We will be running an 'Introduction to Pike Fishing' day in conjunction with Northwich Anglers Association on the River Weaver in Northwich on Saturday 2nd October.
This event is to cater for members of Northwich Anglers Association only (not the general public) but their Management Committee has agreed to allow PAC members to fish as well.
I hope that as many Cheshire Region members as possible will come and fish as I anticipate a good turn-out; particularly from Northwwich AA's junior members.
We have been granted permission to roam over a fairly long stretch of the river and I have selected this area because it fished particularly well for pike at this time last year (I caught a lot of fish up to about 10 lbs. on lures but I'm sure that live or deadbaits would probably turn up some bigger fish).
If you would like to help by demonstrating any particular methods, or by taking a beginner under your wing, then please get in touch. I will be advertising the event in local tackle shops and via Northwich AA's website and there is a real opportunity here to boost PAC membership in the mid-Cheshire area.
The day's fishing will be preceded by an indoor coaching session at Northwich AA's headquarters, 62 Station Road, Northwich, at 7.30 pm on Thursday 30th September. This is to enable anglers to learn to do fiddly jobs like making traces, tying rigs etc. in an environment more conducive to such activities than on the riverbank.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Search for new meeting venue
Yesterday I learned that the R.A.O.B. Club in Northwich, where we held our meetings last season, is closing down at the end of August. Off hand I don't know of another suitable venue so I will need to do some research to try and find us a new home. Unfortunately this has thrown my provisional list of meeting dates and speakers for 2010/11 into disarray. Please watch this space as I plan to resolve this problem as quickly as I can.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wyreside Lakes fish-in (24/01/10)
Originally we had planned to hold a friendly fish-in against our neighbours from PAC's South Lancs. Region at Tatton Park two days after Christmas. However,the ice and snow put paid to the plan and so we re-scheduled the event to take place at Wyreside Lakes a month later.
Unfortunately the Cheshire Region fielded only 3 anglers; Roy Garton and Andy and Carol Bates. I had planned to spend the day lure fishing but decided not to bother because the fishery wanted to charge me £14 for two rods when only had one in my possession. Not only did the magnificent 3 fail to catch, I spent the day feeling very cold and fed up indeed.
The South Lancs. Region fared better with 8 anglers turning up to fish and several pike caught (biggest a 16 pounder). The R.A.9/R.A.31 Challenge Cup was therefore won by the South Lancs. Region. Next year we will have to do better !
On my arrival home I wrote to the fishery manager and complained that it was unfair to charge pike anglers for a minimum of two rods as this discriminates against lure anglers (similarly the same tariff for carp anglers discriminates against anyone wishing to stalk fish with 1 rod). I received a nice reply informing me that the fishery has now restored the opportunity for pike and carp anglers to buy a single rod ticket for £7. I'm pleased some good has come of my letter.
Unfortunately the Cheshire Region fielded only 3 anglers; Roy Garton and Andy and Carol Bates. I had planned to spend the day lure fishing but decided not to bother because the fishery wanted to charge me £14 for two rods when only had one in my possession. Not only did the magnificent 3 fail to catch, I spent the day feeling very cold and fed up indeed.
The South Lancs. Region fared better with 8 anglers turning up to fish and several pike caught (biggest a 16 pounder). The R.A.9/R.A.31 Challenge Cup was therefore won by the South Lancs. Region. Next year we will have to do better !
On my arrival home I wrote to the fishery manager and complained that it was unfair to charge pike anglers for a minimum of two rods as this discriminates against lure anglers (similarly the same tariff for carp anglers discriminates against anyone wishing to stalk fish with 1 rod). I received a nice reply informing me that the fishery has now restored the opportunity for pike and carp anglers to buy a single rod ticket for £7. I'm pleased some good has come of my letter.
2010 Looking ahead
The big freeze put pike fishing on hold for everyone throughout early January but now we are free of ice once again we can begin to look forward to the year ahead.
Unfortunately our January meeting had to be cancelled because the roads were so trecherous but Gary Knowles has kindly offered to come and present his slide show in the autumn. Steve Ormrod has also provisionally agreed to come and talk to us later in the year.
