Scottish 30 killed through ignorance

This picture will anger any pike angler who cares about conservation.

A fish claimed at over the magical 30lbs mark, which was apparently killed with barely a second thought - because the captor said he didn't have the tools or know-how to unhook and return it.

"I headed out for a days fly and spinning for trout in Inverness today, only to return with a 30lb Pike taken on an 8g mepp using 8lb line," he told members of a Scottish sea fishing forum. "I am still in a state of shock!"

The picture is freely available on the internet. We've obscured the angler's face and name.

He goes on: "Spinner was stuck in its mouth and, well, I didnt have the right tools with me to remove it and there ain't no way I was sticking my hand in for it."

Caught in May from a Scottish loch, the incident was highlighted by PAC members north of the border - some of whom were shocked at the cavalier killing of the pike.

"As a pike angler and member of Inverness Pike Anglers Club, as well as the PAC and Pike Anglers Alliance for scotland this is shocking," one posted. "Why the hell kill such a superb fish?"

PAC secretary Graham Slater appealed direct to the angler who boasted of killing the fish.

"Whilst I appreciate that you are a sea angling club and probably unaware of the current climate of pike conservation, it is generally frowned upon nowadays to take a pike of this size. The killing and eating of one pike under 65cms is deemed as the norm in our conservation minded society now although we realise that this wasn't always the case.

"I'd hope that in future you'd return such a fish so that other anglers may also enjoy the capture at a later date."

Another angler said: "It's plain to see that some anglers need educating in the art of dealing with old Esox.

"The captor stated that the spinner was stuck in the fish's mouth and he wasn't prepared to 'stick his hand in for it' as he didn't have the right tools."

Information about why it's important to conserve pike to maintain a balanced fishery - not to mention how to unhook and return them safely - is available on our website.

Click here to learn more about the pike and pike fishing.

***I'm sorry I killed a 30, says Murray - click here for more.

Fenland Pike authors speak in Essex

Fenland Pike authors Dennis Moules and Mark Barrett will be speaking tonight at the Nag's Head, Ramsden Heath, Essex CM11 1HS (7.30pm).

Admission £4 for PAC members, £5 non-members. Food included. All welcome!

Click here for more on venue.

Click here for more goings-on in Essex.

Campaigning for pike conservation in Devon

Devon PAC hope to get the club that controls fishing on the Grand Western Canal to adopt some rules in place to help safeguard its pike stock.

The canal hit the headlines three years ago, when PAC members caught pike which had been crudely tagged by having plastic cable ties pushed through their backs (left).

The culprit or culprits were never caught. But the PAC's response made all the local papers and even the BBC news, and the tagging stopped after that.

Now the Devon region plans to lobby the Tiverton & District Angling Club AGM, at the town's Conservative Club, on Friday (7.30pm).

Their blog reports:

"At the moment the club have no rules in their handbook relating to pike angling, care and welfare.

"We have written to them with a view to addressing this. Also we would like to bring up the question of what seems to be a fairly haphazard approach to the bailiffing of the canal.

"Any members of the club who would like to come along and support us would be very welcome."

Click here for the Devon blog.

Click here for BBC report on the tagging.

Does this explain pike runs..?

Some of the best videos on YouTube are those little clips showing pike in their underwater element.

Watch how this fish flares its gills to pick up an item of food from the bottom, then moves off as it swallows it. Does this explain pike runs..?

Big pike flies are James's way of life

Big Pike Flies as a Way of Life is a blog that does exactly what it says on the tin.

James O'Durbin II drinks beer, eats pizza and watches Samauri Jack while he ties 'em.

And he's American, by the way. Felllow fluff fans might be interested in his offer of a fly swap. Check him out here - we've added him to our blog-roll.

