TENPAC leaves strong club as new committee takes the reins, pike anglers' AGM told today

There have been successes and there have been failures. But the Pike Anglers Club has had a higher profile than for many years and remains a force to be reckoned with.
That was the message at the predator fishing club's AGM in Nottingham today, as TENPAC - the tenth committee to have run the club since its formation 32 years ago - handed over to its successor.
Opening the meeting chairman Colin Goodge said: "I've been very satisified with this committee, they've done a marvellous job. We didn't achieve all we'd like to have but they've put the PAC back on the map.
"I've been proud to be a part of it and I'd like to thank them for all their hard work over the last three years."


Outgoing president Phil Wakeford said the club had come a long way and achieved a lot during its 32 year history.
Of the Tenth PAC committee's term, which began in May 2006, he added: "There've been some successes, there've been some failures but the games never over.
"You've got to redouble your efforts and keep chipping away at it and one good thing is there are always people willing to put their hands up to keep this club of ours going."
One ambition of the tenth committee was to grow the PAC's membership beyond the record of 3,000 achieved in the early 1990s. Many of the outgoing regime are disappointed they failed to achieve it.
"The biggest target is regular pike anglers who are not members of the club," Phil said. "How do we get to them..?"
Phil said relations had improved between the PAC and Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland, while there were also encouraging signs that a new pike conservation group would be set up in the Irish Republic.
"What is the glue that holds us together," he said, closing his final address as president. "Clubs come and go but the PAC is still here. We're still strong and we're still a force to be reckoned with."

Events organiser Mark Skinner said his main aim on taking office had been to increase the number of events open to members.
"As everyone knows, Menteith is the club's main event, but these events are few and far between so other avenues had to be explored," he said.
"I therefore aimed our events more towards the social side of fishing and tried to offer members venues where meeting up, making new friends and rekindling old friendships was another thing to focus on , rather than just fishing a place with the chance of catching big fish."
Mark said one highlight was being on the Menteith event where Newcastle-based Lyn Baker caught the biggest pike ever to be caught by a woman in the British Isles. The capture sparked coverage in national newspapers including The Sun and TV appearences for Lyn, which raised the profile of the PAC and its work.
"I actually mentioned to Lynn how great it would be for a woman to catch a big fish on the event in the Rob Roy the night before," he said. "Needless to say I had a few members asking me to say the same thing to them on the night before our last event on Menteith."
Mark said meeting members and making new contacts had been another highlight of marshalling events.
"You can talk to members via our forum or through e-mail, but nothing bats meeting other members face-to-face out on a day's fishing.
"To finish off, I'd just like to say I've really enjoyed my time in the role and working with everyone on the committee.
"We've had our ups and downs, we've had our disagreements but we've focussed on what's been good for the club."

Products manager Michael Hastings said: "I'm going to keep it short and sweet like Kylie.
"I inherited a good system from Mick Culpan and I don't think I've messed it up too much."
Michael said products revenue had grown to more than £7,000 in 2007/08. He said products were a popular way for members to support the club, with "badges, caps and 'ats" proving more popular than mugs and mousemats, while a stock of PAC30 - the commemorative book published to celebrate the club's 30th anniversary - remained unsold.
"I've enjoyed the last three years and I'm proud to be a member of this club," he said. "This committee has taken the club forward - we've taken over a good club and we've not mucked it up too badly."

In characteristically to the point style, webmaster Dave Lumb said: "We've still got a website, we've got a forum, we've got a webshop, we've got a blog and we've got a gallery like a blog and someone else is going to be doing i from this afternoon."

Advertising manager Mike Kelly said the recession had seen many larger players in the fishing industry slash budgets, while some companies had gone out of business over the last three years.
"We've lost quite a few advertisers, Hengelsport, Harris, Lure Mania, Lureshack and John Roberts," he said. "We've got new advertisers but we've lost income. We've got a lot of small advertisers and we're in a recession."

Secretary Mark Barrett said the club still had a strong regional structure. But he said the future lay in smaller, larger regional groups.
"We don't have the number of speakers and pike anglers attending meetings to make 120-odd regions viable," he said. "It's a bit much to drive a long way and find there's one man and a dog in a pub."

Press officer Chris Bishop said his term had began dealing with negative stories about pike fishing and establishing the club as a port of call for comment and information about predator angling.
He said the club had won some high profile victories, but the landscape and the media were changing fast.
"Having a blog was fairly cutting edge when we launched it, a lot of other angling organisations followed suit," he said. "Now it's old hat and the future's going to be about finding new ways of reaching people."

Treasurer John Synnuck presented the club's accounts and said while they would show a small surplus, this came mainly in the final quarter of the year. John said while newspapers were reporting the first signs the economy was recovering, the recession was likely to impact further on the PAC.
"Whether we like it or not, it's going to have a direct effect on people going fishing and pike anglers," he said. "People will be fishing less regularly and won't be joining clubs like ours.
"If we end up in three years' time with the same number of members we've got now that in itself will be a fantastic feat."

