If you are a PAC Message Board user please ensure that your PAC membership is up to date as we will be removing non-paid up users from the 20th October.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Standing Order Scheme Members
Further to our announcement in the Autumn Pikelines advising that the standing order scheme had been cancelled we continue to receive a number of standing order payments.
These will be processed this week where we can identify the payment. If you have paid and do not recieve advice from the membership secretary please send an email to memberships@pacgb.co.uk stating the amount sent and date it left your bank.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Membership numbers reach a new peak
Following the successful convention and a busy week at Membership Towers the club are only 6 days after the year end already seeing numbers surge.
John Cahill and Pete Green both report that the level of renewals are unprecedented and the fact that 45 new members have joined the club in the last 7 days is very encouraging.
Membership processing will be upstraight today, so any late renewal members or new applicants should receive a quick turnaround.
Within 14 days our forum will be reviewed and any members yet to renew will be deleted - so if you have forgotten please be quick and get an application in.
John Cahill and Pete Green both report that the level of renewals are unprecedented and the fact that 45 new members have joined the club in the last 7 days is very encouraging.
Membership processing will be upstraight today, so any late renewal members or new applicants should receive a quick turnaround.
Within 14 days our forum will be reviewed and any members yet to renew will be deleted - so if you have forgotten please be quick and get an application in.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Win a Day with Mick Brown
We are pleased to advise that Mr Brian Green from Hampshire was the lucky winner of the Mick Brown Competition drawn at the Convention.
John Cahill Membership Secretary will now be in touch with Brian to organise the day with Mick.
The PAC Committee would like to thank Mick Brown for his ongoing support of the club and hope Brian will enjoy a fantastic day.
John Cahill Membership Secretary will now be in touch with Brian to organise the day with Mick.
The PAC Committee would like to thank Mick Brown for his ongoing support of the club and hope Brian will enjoy a fantastic day.
Membership Towers under Seige
Having recently got membership requests up-straight the club's 'Engine Room' of John Cahill and Pete Green report a superb level of New members and Renewals from yesterdays convention.
Coupled with recent levels of post there is now a slight backlog in processing which they anticipate will be up-straight in the next few weeks. We would ask members to bear with us as, at year end there are also a number of administration areas that need addressing as we start the new membership year on October 1st.
John Cahill reported at the AGM held on the 27th that Membership numbers will hold at last years figure of 2500, a final number to be advised in due course. However, the level of renewals and recent new members are showing encouraging signs for next year.
Finally John would like to formally thank Pete Green and Brian Birdsall for their fantastic help at the convention.
Coupled with recent levels of post there is now a slight backlog in processing which they anticipate will be up-straight in the next few weeks. We would ask members to bear with us as, at year end there are also a number of administration areas that need addressing as we start the new membership year on October 1st.
John Cahill reported at the AGM held on the 27th that Membership numbers will hold at last years figure of 2500, a final number to be advised in due course. However, the level of renewals and recent new members are showing encouraging signs for next year.
Finally John would like to formally thank Pete Green and Brian Birdsall for their fantastic help at the convention.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Region 31 South Lancashire Calender of Events - 2008-2009
Meetings recommence 1st October. Meetings are held in the upstairs function room of The Caledonian Pub, Bolton Road (next door to Tesco garage), Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire.
Meetings start at 8pm on the first Wednesday of each month, October to April inclusive.
The region has a great line up of guest speakers and fish-ins.
October 2008:
November:
December:
January 2009:
February:
March:
April:
For more info contact - roregion31@blueyonder.co.uk or come along to the meetings - ALL welcome!
Meetings start at 8pm on the first Wednesday of each month, October to April inclusive.
The region has a great line up of guest speakers and fish-ins.
