committee ruled today.

Efforts to get more organisers to sign up will also be stepped up.

AGM and Convention dates for next year

Next year's AGM will be held in Nottingham on Saturday, May 19.

The Convention will be held at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, on Saturday, September 22.

Tickets for the event, which marks the PAC's 30th birthday, will be priced £10.

However this includes parking, saving those who attend at least a tenner and having to queue up for an argument with a parking attendant afterwards.

And they're off... First win a boat form in

The first person to join up a new member and be entered in our draw to win a brand new Sea Nymph went into the hat today.

You can now download and print off the forms online - why not run a few off and stick 'em in your rucksack to hand out on the bank next time you're out.

Membership form.

Win a Sea Nymph promotion latest

Details of the PAC's exciting new recruitment promotion, in which members can enter a draw to win a brand new boat by getting a friend to join the club are now on our website.

We've also uploaded a copy of the new membership leaflet which you need to take part, which has a space for you to write your membership number to show you've introduced someone to the club and get entered in the draw. Download it to print off a copy here.

And remember, the more members you recruit, the more entries you get in the draw to win the boat.


If you're not a member or your membership's lapsed, don't worry. You'll be eligible to enter too if you join or renew.

Getting more people who go pike fishing to join the PAC is one of the committee's key priorities.


There's never been a better time to become part of the club for all pike anglers.

Kennet 30 rumour on AT website

A 34lbs pike has been caught from Berkshire's River Kennet, according to Angling Times's website.

More on the story here.

Eye catching new PAC membership advert

This eye-catching new PAC membership advert will soon be appearing in magazines, as the PAC steps up its membership drive.

It features Norfolk PAC member Phil Pearson, with a 28lbs Fen river beauty.