snotty

Mmmm... touchy subject this one. I took up pike fishing last year, am enjoying it immensely, before I cast my first lure I read everything I could about pike welfare, watched the videos bought some books, and I made sure I have all the right gear (budget doesn't stretch to shimanos and fancy rods though I hasten to add I do not use a beachcaster) I am not sure if the right way to progress is to slag off prospective pikers implying that unless you are an expert you are a danger to pike. I pride myself on treating all my catches with equal care and consideration. Perhaps the image of pike as a 'hard' fish do it an injustice and much education is needed to emphasise its frailty.

From the colour and its brazen demeanour I would agree with the mink theory, I have seen one myself last year on the banks of the R.Douglas north of Wigan, and I was advised at the time to report the incident to the EA, which I did, but they weren't particularly responsive. On that occasion after staring me out, it proceeded upstream, returning later carrying a fish of about 2 pounds, which was particularly galling as I blanked that day.

Praise where its due, goes to Brundall Angling Centre of Norwich for their excellent after sales service, and quick no-quibble replacement of a faulty reel which I bought for my son from their stall at the 'Go fishing' show NEC this year.

Jeepster's quite correct, use it or lose it! Personally I would have preferred to keep it at the local tackle shop, but my annual licence from the local post office is o.k. with me.

The 15-20 minute limit does it for me too, glad to see that most posters do it 'my way' too. I usually start with a spinnerbait on unfamiliar water working through tobys and spinners up to rapala shad raps. Not had much success to date with softbaits but then I am fairly new to it.

Thanks for that link Leon, it is now in my favourites and I will be comparing with interest against met-office.gov.uk and metcheck.com forecasts.

Frodo my thoughts are with you at your time of loss. I still have my fathers company on occasional trips and I savour each one knowing they are finite, today he was'nt well enough to join me.

Has anyone caught any fish today? I spent the day with my son on a local river, probably the last session of the season, it was dire... not a bite, nothing, level was fine, flow was normal, a bit of colour but this river always is, sunny spells, overcast spells, not too cold I thought at least the chub would be having a go. Still it was a very pleasant four hours trotting with the speedia, I even resorted to the tip eventually. I hope someone somewhere can report a netfull to brighten my evening.

Nothing from the MP so far, quite disappointed they usually respond promptly.... perhaps he is overwhelmed by the response. Had a reply from the ACA though, I nee to write giving more details as they dont appear to know about the case.

Had a reply to my e-mail from the ACA re Mr.Collins, they do not know the background in sufficient detail to comment on any possible prosecution, when I get some time I will write to their legal eagle with the full story. I cannot see what difference there is between Mr.Collins and any other illegal action resulting in hazard to wildlife and fish kill.

Next time leave the spare batteries at home laddy and you should bag up.

Thanks for the feedback, one of the reasons for trying out was my suspicions of slipping which you confirm cranfield, and I cannot find a single picture on the web of anyone actually wearing the glasses on their nose, all the pics show them perched on the forehead whilst engaged in tying a fly or similar. I guess the pics 'on the nose' would need to be X-rated to avoid scaring little children. I have seen leons optilabs article steve, and I think it will be that route for me now, Cheers.

Was it a digital model ? maybe you didn't charge the batteries correctly nathan.

Being a spectacle wearer I have the usual problem of polaroid clip-ons, they either don't fit very well or last for about two months. I recently saw some polaroid overglasses called 'cocoons' which fit over your own frames, however enquiries on the net have not thrown up any stockists in the Northwest (or any other area for that matter). I know they are marketed by 'fulling mill' from the U.S. manufacturers but this is mail order only and I really want to try before I buy, so mail order is not an option. Fulling mill have said there are no stockists in my area at the moment, has anyone any experience good or bad of 'cocoons' or know where I can get my hands on a pair (literally).

This is one of the main reasons I dislike the 'domestic' cat. I actually enjoy providing a habitat for wild birds in my garden and have tried various means to stop neighbours cats without much success. The way things are in this country its not accepted to dislike cuddly furry pets even though they can and do much damage, birds don't matter much (unless they are big and black and eat fish...) but moggies must be tolerated. I get pretty miffed too when the pussballs dig up my newly planted seedbeds to relieve themselves. At least dogs generally do it in their owners backyard, ...and the pavement, and the bowling green, and the corner of my front garden under a shrub as they pass by...