PAC Secretary Graham Slater will be our guest speaker at the February meeting (Thursday 11th) with John Milford to follow in March (Thursday 11th). Our final slide show for this season is in April when we have a mystery guest speaker. I don't want to give away too much information about this as this involves a personal friend who rarely gives talks these days and doesn't want to be swamped with requests from elsewhere. All I will say is that that none of our remaining meetings should be missed.
I plan to organize some more fish-ins for members but, with only 3 turning up to the last one I have to ask myself if it's all worthwhile ? It's very disappointing to have around 80 PAC members living in the Cheshire area but less than a dozen turning up to meetings; with even fewer attending fish-ins. Perhaps members would like to give me some feedback and let me know why they aren't supporting their Regional Association ?
Unfortunately our January meeting had to be cancelled because the roads were so trecherous but Gary Knowles has kindly offered to come and present his slide show in the autumn. Steve Ormrod has also provisionally agreed to come and talk to us later in the year.
PAC Secretary Graham Slater will be our guest speaker at the February meeting (Thursday 11th) with John Milford to follow in March (Thursday 11th). Our final slide show for this season is in April when we have a mystery guest speaker. I don't want to give away too much information about this as this involves a personal friend who rarely gives talks these days and doesn't want to be swamped with requests from elsewhere. All I will say is that that none of our remaining meetings should be missed.
I plan to organize some more fish-ins for members but, with only 3 turning up to the last one I have to ask myself if it's all worthwhile ? It's very disappointing to have around 80 PAC members living in the Cheshire area but less than a dozen turning up to meetings; with even fewer attending fish-ins. Perhaps members would like to give me some feedback and let me know why they aren't supporting their Regional Association ?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Bridgewater Canal fish-in 15/11/09.
For several years now Geoff Gauton has arranged an annual 'Pike Fishing for Beginners' event in conjunction with Warrington Anglers Association. This provides an opportunity for those who are new to the sport to spend some time fishing with our members. We take the view that pike conservation is far better served by helping beginners ensure that they are using safe rigs and have the means to unhook and return pike safely, than it would be to leave them to their own devices.
This season's event on the Bridgewater Canal was a great success, with nine PAC members and eleven Warrington AA members taking part. There were two pike of 13 lbs. caught, along with three more fish around the 7 lb. mark; all taken on deadbaits. Yours truly weighed in with another three jacks, all taken on Salmo Slider jerkbaits.
The real success of the event is perhaps best measured by the extent to which it helped those who were new to pike angling. Warrington AA member Gary Poulter brought his sons Chris and Tim to the fish-in and, a week later, I was delighted to receive an e-mail from him reporting that Tim had now caught his first pike. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words and the smile on Tim's face really says it all. Very well done Tim.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Canal specimen for Peter
Canals can often be a daunting prospect, with mile after mile of murky water and relatively little in the way of features. However, the rewards are there if you are prepared to make the effort, as Peter Mancey shows with this well deserved specimen from a canal in the Cheshire area. Well done Peter.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fish-ins 2009 / 10 Season (update)
The season's first fish-in on the River Weaver produced 2 pike for Dan Crowe (caught on popped up dead roach) and 1 for Mark Leathwood who also caught a nice bonus perch (both fish on livebaits). None of the pike were monsters unfortunately. Andy Bates, Neil Shortland and Mark Johnson also fished but the conditions on the day were pretty bad with a strong south easterly wind howling downstream. The river never seems to fish well when this happens. Excuses, excuses ...
I can now confirm that the joint fish-in with R.A.31 will be at Tatton Park on Sunday 27th December 2009. There is a peg fee of £5.00 per angler and places are limited. Please contact me a.s.a.p. to reserve your peg.
According to Gary Knowles these events were "never much of a match" as the old St. Helens Region always used to kick our behinds. Come on Cheshire Region members, that sounds like a challenge ...
I can now confirm that the joint fish-in with R.A.31 will be at Tatton Park on Sunday 27th December 2009. There is a peg fee of £5.00 per angler and places are limited. Please contact me a.s.a.p. to reserve your peg.
According to Gary Knowles these events were "never much of a match" as the old St. Helens Region always used to kick our behinds. Come on Cheshire Region members, that sounds like a challenge ...
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