October 2008:
- Meeting guest speaker Damien Wood, north-west specimen angling
- Fish in local reservoir
November:
- Meeting Mad Mick Bowen river piker extrodinaire
- Fish in to two Scottish lochs (club boat available for use) & FREE BBQ
December:
- Meeting Steve Ormrod Northern Reservoir piking, FREE BUFFETT
- Fish-in Yorkshire land-drain venue
January 2009:
- Meeting Geoff Parkinson - big fish man
- Fish-in - Pennine Challenge - North-West reservoir
- Fish-in - Local drain system
February:
- Meeting - R31 Members Paul Haughton & Martin Salisbury - specialist angling & big cats
March:
- Meeting - The one and only Neville Fickling
- Fish in - Local reservoir
April:
- Meeting - Presentation night, Awards presented by James Holgate, compare Jon Neafcy, FREE BUFFET
For more info contact - roregion31@blueyonder.co.uk or come along to the meetings - ALL welcome!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Pike anglers set for Stoneleigh bash
Predator anglers from all corners of the UK and even further afield will be heading for Warwickshire for the Pike Anglers Club Convention this weekend.
Piking 2008 is being held at Stoneleigh on Saturday, with a must-see line-up of speakers and a can't-miss bill of trade stands.
Click here for more info on the day's bill of fare.
Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to kick off this winter's campaign, the chance to handle all the latest gear or just to snap up a bargain on the secondhand lure stall, it's an event you can't afford to miss.
Many pike anglers see the Convention as the starting point for their winter's fishing and a chance to catch up with friends old and new.
It's also a testament to work of the PAC, which has been campaigning to safeguard both the pike and pike fishing for more than 30 years.
Tickets are £12 adult member (or member of SAA-affiliated predator club...) on the door, or £10 in advance to members. For non-members, tickets on the door are £14, £12 advance, while up to two juniors (under-16) can accompany each paying adult for free.
Piking 2008 is being held at Stoneleigh on Saturday, with a must-see line-up of speakers and a can't-miss bill of trade stands.
Click here for more info on the day's bill of fare.
Whether you're looking for fresh ideas to kick off this winter's campaign, the chance to handle all the latest gear or just to snap up a bargain on the secondhand lure stall, it's an event you can't afford to miss.
Many pike anglers see the Convention as the starting point for their winter's fishing and a chance to catch up with friends old and new.
It's also a testament to work of the PAC, which has been campaigning to safeguard both the pike and pike fishing for more than 30 years.
Tickets are £12 adult member (or member of SAA-affiliated predator club...) on the door, or £10 in advance to members. For non-members, tickets on the door are £14, £12 advance, while up to two juniors (under-16) can accompany each paying adult for free.
**Secondhand Stall News**
We are pleased to let members know that we are reducing the PAC charge for selling members items of tackle and lures on the clubs secondhand stalls at the convention on Saturday.
The charge for selling members items is reduced to 10% of the total take on items sold, which goes into the club's funds.
We will still be charging £1.00 for items put on the stall for sale, please note this is not per item.
This charge goes towards covering PAC costs in case any members items are not sold.
There is still time for logging in sheets to be emailed to you if you wish to pre-log your items before bringing them on Saturday, this will save you time filling the sheets in on the day, just PM me or Chico for logging sheets to be emailed over.
See you Saturday.
Mark Skinner
The charge for selling members items is reduced to 10% of the total take on items sold, which goes into the club's funds.
We will still be charging £1.00 for items put on the stall for sale, please note this is not per item.
This charge goes towards covering PAC costs in case any members items are not sold.
There is still time for logging in sheets to be emailed to you if you wish to pre-log your items before bringing them on Saturday, this will save you time filling the sheets in on the day, just PM me or Chico for logging sheets to be emailed over.
See you Saturday.
Mark Skinner
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
PAC Convention - can you help..?
Is anyone travelling up to the Convention from within or close to the M25, Docklands or central London on Friday evening..?
If you can offer a lift to a guest, please e-mail chairman@pacgb.co.uk as soon as possible.
If you can offer a lift to a guest, please e-mail chairman@pacgb.co.uk as soon as possible.
Another dour day on Rutland
Two scraper 20s and a sprinkling of smaller pike were caught on the PAC's first event of the season - a day's lure fishing on Rutland Reservoir.
While the weather did not stage a repeat of last year's gale force conditions, many found the 2,500 acre man-made lake a daunting prospect.
