Lake of Dreams does it again

Scott Davidson with a stunning 32lbs 8oz pike caught yesterday during a PAC event on Lake of Menteith.

The fish topped an incredible haul of two thirties, 10 twenties, 30 doubles and more than 75 single-figure fish.

One of the biggest smiles belonged to disabled angler Darren Conroy, who took to the fishery's specially-adapted boat for wheelchair users and landed a new PB of 31lbs.

Events organiser Mark Skinner said: "After fears it was going to be cancelled due to high winds and adverse weather, the event went ahead and our members had another great day, with lots of PBs broken. Menteith has again lived up to its name of the Lake of Dreams."

For more information about the PAC and club events, click here.

Mentieth catch update - 2

Up to date captures include a first ever 30lber to Scott Davidson at 32lb 8oz, congratulations to Scott!!

Graham Slater has caught another 20 at 23lb+

Other news of captures to follow.

Mentieth catch update

After fears that the weather would make our event on Menteith a non starter, we are happy to say the event is in full swing.

As the wind is dying down the catches of pike are growing a couple of notable catches so far include a 21lber for club chairman and event marshal Colin Goodge.

Darren Conroy who is a member of region 88 and is utilising the disability boat has caught a stunning 31lb pike.

Fish are being caught all around the lake and a full update and report of catches will appear here once numbers and sizes are known.

Best ever year for catches on PAC events

Predator anglers won't be forgetting 2007 in a hurry.

For as well as the 30th anniversary of the Pike Anglers Club and a record-breaking convention, it was the PAC's most successful year ever for catches on its events.

Two 30lbs fish - topped by a 39lbs 8oz monster - and more than 35 twenties were caught by members on fish-ins arranged by the club.

Events organiser Mark Skinner said: "Members told us they enjoyed events so we've done our best to put on more of them.

"We can't guarantee the fish, of course, but it's been an exceptional year for us, in which an awful lot of members have caught new PBs.

"Many more have enjoyed the chance to fish some special waters, renew aquaintances and forge new friendships with pike anglers from all over."

Those catching new PBs included Lyn Baker, whose 39lbs 8oz Lake of Menteith pike is the biggest ever caught by a female angler.

PAC events also upped PBs for Dave Ross, with a 30lbs 2oz, Jack Culpin, 28lbs, and disabled angler Darren Bragg, 18lbs 8oz.

Thirty-six twenties and well over 100 doubles were also caught.

Mark said that total could rise this weekend, as more than 30 members target an East Midlands syndicate complex.

Next year, the club has even more events on offer and any member of the PAC can apply to fish them.

For more information on events and the work of the club, go to www.pacgb.com .

Menteith thirty for PAC member Dave

Here's Dave Ross with the 30lbs 2oz lump he caught at last weekend's Pike Anglers Club event on the Lake of Menteith.

Preston-based lure angler Dave nailed her on a chrome Lucky Lizard spoon worked through a shallow area of the lake.

The fish came on a day when 16 twenties, 42 doubles and around 150 smaller fish were caught on lures and deadbaits.

Dave's previous best was a 26lbs 8oz pike, which was also caught on a PAC event on Menteith.

For more information on the Pike Anglers Club and members' events, click here.

I'm only half a pound behind my dad now

Dick Culpin reached the ripe old age of 40 before he caught his first 20lbs pike.

His son Jack's just managed it in style at the age of 13, with this cracking 28lbs Menteith monster.

Father and son made the 400-mile trip from their home in Cambridgeshire to fish Saturday's PAC event on the Lake of Dreams.

Jack had already upped his lure-caught PB to 14lbs, when something twice the size took a shine to his mackerel deadbait.

"It fought like stink, my arms were aching," he said. "I was fighting it for nearly 15 minutes, I just couldn't get its head up.

"I kept getting the float up out of the water but it just kept diving - it was an amazing pike."

The Culpins have a bit of a thing for Menteith. Dad Dick caught his PB of 28lbs 8oz on the lake in March. "I'm catching my old man up now," said Jack, whose pevious PB was 16lbs 4oz.

Dick said: "It took me years to catch my first twenty, I was 40 before I managed it."

A thirty, 16 other twenties, more than 40 doubles and around 150 single-figure fish were caught during Saturday's PAC event.

Places have already been drawn for a return visit in March. But the club has a growing callender of events on waters stretching from Surrey to Scotland between now and the end of the season.

