Mr Nice

Ditto & 9/10 the float signals a take long before any thing else, often pick the rod up before the indicator has even sounded.

Peter, i'd be happy if Nigel Worthlessteam went down the road, what does that tell you? Don't become a bad manager overnight.

Slodger, most of you locals make us feel far more welcome than the average 'migrant'. Peter, the extra effort involved, just getting there makes us appreciate it more than most. Oh & i'll never be a budgie We sold half our squad, whats your excuse?

Waters fitting that description in this area were thrashed 15 years ago. Sure some recover but are NEVER as good as first time round. That's why we head to the broads or fens whenever possible.

Hello Slodger & all, An interesting one! I can’t see a fifty pounder in the immediate future or indeed a record, BUT if some of the Trout waters were rested for a few years who knows. Likewise if netting stopped in the west of Ireland. I don’t see either happening though. Commercial fisheries definitely have potential but in most cases, the owners don’t want Pike in them, an attitude similar to trout waters in the 80’s. The problem in the UK is there are too many Pike anglers, we are our own worst enemies. In the late 80’s early 90’s Carp fishing under went an industry led revolution. Tackle and bait that once had to be sought out or made at home, became readily available at any tackle shop. The instant carp angler was born. Now we have the same situation with Pike fishing, thanks to fox & the like, the instant Pike angler who in the short term, (often through no fault of their own) can be a danger to any Pike they happen to catch. In the long term its another Piker chasing an ever decreasing resource – the Pike. Is Pike fishing a victim of its own success? We look at Nevilles’ big Pike list & see anglers have caught in excess of 200 twenty pounds Pike, in some cases. Would it possible for an angler who begins Pike fishing in 2005 to catch this many big Pike? I doubt it. I think in general, UK Pike fishing is in decline at the moment but I’m optimistic. If anglers aren’t catching they’ll jack it in, especially cold, winter fishing. Hopefully (& yes this probably is a selfish statement), a decline in the numbers of Pike anglers will bring an improvement in the fishing eventually. Whatever happens I’ve been fishing for them for 25 years & intend to continue for the next 25 & beyond.

I pal of mine, old school countryman & regular killing machine (a real life grim reaper to anything with fur or feathers) reckons they’re easy to shoot “like a flying barn door” to use his words. But you have to be up early, because they will be.

Quite right too Slodger! PS 'ello Poach

Mmmm best keep them away from the Fens then.

All those posts and no gratuitous Beaver gags! what is the world coming too. (Nice Beaver!....Thanks i had it stuffed this morning) Wouldn't a Beaver dam make first class cover for fish and a perfect Pike swim?

Phil, two questions. What are you aiming to catch? & what type/size of lure are you planning to use? That should narrow it down a bit Agree with the others ABU 5501, can't go far wrong.

The only thing i would like to see banned is bans Some baits are banned because the fishery sells their own. FACT Some bans are in place to discourage certain types of angler. There are NO proven cases of live or dead baitfish spreading disease in the UK

Well i agree with every word regarding the team beside the Gipping Sin, is an interesting choice of word. It is, after all virtually a sin to be a Pike angler in the Gipping Valley. Ain't it nice now everybody's making up. Another group hug!

Hello Charlie, we've exchanged views/laughs on P&P + exchanged waves on the river but as far as i can remember we've never actually met. Don't always agree with you but its fun having you around hey Peter? Q On the broads, how do you know if another angler is NOT a local? A They Wave back!

Like the sound of your nurse Bill, do they come on the NHS? I nicked the quote from one of Fred Bullers books, perfect!

Welcome Dave & Bill. Group hug!

Bob, i'm hopeless at links & stuff but if you look on http://www.pacgb.co.uk/news.html hopefully you should find it. Its dated August 25th 2005 Scottish freshwater fisheries review. Appreciate your interest & your sentiments. It would be unforgivable if anglings biggest enemy turned out to be apathy from within.

Danny, try using a sliding float rig, very versatile. You can use it to trot a bait through a swim or slide the stopknot up so its over depth, add some lead & you're fishing a float leger. Keep active, if you haven't caught after an hour then move to another spot. An over-generalisation maybe but a good pike swim looks like a good chub swim!

Peter, i've noticed you like a debate so i obliged, after all you were 'fishing' with your first couple of posts. Anyway we'll have to agree to disagree as i'm sure their are many things we have in common, a love of Pike for one. BTW Dave is mr nice, but not this one!

quote: Originally posted by Steve Walker: [Well, without wishing to take a side on whether or not livebaiting is acceptable, if there is a difference it's probably the same reason that it's considered unacceptable to use puppies or gerbils. Steve, a good point well made as they say. However, where you say “a fish is like a maggot" when plainly it is not.” How is it different? Anyway much better than the reply received from a Suffolk club committee, which consisted of knowing winks & chuckling into their palms before they banned it anyway. I digress…. What Steve has described is the “fluffy cuddly” factor. On the one hand we have ‘Puppies & gerbils’ (warm blooded, cute & loveable) which obviously no right minded person would wish to harm. At the other end of the scale are maggots & worms (cold blooded, slimy & ‘orrible) no problem using them as bait. The ‘grey area’ is fish. If anglers concede livebaiting, we elevate fish to the ‘cuddly fluffy’ status. How can we then defend angling? How can we say its wrong to hook a fish & cast it out yet it is OK to hook a fish & wind it in? If livebaiting is cruel, then fishing is cruel, its that simple. We as anglers can debate this till the cows come home but we will NEVER get the ‘antis’ to understand and it weakens our argument. As Bob amongst others has said, its time for anglers to stick together. I have never fished a match & rarely use a keepnet but I will defend your right to do so. While we’re on the subject I’d urge people to write to Mr David Dunkley Scottish Executive Freshwater fisheries forum Environmental & Rural affairs dept. Pentland House 47 Robbs Loan Edinburgh EH14 1TY Help fight the proposed ban in Scotland & blunt the thinnest end of a big wedge. PS I take it this is the same John Bailey that once famously caught a mammoth pike on a livebait?

Well guys, I have no beef with either of you. You both know where to find Dave if you wish to share the opinions, which of course you're fully entitled to hold.

Excellent post Bob, am i right in thinking you're a match angler? Wish every angler had a similar attitude to other branches of the sport. I was going to make the same point. How can it be unacceptable to use live fish as bait, yet its OK to use maggots or worms? I've asked this question many times, in many places but no one has answered it yet.

Is posting this on here, when you know full well he uses another forum the action of a ‘pleasant man’? Peter you’ve been itching to get that off your chest haven’t you? As I remember it, the tone of your contribution into what was already a lively debate caused it to spiral rapidly downwards, you reap what you sow. You seem to have formed strong opinions of many well known pike anglers Peter, but where Dave is concerned I think you’re very wrong.

Spot on! Will detect a bite/take before any electronic gadget 99/100!

quote: Originally posted by Elton: If you want to have a go at me, Anglers Mail, Angling Times or any of the monthlies, it's best to email or write to us. Tried this Elton, Anglers Mail just ignores any criticism & i notice they've gone quiet again. I dislike the content, the quality & certain policies but if me voicing this causes you hassle, then i apologise to you. I still have some old souvenir copies of AM recording events such as Chris Yates carp for example. The quality of the writing of 25 years ago is in a different league to what they serve up nowadays. Belated thanks to Jim Gibbinson for teaching me so much.