Does anyone know how the antis are reacting to this unfortunate state of affairs? I bet they are rubbing their hands with glee to see the EA openly unsupportive of their own rules, and the ensuing bad press which is likely.

I think PeterW and Jon Hedges have it about right, species like barbel have no place in stillwaters but where they are thriving in rivers leave well enough alone, to alter the balance now could really upset things. Ditto the zander, but I think the EA were correct to take action to protect the vendace in the Lake District (maybe there were other ways to do it.. I don't want to re-open that old thread) As for carp, leave the overgrown bloated eurocarp over the channel.

Well judging by the responses so far, mine included, the EA now have a very busy Mike Atkinson. I hope that he reaches the right decision and that we can all get back to working together, (we were trying to work together were'nt we?) Incidentally I also emailed the Martin Salter, no reply as yet, it will be interesting to see what he has to say, and also the ACA, who make rather a succesful habit of prosecuting people who transgress, and IMHO Mr.Collins was a one-man walking fish-kill incident, no better than a farmer who tips slurry in a watercourse, or shady lorry driver carrying dodgy chemicals.

There are still problems Johnny Boy, new circuits are designed with constant radius corners, once you've seen one or two... now old Woodcote! that was some corner, ditto old Knickerbrook, Paddock Hill and Dingle dell, and thats just in the UK. Unless the cars have more bhp than tyres can handle and drivers are allowed to RACE each other I'm afraid its not my cup of tea any longer. If you want to watch racing machines on the limit, go see the bikers in action, you may even get to see the competing riders face to face, (I realise this is a concept alien to most F1 fans) Jeepster I too can recall trudging deep into the welsh forests for fleeting glimpses of lancia stratos' and escort mk2's Aaah! I feel nostalgia creeping on...

Quote from fenboy;' Twice I've had biggish pike slide out from under my feet and take a plug just as I was lifting it out of the water.' Last year I was lure fishing on a large open water in a shallow bay just a few feet deep, the water was unusually clear and as I retrieved I could clearly see a pack(?) of four good sized perch tailing the lure, I was so surprised I nearly fell off the rock I was sitting on! I guess they saw me, they veered off as one.

I will probably watch the first couple of races until I remember how BORING! they were, then I'll fall asleep as usual and wake up as the commentators voice rises towards the end. God forbid it might actually be proper racing... i.e. overtaking, outbraking, wheel to wheel stuff Somebody please do away with the need for refuelling stops, 1/2/3 stop strategies and on-board telemetry (car behavioral analysis used to be the job of a drivers a*se)

Fenboy, actually I haven't stopped lure fishing right through the year, it was just that I first cast a deadbait in October. I enjoy both types of piking. That's the whole point really, who are we to say don't lure fish through the summer, its great fun! all we should be doing is educating others so that the fish are not harmed. That teaching process should be showcased by the high profile and respected anglers, there is no room for 'circus tricks for the camera'. That said, I recently had my first 'tailwalker'. It took the rapala so gently that I thought I was snagged up, it came up slowly and when it saw me awoke and charged off, the 'walk' when it happened took me by surprise and it was only after I had landed it and released again that I felt a surge of adrenalin. Esox lucius... that evocative name says it all for me. Happy piking to you all, winter and summer.

I took up pike fishing last year, and I just love it, fished with lures through the spring and summer, sometimes succesfully, sometimes not, first deadbaiting session was in October. Before I ever threw a lure I read all I could about the fish and their weaknesses, watched videos, genned up with Pike 'n Predator, and asked as many questions as I needed to and kitted up properly for the task ahead. I have never deep hooked a pike yet, nor had one die on me after release (to my knowledge), I treat them with utter respect and follow the best practise in handling and return that I can. Quote PeterW; 'Responsible pikers are not the problem.' I agree with that one Peter. However, it saddens me to see respected anglers targetting big pike and mis handling fish of any size.

Perhaps the increased prescence of working parties at the waterside encouraged the 'black death' to move to pastures new. One of my favourite canal stretches has been plagued recently by them and consequently the piking has suffered from a lack of prey fish. £21k sounds like a lot of money to be spent on one water!

Leon, a very fine piece of writing, many thanks. I am just beginning to take greater notice of weather patterns and most of my family and friends are pretty bored by my ramblings, I find it fascinating and your article spurs me on to discover more. They may scoff but I will have the last laugh as my catch rate improves. (hopefully!)