Lincolnshire lads clean up at Ecton Lakes

T-SHIRT WEATHER: Steve Rudkin with an Ecton double.

A Glorious day, weather-wise but little in the way of action for most of those taking part in today's PAC Event at Ecton Lakes, in Northants.

But Steve Rudkin and Andy Blunt's long trip down from Lincolnshire was made worthwhile when they found pike in frenzied mood on the nearby River Nene.

They banked three apiece in the space of barely half an hour, the best scaling 15lbs. Andy suffered a cut hand when a pike did a pirouette and to add insult to injury a sizeable pike showed itself when it lunged at an eight pounder he was playing.

Thanks again to the management and bailiffs at Ecton for their hospitality. It might take some getting to down that track, but it's a beautiful fishery when you arrive.

Pike Anglers Club events update

Get out your diaries... There are still some places available on a number of PAC access events between now and the end of the season.

They include the Warping Drain (Lincs) on Saturday, February 7; Hykeham Pit (Lincs) on the weekend of February 14/15; Ecton Jigsaw Lake (Northants) on Saturday, Fenruary 21 and Saturday, March 14; and Quays Pit (Surrey) over the weekend of March 21/22.

Application slips with details of ticket prices were included in the last Pikelines.

Events organiser Mark Skinner said: "If you have lost your slips for these events, all you need to do is write your name, address on a sheet of paper include your PAC number the event you are applying for and a cheque payable to the PAC for the number of tickets required and an A5 stamped address envelope."

PAC Events update... PAC Events update...

Tickets and info packs for this winter's PAC events on the Lake of Menteith are in the post.

Places were drawn at the PAC Convention, after a record number of applications.

Special events organiser Mark Skinner said a number of places were still available for Welsh trout water Lyn Brenig, on the weekend of October 29/30.

More details on this water and how to apply were included in recent editions of Pikelines, please note there is a closing date of October 14 for applications.

A limited number of places are also available for events on Quays Gravel Pit (Surrey) and Ecton Lakes (Northants).

Both will be closing for applications after October 19.

The club has more events than ever before this winter, including a number of new waters.

We are currently in talks with a number of other venues and details will be announced as soon as we can confirm them.

Record numbers applying for PAC events

We've got a record number of events over the course of the coming winter - and record numbers are applying to fish them.

It's no surprise which of the Pike Anglers Club's privileged access events is so far proving the most popular, with more than 60 pairs applying to fish the Lake of Menteith on Saturday, November 10.

Perhaps the 39lbs 8oz pike caught by a member at a PAC event on the water in March has had something to do with it - click here for picture.

Places for the day are limited to 29 pairs, so there will be a draw at the PAC Convention at Stoneleigh Park, on Saturday, September 22.

An additional date secured on March 1 is also over-subscribed and names will be drawn for this at the convention.

Places are still available at Quays Gravel Pit (Surrey, October 27/28), Llyn Brenig (N Wales, October 29/30), Loch Venacher (Scotland, November 11), Loch Fad (Isle of Bute, November 24/25), and Ecton Lakes (Northants, December 8/9).

These are all being run on a first come, first-served basis and applications are still coming in - so apply now to avoid disappointment.

Events organiser Mark Skinner said those who have already applied up until today - August 29 - have been successful and event packs will be posted out shortly. All events will carry a reserve list.

See Pikelines for full details on how to apply, ticket prices and rules. Click here for more info on Loch Fad.