EA survey results for Relief Channel and Gt Ouse

RELIEF: The Channel at Saddlebow, near King's Lynn

Some quietly tip it to return to its form of yesteryear as a pike water. The latest Environment Agency fish surveys show fish spread throughout the 11-mile length of the Relief Channel, a cross between a drain and a reservoir, which runs between Denver Sluice, near Downham Market, and King's Lynn.

EA scientists surveyed the water in June. Click here to see the results in map form - hat tip King's Lynn AA.

Fish survey results have also been published for the Ely Ouse - the reach between Ely and Denver. Click here for a gander.

Is Chew in decline as a pike water..?

Eric Edwards has some interesting thoughts on the current state of pike fishing at Chew Valley - which some fear may be in decline - on his blog.

"It's probably fair to say that the pike fishing at Chew is just about the best there is in this country - usually that is," writes Eric.

"Earlier this year there was a fish-kill at the lake in which it is clear that many very big pike died.

"Such things are natural phenomena in which the population levels out a little, nothing much to worry about in the long term but annoying at the time."

More here. For Angling Times report on Chew's six thirties to date, click here.

Wye 30lbs pike left James shaking

Every now and then, a great pike fishing story comes along.

Here's a cracker from the British Pike Squad blog, which tells of a 31lbs wild water fish from the River Wye, caught by James Gilchrist.

A dark shape appeared, as he wobbled a pair of tandem-rigged sprats, in a swim where a big pike had shown.

"I could clearly see that this was the fish that I had come for, and with a pounding heart I prayed for the pike to pounce," he said.

"As the baits came within 10 yards of the bank I decided to go for broke and let them sink to the river bed, and with that the pike tilted its head downwards and sucked both baits up.

"Due to the clarity of the water, I could clearly see that the pike had taken the baited hooks inside it's large mouth, striking swiftly and surely I set the hooks home - and then all hell broke loose."

Click here to read the full story of this magnificent capture.

Click here for a fly-on-the-wall account of a day on the wobble in the Fens, as reported in Pikelines a few years back.

Cheshire region pike fish-in

Northwich Anglers Association is giving Cheshire Region PAC members an exclusive day's fishing on Petty Pool (Whitegate) on Saturday, December 4.

"This is a venue we fished last year and, although not many pike were caught, the beautiful surroundings more than made up for it," the Cheshire region's blog reports.

"Petty Pool is a SSSI and home to some of the largest carp in the North West. There are also some very big bream and tench present.

"Pike are fairly numerous and this is a water where plenty of runs can usually be expected. It is not unusual to catch 5 or 6 pike in a day, although bigger fish tend to be very elusive."

There will be a charge of £3.50 per angler, and the funds generated will be donated to Northwich AA's junior section. Pegs must be booked in advance. More info on the fish-in and other Cheshire events here.

Pikelines hits the streets

Watch out for the postman if you're a PAC member - Pikelines is winging your way.

Honoured by the Queen for his services to history, Midlands-based author and pike angler Dilip Sarkar looks back on his predator fishing and tells editor Steve Ormrod of his fascination for the River Wye.

Former PAC president Phil Wakeford looks back on some of the lessons he's learned the hard way through losing a trio of big pike.

Ex-police officer Mark Leathwood has some hard-hitting thoughts on the problem of fish theft.

East Anglian LO Dennis Moules asks whether waters which were once premier league pike fisheries in the Fens are about to see a return to form.

And Tim Kelly reports on a recent trip to Holland - an affordable destination for a few days' fishing away from home.

Pike in Your Waters - free download

We compiled Pike in Your Waters in the early 1990s, to help dispel some of the myths about pike and spell out the important role they play in healthy, balanced fisheries.

Life's moved on since then. But sadly, there are still pockets of persecution, in the form of fisheries which encourage - or even insist on - anglers killing them.

Pike in Your Waters is a vital resource for anyone who wants to campaign to conserve our top predator.

You can order copies from us in booklet form - or download it for free from our website.

It's essential reading for anyone who cares about the pike or their pike fishing.