Of note were the fact several boats targetted zander using vertical jigging tactics in some of the deeper areas, with some being rewarded with a number of schoolies to 6lbs, showing potential for a different approach.
Little is known about how the species adapts to tout reservoirs, but Rutland is believed to have contained zander for around a decade, with a best fish of 11lbs being recorded in this time.
Anglian Water has now published its predator dates for this season:
Autumn boat fishing for pike with lures & dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
motor boat hire from 08.30am until dusk.
Pitsford £50 for two anglers, 1 October to 23 November, tel 01604 781350
Rutland £55 for two anglers, 6 October to 16 November, tel 01780 686441
Grafham £53 for two anglers, 13 October to 30 November, tel 01480 810531
Ravensthorpe £49 for two anglers, 27October to 23 November, tel 01604 770875
Prices change to £44 for two anglers at all fisheries in November
While the weather did not stage a repeat of last year's gale force conditions, many found the 2,500 acre man-made lake a daunting prospect.
Of note were the fact several boats targetted zander using vertical jigging tactics in some of the deeper areas, with some being rewarded with a number of schoolies to 6lbs, showing potential for a different approach.
Little is known about how the species adapts to tout reservoirs, but Rutland is believed to have contained zander for around a decade, with a best fish of 11lbs being recorded in this time.
Anglian Water has now published its predator dates for this season:
Autumn boat fishing for pike with lures & dead sea fish over 18cm (excludes lamprey)
motor boat hire from 08.30am until dusk.
Pitsford £50 for two anglers, 1 October to 23 November, tel 01604 781350
Rutland £55 for two anglers, 6 October to 16 November, tel 01780 686441
Grafham £53 for two anglers, 13 October to 30 November, tel 01480 810531
Ravensthorpe £49 for two anglers, 27October to 23 November, tel 01604 770875
Prices change to £44 for two anglers at all fisheries in November
Fresh boost for Broads defences
Sea defences protecting parts of the Norfolk Broads are set to be strenghened with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rock, it emerged today.
There was anger earlier this year, when plans to abandon sea walls protecting th Upper Thurne and its broads were leaked to the media.
Thousands signed a petition launched by the PAC, while concerned residents eventually won miniterial assurance the coastline would be saved for at least another 50 years.
Now the Environment Agency has revealed plans to ship in roacks by barge to bolster defences.
Click here for more.
There was anger earlier this year, when plans to abandon sea walls protecting th Upper Thurne and its broads were leaked to the media.
Thousands signed a petition launched by the PAC, while concerned residents eventually won miniterial assurance the coastline would be saved for at least another 50 years.
Now the Environment Agency has revealed plans to ship in roacks by barge to bolster defences.
Click here for more.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
So long to Frank who inspired Jaws
A real-life shark hunter who inspired Jaws has sung Spanish Ladies for the last time.
Frank Mundus, who died of a heart attack at the age of 82 last week, inspired Peter Benchley's character Quint, with his capture of a 4,500lbs great white shark in 1964.
Quint, played by Robert Shaw in the 1975 big screen blockbuster, in turn inspired a novel about a Lake District beauty spot plagued not by a shark but a giant pike.
At one point filming was set to commence on The Pike, with a 12ft mechanised esox set to star alongside Joan Collins, but the project never made it onto the silver screen.
Mythical tales about giant pike pre-date Frank Mundus's exploits by centuries, as this recent round-up from The Times reports.
Hysteria about the pike's voracious appetite persists to this day, when the occasional ill-founded story about attacks on pets, livestock or even waterskiers sometimes make the headlines of news-starved local papers.
In the meantime, it's so long to Frank Mundus - whose on-screen characterisation famously observed: "We're gonna need a bigger boat..."
Frank Mundus, who died of a heart attack at the age of 82 last week, inspired Peter Benchley's character Quint, with his capture of a 4,500lbs great white shark in 1964.
Quint, played by Robert Shaw in the 1975 big screen blockbuster, in turn inspired a novel about a Lake District beauty spot plagued not by a shark but a giant pike.
