Denis Moules talk in King's Lynn

King's Lynn PAC have their first meeting in yonks this week. It's at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch, on Wednesday night (7.30pm).

Denis Moules is special guest, with a talk about his pike fishing career in the Fens and some of his recent catches.

Then there's some grown-up stuff they want to bounce off local pike anglers, like what they want from the re-launched region, the state of a key local fishery and setting up a River Watch.

They've got Neville Fickling and Derrick Amies lined up for talks before Christmas and other activities in the pipeline.

Mick Brown special guest at Essex PAC

Mick Brown's on his way to Basildon to be special guest of the Essex PAC on Thursday, October 27. It's all happening at the Winged Horse pub, Luncies Rd, Basildon, Essex SS14 1SB, at 7.30pm.

Entry is £4 PAC members and £5 non-PAC members, everybody welcome. That includes some haute cuisine (Essex speak for hot food...).

Mick's topped off a predator fishing career which has seen him catch more than 300 twenties, including 23 over 30lbs, by writing a book Mick Brown Professional Pike Angler. This sold out at the Convention earlier this month, but Mick will be bringing some with him and his biro.

For more info on forthcoming talks and outings, click here to visit the Essex PAC blog.

Courtship of the pike filmed underwater

Remember Dean Burman from a PAC Convention or two ago..? Here's some underwater footage of pike courtship, presented by Alan Titchmarsh.

This is amazing stuff, if you haven't seen it before.

Pike comes to sticky end

Curious how some stories about pike capture the imagination of the mainstream press.

Here's the latest from the East Anglian Daily Times, in Suffolk - about a pike which "survived capture three times", before choking to death on a carp. More here.

Not everyone's been struggling in the Fens

While many have had a run of poor results in the Fens, King's Lynn RO Ashley Brown had two 28lbs pike from different waters near King's Lynn last winter, plus a repeat capture of one at 27lbs.

Check out the King's Lynn PAC gallery for bigger pics of the pair here. One of the fish is believed to have died over the summer, but the other's very much alive as far as we know - and she might just push the next person who catches her's PB over the magical 30lbs mark this winter.

You'll have to find her first though. Ash is tight-lipped, saying only that the fish came from a drain on a lure.

One way to find out more about fishing the Fens is go along to the re-launched King's Lynn PAC's first meeting next Wednesday, October 26, at the WM Burt Club, at West Winch (7.30pm).

Guest speaker is Denis Moules - who's also got a knack for bagging big pike while others are struggling. Click here for an interview with Denis about that.

Could new super line spell the end for braid

Most predator anglers these days use braid. Its super strength and zero stretch have revolutionised both bait and lure fishing.

Now tackle giants Berkeley have unveiled what they claim is the next generation of super-line. Called Nanofil, it's being billed as a cross between braid and a hi-tech mono, spun from hundreds of micro filaments.

Total Coarse Fishing has more on the story here.

From one of our Twitter followers @canadiandayman: "That Nanofil is absolutely awesome! Super sensitive an I CANNOT break the 8lbs test without a knife..." Anyone else tried it..?

Frost, snow - pike fishing weather on the way

If you've been moaning about how how mild it's been, be careful what you wish for. For arctic temperatures are on the way this week, according to the papers.

The mercury fell to nearly -2C in Santon Downham, on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. last night. Parts of the Fens saw their first frost. Elsewhere, forecasters reckon Scotland and the North could even be in for some snow this week.More on that here.

Rain's on the way too, which will warm the hearts of river anglers. We posted some links to weather sites a few days back - click here if you missed it.

Whether the first proper cold snap gets 'em on the feed or more pike are caught because more people are out fishing for them's a moot point.

But one thing's certain - there's nothing like the first frosts to get pike anglers itching to get out there and at 'em.

Graffham does a thirty

Total Coarse Fishing is tonight reporting the capture of a 33lbs pike from Graffham. More here.