Click here, to download it.

Piking2011 - date and venue announced

Next year's PAC Convention will be held at Kettering Conference Centre - the venue for the highly-acclaimed Piking2010.

This year's event was such a success on all fronts that the venue had to be a strong contender for 2011.

What decided it was the feedback from both attendees and traders - without whose support we couldn't hope to stage such an ambitious event.

Positive on both counts would be an understatement. The venue is central and offers free parking, along with comfortable facilities and reasonably-priced food and drink.

A great line-up of speakers helped the cause. As ever, we'll do our best to ensure we match it with next year's line-up and provide something of interest to all pike anglers.

Convention organiser Colin Goodge said: "This years was the most successful convention since the 30th Anniversary one, due I believe to the venue, the speakers, good support from the trade and a well organised committee plus a lot of help from PAC members.

"The membership gave us terrific support on the day I find it a great pleasure to organise such an event when you are given such wonderful support and back up."

Saturday, October 1 is the date to diary for next year's event. Speakers and all the other details will be announced as we finalise them.

Click here for directions and venue info.

Lake of Menteith catch return

Today's event saw 211 jacks and 10 doubles to 15lbs caught, Pike Anglers Club events organiser Mick Crisp reports on our member's forum tonight.

Talking Italian with Graham Slater

Venga a contatto dei nostri nuovi amici EsoxME - un randello italiano di pesca del luccio.

Or if you prefer, meet our new friends EsoxME - they're an Italian pike fishing club, which has been chatting to PAC secretary Graham Slater about catch and release.

We might be a few miles apart, but a lot of European pike anglers care just as much as we do about conserving pike. You can read the interview online here - in English.

Pike's underwater courtship filmed

Pike angler heads for his 400th twenty

Most pike anglers hope their winter campaign will throw up fish or two over the 20lbs mark.

Some tick off the numbers each season until they notch up 100 of them.

Alastair Rawlings is close to staking his place in the history books by catching an incredible 400 in his pike fishing career - and reckons he nails 30 in a good season.

Now that's some pike fishing, by anyone's standards. More here.

Neville Fickling talk in Walton

Neville Fickling will be working his magic (their words, not ours...) for the Walton on Thames region on Tuesday, November 9.

The former record holder and Pike and Predators editor will be doing a talk at the Bagster House Club, at Walton Lane, Shepperton (8.30pm).

All welcome. For directions, click here.

Will new pumps help restore the Delph..?

New electric pumps have been installed at Welmore Sluice, to help cure the flooding problems on Welney Washes - will they spare the Delph from fish kills caused by stagnant water, which many believe have helped decimate this once noted pike water..?

More here.

Tail walking pike caught on camera

It's got to be the most exciting moment in pike fishing, when a big brute rears up from the depths and sends itself skywards, like the fish in this image captured by PAC member Paul Mersh.

Paul sent it in to the PAC's Facebook page. Webmaster Mike Skipper said: "I get to see loads of pictures sent in by members, but this one especially stands out as one of the finest."

If you're on Facebook, why not sign up to the PAC page. You can find it here.

If you use the Twitter site, you can follow us there @pikelines.

We're hoping to use both to help spread the word about the work of the PAC.

Rumours of a 46lbs Norfolk pike

The rumour mill's buzzing with unconfirmed reports of a 46lbs pike from Norfolk's River Thurne.

Many wondered if the Thurne would produce a pike to beat the current 46lbs 13oz record, since John Goble caught a 45lbs 80z specimen from the river in March 2009. A 42lbs fish was caught on the Thurne this March.

Of the latest rumour, John Goble told Eastern Daily Press angling correspondent Roy Webster: “Obviously I could not rule it out but at present I believe it is someone’s imagination on the internet.”

The paper also reports on a pike estimated in the 40lbs bracket snatching a 2lbs bream off a match angler's line and the capture of a 30lbs pike near Potter Heigham.