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Piking '97

Paul Garner

On the 20th September the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain held its 20th annual conference at the University of Manchester. Now, I'm the first to admit that pike fishing isn't my forte, I've tended to concentrate on zander and perch in the past, so these conferences are an ideal way to keep up with all the latest tactics and gossip in the predator world. Attendance was well up on previous years and UMIST was buzzing, as some of the top anglers in the game were there to impart some words of wisdom. This was the first conference organised by the Scottish region of the PAC, and although there were a few worried faces beforehand, everything ran smoothly. Well done lads and lasses, you did us proud.

The list of speakers present this year really represented the best of the best, from former pike and zander record holder, Neville Fickling, lure devotee Derek MacDonald, to the less well known, but equally talented Eric Edwards. The PAC really out did itself with the quality of speakers this year. The opening address was given by the legendary Vic Bellars, captor of umpteen big pike, and former president of the club. He reflected on his lifelong love of the out door way of life, embodied in clubs like the PAC. The great thing with these occasions is that you can meet your angling hero's, buy them a drink at the bar and pick their brains for tips. The atmosphere is really friendly and everyone open to discussion. Neville's talk was particularly entertaining, dealing with when and where to catch the biggest pike, and also it seemed, piking fashions from the 70's to the 90's! For every well known angler, there are dozens, equally as talented who are content to stay in the background. Eric Edwards is one such person. I'm sure that everyone learnt something from Eric's talk, which ranged from the rivers of Yorkshire to the Western Lochs.

Of all the specimen groups, the PAC does the most to protect its sport. I suppose this is inevitable, considering the long history of persecution of pike, but even so, the PAC do sterling work in a number of areas. From the excellent regional meetings, where newcomers to the sport can learn the rights and wrongs of pike fishing, to the encouragement of junior anglers, to the instigation of studies into the biology of the pike, such as the Loch Lomond tagging program. The PAC always seem to be looking forward, rather than lying back on their laurels.

Entrance to the conference was free for juniors this year, and there was a workshop organised especially for them, dealing with both basic aspects of pike fishing, such as what tackle is required, how to unhook a pike, through to new and exciting ways to catch pike. Ad Swier, pike angler of the year, gave a demonstration of how to catch pike on fly tackle and even gave an impromptu demonstration of fly casting in the grounds of the building. A workshop, such as this, is a brilliant way of introducing young anglers, many of whom do not have relatives who fish, to the right way to care for these delicate creatures. Long may it continue.

Unfortunately, much of the conversation at the conference this year was concerned with the shameful way the Western Regional Fisheries Board of Ireland has persecuted the pike populations of the Western Lochs. Unfortunately, after agreeing a compromise whereby all large pike were to be returned to the Loch, ensuring a balance between the pike and trout populations, there is now strong evidence to suggest that the WRFB has gone back on its word, ruining one of the best pike fisheries in the World. Speaking to Howard Yendle, who has co-ordinated much of the British objections to the cull, it seems that the tide may finally be turning. The horrific pictures of large pike being killed in the gill nets, unearthed by the PAC has had a tremendous effect, and funding for the cull from the European Union (our own money) is likely to be withdrawn. It may take some time for the damage to be redressed, but eventually the Western Lochs will return to the fore, of that I'm convinced.

Just as one chapter in pike fishing history seems to be coming to a close, others are opening up both here and abroad. The gossip was that the PAC has negotiated pike fishing on several new and untapped waters. Also, the pristine pike stocks of the Baltic countries and Canada are now firmly on the agenda, with PAC members making regular visits.

For those with a wad of notes burning a hole in their pockets, there was a huge selection of pike fishing equipment on sale. The trade always support the pike conference, as at no other time of the year are so many serious piker's in one place at the same time. Certainly, there were plenty of punters willing to shell out on the bargains. The range of lures now available is truly amazing, reflecting the huge growth in this area of the sport in recent years. Fortunately, I left my cheque book at home, otherwise I may of come home with a serious dent in my bank balance! My only disappointment of the day was not winning a prize in the raffle, after I had been promised a winning ticket! Never mind, I guess you can't win them all. Plans are already underway for next year, for anyone who hasn't been to a conference such as this before, make the effort, you won't be disappointed.