Pikelines production editor Steve Ormrod reported on behalf of himself and co-editor Neville Fickling, who could not attend the AGM.
"At his worst, he's the grumpiest man alive," he said. "At his best, he's the best features editor you could ever wish to work with."
Steve said the incoming committe had asked him to remain in post for the next two issues, to allow them time to review the position of Pikelines manager. He said he would be taking a back seat, non-committee role.
He outlined cost savings, which meant the magazine was cheaper to produce than in 2005/06.
"The magazine won't be changing that much in the short-term," he said. "The new chaps are keen to have an impact, so watch this space and see what happens.
"But be assured Pikelines will always be a quality product. The PAC has a very bright future."

John Synnuck gave a report on behalf of membership secretary John Cahill. He said while membership had not reached the hallowed 3,000 mark, it had grown from 1830 in May 2006, to 2065 today.
"That's a growth of 12.5 per cent so we have had some significant success at growin the numbers," John said. "John's done fantastic job and was one of the heroes on the PAC committee - it's ball-breaking work for very little thanks." John said John Cahill was "ably assisted" by his predecessor Peter Green.

Closing the outgoing committee's final reports, Colin Goodge said: "This has been a very successful committee, they've done everything they've been asked and more. We now finish with a strong PAC thanks to the lads around me."

Catch up with Ackers in Co Durham

Mark Ackerley will be speaing at a Darlington, Teeside and Co Durham Region meeting on Tuesday, February 3.

It kicks off at Coxhoe Workingman’s Club, High Street, Coxhoe, Co. Durham, at 8pm.

Admission £2 PAC members, £3 non-members on the door.

Further details available from Shane Patterson on 0191 3869078

Barrie heads to Scotland for rare talk

Barrie Rickards needs no introduction as a founding father of both the PAC and of modern pike fishing.

He's written more than 25 books - including Fishing For Big Pike, which many still regard as one of the most important books ever written on the species.

He'll be giving a rare talk in North Lanarkshire on Friday, March 27.

Click here for details on the Region 93 blog.

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.

Cambridge hosts PAC Committee panel

A panel from the PAC Committee will be taking to the stage at Cambridge PAC's meeting on Wednesday, March 7.

President Phil Wakeford, chairman Colin Goodge, secretary Mark Barrett, products manager Mick Hastings and press officer Chris Bishop are lined up to attend the meeting at the British Legion in Downing Close, Bottisham, near Cambridge (7.30pm).

It's your chance to meet committee members, hear how the first year of the PAC's 10th committee is going and put your questions about any aspect of pike fishing and the work of the club to some of the people in the driving seat.

For more details of meetings and other activities in and around Cambridge, click here.

Rob Christen visits Lincoln PAC

Pike Angler of the Year Rob Christen will be making a rare appearence at Lincoln PAC's meeting on Monday, March 5.

All are welcome at the Turk's Head in Cecil Street, Newport, Lincoln, from 7pm.

Captor of a near-40lbs Fen drain fish which re-wrote the history books, Rob has a unique and dedicated approach to his pike fishing.

A original angler, who very much does his own thing, it's an evening not to be missed.

For more details of meetings and other activities in Lincolnshire, check out the Lincoln Blog.

Sussex presents Dimples to Wrinkles Bill

Dimples to Wrinkles author Bill Palmer will be entertaining the PAC's Sussex Region with some of the highlihts of his incredible pike fishing career next week.

He'll be appearing at the Black lion on the A22 at Halland, between Uckfield and Hailsham, on Wednesday, February 21.

Doors will be opening at 7.30pm, with the talk starting at 8.30pm. Admission is £2.50 members/£3 non-members.

Don't miss Rodders in Brum

The Birmingham region of the P.A.C. are having a talk courtesy of Steve Rodwell AKA "Rodders", on Tuesday, February 13.

Norfolk's finest export has been going down a storm on the talks circuit this season, with his repertoire of big pike and even bigger laughs.

The venue is The Hill Social Club, 33A Dugdale Crescent, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield 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.

North Lanarks host Eddie T

Eddie Turner will be speaking about his pike fishing experiences at a North Lanarkshire PAC meeting on Friday, March 9 (7pm).

Venue is the Joker Bar in Calder Road, Mossend ,Bellshill. Admission £2 for RA93 members, £5.00 non-members.

There will be a light buffet and raffles on the evening for an Abu lure rod, Daiwa Baitrunners, Harris lures, Kelly Storm Kettle, a hospitality day for two at the Famous Grouse Expereince, and assorted bottles.

For information on meetings and other activities in North Lanarkshire, see the RA93 Blog.

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.

Relaunched Reading branch to meet

Reading PAC is holding its first meeting for some time on Monday, February 12, at the King's Tavern, King's Road, Reading (7.30pm).

PAC president Phil Wakeford will be giving a slide show on his varied pike fishing career.

Both members and non-members welcome.

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.

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.