At one point filming was set to commence on The Pike, with a 12ft mechanised esox set to star alongside Joan Collins, but the project never made it onto the silver screen.
Mythical tales about giant pike pre-date Frank Mundus's exploits by centuries, as this recent round-up from The Times reports.
Hysteria about the pike's voracious appetite persists to this day, when the occasional ill-founded story about attacks on pets, livestock or even waterskiers sometimes make the headlines of news-starved local papers.
In the meantime, it's so long to Frank Mundus - whose on-screen characterisation famously observed: "We're gonna need a bigger boat..."
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Convention special offers update
Two special offers for the PAC Convention were announced today by membership secretary John Cahill.
The first is a combined membership and PAC30 book offer at £40, representing a saving for an adult member of £9.50 on usual prices. John said the offer extends to both new and renewing members on the day.
PAC30 was the highly acclaimed book published last year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Pike Anglers Club, featuring 30 chapters by some of the top names in the sport.
Click here for more on the book, which is usually priced £25 plus £5 p&p from the club's online shop.
Offer two is a special deal for members of the Lure Anglers Society, Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland and Specialist Anglers Alliance. We're delighted all three will be in attendance with stalls at this year's event.
By way of thanks, we're offering admission to any member of the LAS, PAAS or SAA for £12 on the door - the same price as PAC members - a saving of £2 on normal ticket price on the door for non-PAC members.
Piking 2008 is being held at Stoneleigh, Warks, on Saturday, September 27.
Click here for all the latest news on the pike fishing's don't miss event of the year.
The first is a combined membership and PAC30 book offer at £40, representing a saving for an adult member of £9.50 on usual prices. John said the offer extends to both new and renewing members on the day.
PAC30 was the highly acclaimed book published last year to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Pike Anglers Club, featuring 30 chapters by some of the top names in the sport.
Click here for more on the book, which is usually priced £25 plus £5 p&p from the club's online shop.
Offer two is a special deal for members of the Lure Anglers Society, Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland and Specialist Anglers Alliance. We're delighted all three will be in attendance with stalls at this year's event.
By way of thanks, we're offering admission to any member of the LAS, PAAS or SAA for £12 on the door - the same price as PAC members - a saving of £2 on normal ticket price on the door for non-PAC members.
Piking 2008 is being held at Stoneleigh, Warks, on Saturday, September 27.
Click here for all the latest news on the pike fishing's don't miss event of the year.
Monday, September 15, 2008
PAC membership team on top of renewals
Following a phenomenal response from the recent edition of Pikelines magazine, the Pike Anglers Club's membership team of John Cahill and Peter Green have been snowed under with renewals.
The backlog has now been cleared and both new member's applications and renewals are being turned around within 24 hours of receipt.
"It's been a great start to the traditional renewal period and we thank everyone who's renewed early and helped us spread the workload," said John.
"We're now at manageable levels again so for those yet to renew please do so and we'll get back to you by return."
Membership benefits include PAC events, like privileged access events on the Lake of menteith and other waters. Please note you must have a current PAC membership card to take part in an event.
John and Pete will be running a PAC Membership stall at the Convention on Saturday, September 27, where members will be able to renew on the day.
There will also be a Convention special membership offer for new members. announced a little nearer the time.
The backlog has now been cleared and both new member's applications and renewals are being turned around within 24 hours of receipt.
"It's been a great start to the traditional renewal period and we thank everyone who's renewed early and helped us spread the workload," said John.
"We're now at manageable levels again so for those yet to renew please do so and we'll get back to you by return."
Membership benefits include PAC events, like privileged access events on the Lake of menteith and other waters. Please note you must have a current PAC membership card to take part in an event.
John and Pete will be running a PAC Membership stall at the Convention on Saturday, September 27, where members will be able to renew on the day.
There will also be a Convention special membership offer for new members. announced a little nearer the time.
Mick Brown on single hooks for pike fishing
Mick Brown has a thought-provoking piece on why he's incresingly turning to using single hooks for his pike fishing on his website.
Click here for the first installment.