Two thirties, topped by a 39lbs 8oz pike, along with almost 40 other 20lbs-plus pike have been caught on PAC events in 2007. Any member can apply to fish them.

For more information, click here.

Graham celebrates 99th twenty in style

Graham Slater caught his 99th twenty amid an impressive haul he shared with his boat partner Howard Thomas on the PAC's Menteith event on Saturday.

But while five fish over the magical mark graced their net, the day didn't go entirely to plan.

Just 10 minutes before Ms 99 came along, a rod went over the side, Lincolnshire-based Graham told PAC News.

"I caught the braid with a dawg, handlined it in til I came to the spool knot and got it back," he said.

"I wound the braid back onto the spool and re-cast a sardine and this took it almost straight away."

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.

Will Lucky Lyn pull out your number..?

Move over Mystic Meg... For a special guest is goin to be helping out with the draw for places on the Pike Anglers Club's privleged access events on the Lake of Menteith.

The papers called Lyn Baker the Lady of the Lake when she landed a 39lbs 8oz pike at a PAC event on Menteith this March. The fish is believed to be the largest pike ever landed a by a female angler and Lyn became a bit of a media celebrity with everyone from the Sun and Daily Mirror to BBC News featuring the story of its capture.

Tonight special events organiser Mark Skinner said Lyn would be drawing out the winning tickets for places on Menteith this season.

More than 70 pairs are in the draw for 30-odd boats in November, while 50 pairs have applied for March.

Places to fish will be drawn at the PAC Convention at Stoneleigh on Saturday, September 22.

Mark said a few places for first-come, first-served events were still available as information packs are sent out to those who have applied. Watch out for the postman.

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.

Menteith lure date announced

The PAC has secured access to the Lake of Menteith for a lure-only day on Saturday March 1, 2008, events organiser Mark Skinner said today.

As ever, this event is bound to be over-subscribed, meaning there will be a draw for places.

See the forthcoming Pikelines for more details on this and other PAC events.

Menteith date confirmed for November

Management at the Lake of Menteith have confirmed the PAC's first access date for the coming season today.

It will be on Saturday, November 10, when lures and baits will be permitted on the water.

Demand is sure to be sky high, after the water produced its best-ever pike during a PAC event earlier this year.

Lyn Baker, from Newcastle boated a 39lbs 8oz pike - the biggest ever caught by a woman and the biggest ever landed during a club event - in March.

Special events organiser Mark Skinner said application slips for both Mentieth and the other up and coming events would appear in the August edition of Pikelines. A draw for places will be held at the Convention at Stoneleigh, Warks, in September.

Mark said he was waiting for confirmation of an event on another Scottish water the day after the Menteith. He is also in talks with management over a lure fishing event to be held on Menteith in March.

Media interest in club "unprecedented"

Media interest in the Pike Anglers Club has been unprecedented since Lyn Baker's capture of a superb 39lbs 8oz specimen during a PAC event on Saturday.

As well as enquiries from the angling press and websites, we have fielded calls from the regional and national newspapers, the Press Association and other news agencies, and the broadcast media.

Lady of the Lake - Newcastle Journal

Today's Newcastle Journal reports Lyn Baker's 39lbs 8oz Menteith Pike.

Click here.

Lyn Baker's 39lbs 8oz fish - picture

Here's new PAC member Lyn Baker with the superb 39lbs 8oz pike she caught during a club event on Lake of Menteith on Saturday.

Also out on the day were 41 fish of 6lbs or under, 22 between 6lbs and 10lbs, 23 between 10 and 15lbs, 10 between 15lbs and 20lbs, eight 20s up to 28lbs.

The pike Fishing on Loch Fitty, where a PAC fish-in was held today, failed to live up to quite the same standards. Just three jacks were caught, special events organiser Mark Skinner said tonight.

Menteith changes rules on nets and mats

Anglers taking part in the future pike fishing events on the Lake of Menteith can no longer take their own landing nets, unhooking mats and weigh slings onto the water.

Management will provide 42-inch nets, beanie mats and slings for each boat. The rule change has been brought in to reduce the risk of disease or parasite transfer.

It will apply from the Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland's event on Saturday, March 3, and the PAC's final date of the season on Saturday, March 10.

A £20 charge will be made for lost gear.

All spaces for the March event are booked and there is a waiting list in operation.

For more information on PAC special events,click here.