Rotherham and Sheffield PAC fish-ins

Rotherham and Sheffield PAC have announced a programme of fish-ins, from Hornsea Mere to the Tidal Trent, including stillwaters and a trip to the Broads. More on their blog here.

British Pike Squad beat the Irish

Team GB regained the International Pike Challenge trophy in a thrilling display over the weekend against Ireland on the Fens around Peterborough.

The British squad amassed a total on Saturday of 63 pike for 150 lbs 11oz, against that of Ireland's 53 pike for 97lbs 3oz. A lead of 53lbs 8oz to take into the second day of competition.

Sunday saw a spirited fight back from the Irish which at one stage threatened to overhaul the impressive Day 1 lead held by Great Britain. However, the British soon started to match the Irish and to maintain a catch rate throughout the remainder of the day.

At the end of the day, Great Britain had but for a few ounces matched the weight of that of Saturday, whilst Ireland had managed a very creditable 139lbs 6oz. Team GB taking the honours again with a lead on the day of just over 9 lbs.

Overall the British had a two-day total of 300lbs 13oz against that of Ireland's 238 lbs 9oz. A win for Great Britain by 62 lbs 4oz.

The Two teams were:

Great Britain: Jaub Potrykus (captain), Andrew Waller, Paul Danby, Mark Groom, Derek Lowe, Mark Lloyd, John Currie, Adam Holmes, Gary Edwards & Wayne Lees.

Ireland: Paul Dennis (captain), Jimmy Clarke, Eugene McCabe, Andrej Duran, Brendan Jarvis, Joe Coleman, Robbie McShane, Ibar Condron, Gary Quinn & Eddie McGurk.

The International saw the first ever non-nationals representing Britain and Ireland in Jakub Potrykus (Poland) as captain for Great Britain, and Andrej Duran (Slovakia) for the Irish.

Next year will see the 21st International meeting between the two nations held somewhere in Ireland at the beginning of October. Click here for a report on the recent team selection event.

New predator fishing "bookazine" launched

A new predator fishing "bookazine" is about to hit the shelves. It's being launched under publisher David Hall's Total Coarse Fishing brand, which also includes general coarse, match and carp fishing titles.

A few details were announced on Twitter earlier today.  A post on the firm's website said:

"Total Predator Fishing is crammed full of tips, information, ideas and features to improve your predator angling.

"Whether you’re a beginner looking to catch your first specimen perch, an experienced pike angler looking to get that extra edge, or a seasoned eel pro just after a great read, this is for you.

Bringing you the very best tactics and inspirational features from such top anglers as Mick Brown and Duncan Charman, Total Predator Fishing is available exclusively in WHSmith stores, as well as direct from Total Coarse Fishing through the magazine."

So what's the weather really going to do..?

BRRRR - a frosty dawn on Norfolk's River Bure

So what IS the weather going to do this season..? More to the point, are we facing the freeze-up that's hit the headlines over the last couple of weeks - hot on the heels of the drought and short-lived indian summer..?

There are stacks of weather sites where you can check conditions before you head out. Some give longer-term predictions, though these don't always prove to be on the button. Here's a couple of useful sites:

Metcheck.com - offers tailored forecasts by postcode, which are useful if you're watching a particular water or area to see how conditions pan out. More here. 

Metoffice.gov - the Met Office website. Lots of data and forecasts you can dip into by region or area, along with real-time(ish) maps. They also do an app you can download if you have an iPhone More here.

Accuweather.com - new kid on the block that offers forecasts by postcode and 15-day predictions, along with a mobile app that offers an hour-by-hour forecast. More here.

Found any others that are worth a look..? Let us know.

+++Heavy snowfalls and temperatures as low as -20 on the way. More here.

Police appeal over missing angler

Police in Scotland are appealing for information about an angler missing  for more than a week.

John Stewart (pictured) was last seen by his father leaving the family home in Auchnacraig Road, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, to go fishing with a friend early on Sunday, October 2. His father reported him missing after he did not come home after two days.