Click here for the first installment.
PAC tops Google rankings
Companies spend thousands getting their names and products on the first page of rankings on the search engine Google.
The PAC now occupies the two top spots on google.com and google.co.uk when you tap pike into the search box - thanks to all the other sites who've linked to us and the growing number of people looking for information about pike fishing, who've clicked to find out more about the club.
Click here to google us and see.
The PAC now occupies the two top spots on google.com and google.co.uk when you tap pike into the search box - thanks to all the other sites who've linked to us and the growing number of people looking for information about pike fishing, who've clicked to find out more about the club.
Click here to google us and see.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Piking 2008 - special advance report
With just two weeks to go, it looks like Piking 2008 might turn out to be even bigger than last year's convention - which many attendees rated as one of the best in the 30 year history of the Pike Anglers Club.
We've got some speakers who are really going to get the pike world talking travelling from as far afield as Holland and Sweden sharing the stage with two of the most successful pikers on the current UK scene.
Piking 2008 is being held on Saturday, September 27 at the National Agricultural Showground, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
Tickets are £12 adult member on the door, or £10 in advance to members. For non-members, tickets on the door are £14, £12 advance, while up to two juniors (under-16) can accompany each paying adult for free.
For advance tickets, send cheque (with SAE...), payable to PACGB, to Mike Kelly, PAC Promotions Manager, 47 Yew Tree Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 0BG.
Click here for more on the speakers.
Scroll down for the day's agenda and details of this year's record number of trade stalls.
We've got some speakers who are really going to get the pike world talking travelling from as far afield as Holland and Sweden sharing the stage with two of the most successful pikers on the current UK scene.
Piking 2008 is being held on Saturday, September 27 at the National Agricultural Showground, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry.
Tickets are £12 adult member on the door, or £10 in advance to members. For non-members, tickets on the door are £14, £12 advance, while up to two juniors (under-16) can accompany each paying adult for free.
For advance tickets, send cheque (with SAE...), payable to PACGB, to Mike Kelly, PAC Promotions Manager, 47 Yew Tree Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 0BG.
Click here for more on the speakers.
Scroll down for the day's agenda and details of this year's record number of trade stalls.
Piking 2008 - the batting order
Doors open 9am sharp.
9 - 9.45am Annual Members Meeting of PAC Membership and Financial Reports plus Q and A to the Committee.
9.45am Opening Address by Phil Wakeford, PAC President and MC.
10am Graham Slater PAC ‘Pike Angler of the Year’ with ‘The Way I Fish’
11am Presentation of PAC Awards 2008 Mark Barrett... Swiftly followed by the draw for places on Menteith and the draw to win a day's fishing with Mick Brown...
11.30am Coffee Break
11.45am Michel Huigevoort ‘River Pike Fishing The Dutch Style’
12.45pm Lunch Break
2pm Derek MacDonald presents ‘Planet Pike’
3pm P.A. Hogberg ‘Catching Pike the Swedish Way’
4pm Neville Fickling's Pike Panel... your chance to question the day's speakers...
5pm Auction of PAC30 signed leather-bound number 1
5.15pm Mega Raffle
6pm (approx) CLOSE
9 - 9.45am Annual Members Meeting of PAC Membership and Financial Reports plus Q and A to the Committee.
9.45am Opening Address by Phil Wakeford, PAC President and MC.
10am Graham Slater PAC ‘Pike Angler of the Year’ with ‘The Way I Fish’
11am Presentation of PAC Awards 2008 Mark Barrett... Swiftly followed by the draw for places on Menteith and the draw to win a day's fishing with Mick Brown...
11.30am Coffee Break
11.45am Michel Huigevoort ‘River Pike Fishing The Dutch Style’
12.45pm Lunch Break
2pm Derek MacDonald presents ‘Planet Pike’
3pm P.A. Hogberg ‘Catching Pike the Swedish Way’
4pm Neville Fickling's Pike Panel... your chance to question the day's speakers...