John is described as 38 years old, white, 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build with brown hair going grey.  He has tattoos on both arms; a unicorn and a cross on his left arm and an eagle on his right.  It is not known what he was wearing at the time he disappeared.

Sgt Alan Orr, from Clydebank police, said: "John, who lives with his elderly father in Clydebank, used to go fishing sometime ago, however, he has not expressed an interest in this for a good while.

“On Sunday he said that he was going out fishing with an old friend he had  met from Bearsden. He said the man was called Peter, however, we do not know who this person is – although it is thought he may be an old army buddy.

“The areas he would have gone fishing are Greenside Reservoir, Carneddans Wood, Queens Reservoir and the Endrick River, however, all of these areas have been searched by officers with no trace.

“It is not like John not to keep in contact with his dad or family or to be away for any length of time, hence the concern for him.

“I would ask that either himself contact police to let them know all is ok, or for ‘Peter’ or anyone with information that will help find him to speak to police."

Sgt Orr said anyone with information should call 0141 532 3300.

PAC regional meetings calender

What's happening down your way on the meetings front..? Over on the Pike Angler website, Andy Webster's done a complete list stretching right through the season. Click here for all the latest diary dates.

Mega thanks to Andy. If you skim down the right hand side of this blog, you'll find links to lots of regional blogs and other sites - also well worth a look.

If you've found us via an e-mail, feed or tweet; click here to see the whole blog.

Klever Klips for pike fishing

Every now and then, someone flags up some clever little bit of kit which costs pennies but makes pike fishing just that bit easier.

Check out Dave Lumb's latest blog post for more on these new clips, which enable to you add or remove a float from your rig without breaking everythig down.

We know, you can use a snap swivel to attach your float. But when you remove the float, the swivel stays on the line.  These look like a serious improvement. Hat tip Dave, click here to read the full post.

Dom Garrett hits Devon for talk

Dom Garrett's been hailed as one of our most promising new angling writers. He's the guest speaker at Devon PAC's meeting at the Mill on the Exe, Exeter, on Tuesday, October 25. More here.

Denis Moules interviewed by Lynn PAC

King's Lynn PAC have Denis Moules as their special guest, when they relaunch their region at the Burt Club, West Winch, on October 26.

There's a sneak preview of what Digger's going to tell the carrot crunchers on their website here.

World record pike - claimed to be 63lbs....!

Here's another brute shown on YouTube with scant detail, other than caught in Poland, at a claimed weight of 63lbs 14oz.

There's no denying it's one very, very big pike. What do you think weight-wise..?

52lbs pike from Italy on YouTube

Check out this Italian lump on YouTube. It's claimed at 24kg - more than 52lbs  - by Maurizio " Pikeman" Rossini, from a water in Tuscany.

TV turns spotlight on Lomond bivvy ban

Newly-introduced by-laws banning camping on the East Shore of Loch Lomond will drive pike anglers away and deprive the local economy of a much-needed winter boost.

That was the warning from Pike Anglers Club secretary Graham Slater (pictured), in a soon to be broadcast BBC documentary.


Anglers visiting the loch have camped peacefully beside the water for generations. Now those sleeping in "bivuoacs", "wigwams", tents or "any kind of shelter" face a £500 fine - along with those sleeping loch-side in vehicles.

Graham joined a film crew covering the ban beside the loch, to put pike angling's view across.

"I told them we don't condone rubbish in any way and that the camping ban is affecting our members," he said. "We feel that they could have tried other measures first with a total ban as a last measure, our members no longer bank fishing are depriving the local economy of much needed tourist cash, while the signs all over are putting off visitors."


National Park officials claimed litter and anti-social behaviour from gangs of rough campers were turning the Bonny Bonny Banks into an eyesore.

But the PAC joined the Scottish Ramblers and other outdoor enthusiasts in opposing the proposals when they were first announced last March.

There have been calls to extend the ban to other lochs, including Tay and Tummel. More on the background here. Details of new by-laws here.