5pm Auction of PAC30 signed leather-bound number 1
5.15pm Mega Raffle
6pm (approx) CLOSE
Convention trade stalls sell out
Piking 2008 won't just have a record number of trade and tackle stalls for you to shop, haggle and give your bank manager nightmares...
For what's believed to be the first time ever, the event has now sold out to the trade, with just about every inch of space booked by stall-holders of all kinds.
You can get your hands on all the latest gear. Pick up a bargain on one of the lively second-hand stalls, pick up a signed copy of brand news books from Neville Fickling and Mark Barrett. Or even splash out on everything from a few lures, all the end tackle you need for the winter, or even a new boat.
So far, the line-up looks like this: Friendly Fisherman...Sovereign Superbaits...Zoota Lures...The Pike Shop...Pike Brittany...Esox & More...Pike & Predators...DIY Lures and Flies...Coch Y Bonddhu Books...Portabote...Bob Buteaux...Catmaster Tackle...Fishing Pool...Fishing Matters...Seastrike Boats...O2 Boats...The Tackle Shop (Gainsborough)...Catfish Pro...Eddie Turner...Dave Lumb Specialist Tackle...ACA...Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland...Lure Anglers Society...Specialist Anglers Alliance...NAC Zandervan...
There will also be a fly tying/fly fishing demo featuring a top fly fisherman, a casting competition, at least two book launches and all the usual PAC stalls, including membership, products, second-hand tackle and second-hand lures. Last but not least, the popular mega-raffle makes its return.
Click here for more on the event, including speakers, ticket prices etc.
For what's believed to be the first time ever, the event has now sold out to the trade, with just about every inch of space booked by stall-holders of all kinds.
You can get your hands on all the latest gear. Pick up a bargain on one of the lively second-hand stalls, pick up a signed copy of brand news books from Neville Fickling and Mark Barrett. Or even splash out on everything from a few lures, all the end tackle you need for the winter, or even a new boat.
So far, the line-up looks like this: Friendly Fisherman...Sovereign Superbaits...Zoota Lures...The Pike Shop...Pike Brittany...Esox & More...Pike & Predators...DIY Lures and Flies...Coch Y Bonddhu Books...Portabote...Bob Buteaux...Catmaster Tackle...Fishing Pool...Fishing Matters...Seastrike Boats...O2 Boats...The Tackle Shop (Gainsborough)...Catfish Pro...Eddie Turner...Dave Lumb Specialist Tackle...ACA...Pike Anglers Alliance for Scotland...Lure Anglers Society...Specialist Anglers Alliance...NAC Zandervan...
There will also be a fly tying/fly fishing demo featuring a top fly fisherman, a casting competition, at least two book launches and all the usual PAC stalls, including membership, products, second-hand tackle and second-hand lures. Last but not least, the popular mega-raffle makes its return.
Click here for more on the event, including speakers, ticket prices etc.
PAC AGM to be held at Stoneleigh
Following a number of years when attendance has dwindled, this year's PAC AGM will be held before the Convention at Stoneleigh, on Saturday , September 27.
President Phil wakeford said: "The AGM will run from 09.00 to 09.45 as we will need to "get on with the show". There will be BRIEF updates of what is going on in the club, our financial position etc.
"As we hold ourselves answerable to the members we are asking for any Questions that members and/or officers of the club may want to put forward. If any member (attending or not) has a question to put to the committee it would help a lot to know in advance so that we can prepare for it before the day and give a thorough reply.
"Lastly let's try and make the PAC Convention 2008 even more successful than our 30th Bash last year. Bring a friend or hijack people if you like it is going to be a great day out."
President Phil wakeford said: "The AGM will run from 09.00 to 09.45 as we will need to "get on with the show". There will be BRIEF updates of what is going on in the club, our financial position etc.
"As we hold ourselves answerable to the members we are asking for any Questions that members and/or officers of the club may want to put forward. If any member (attending or not) has a question to put to the committee it would help a lot to know in advance so that we can prepare for it before the day and give a thorough reply.
"Lastly let's try and make the PAC Convention 2008 even more successful than our 30th Bash last year. Bring a friend or hijack people if you like it is going to be a great day out."
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