It's this weekend, folks...

Trade stands include Fox International, Vale Royal Angling, the Tackle Shop (Gainsborough), Zoota Lures, Franglais Fishing, Dave Garner (lures), Dave Lumb Specialist Tackle, Baitbox, Pikepro, Eddie Turner, Coch-y-Bonddhu (books), Derrick Amies (book), Karen Sarkar (art), Zandervan, Chico's Lures, the Pike Shop, Dave Smith Ultralures, Esox on Ice, Bob Buteaux, Fenland Pike (book), Graham Booth (book), Mick Brown (book), David Miller Art and Catfish Pro.

Full programme for PAC Convention

Over on the Pikelines Blog, they've just published the full programme for the PAC Convention, which is being held at Kettering Conference Centre (left) on Saturday week (October 1..).

It promises to be a good one this year, with some great speakers and around 30 trade stalls - not to mention the junior teach-ins going on through the day. Click here for more. It's not a million miles from King's Lynn either - 65 more like.

Slow start to season in the Fens

Anyone else been out and about yet..? The rivers are clear and sluggish - when they're flowing at all, that is.

Fairly obvious why that is (see clue, left...). And it's going to take weeks of rain to put that right. Fishing's been sluggish too - odd jacks and low doubles out here and there.

One forecast reckons we're in for another cold winter, with snow on the way next month. There's even going to be an ice fishing guide - as in build igloo, drill holes and fish through 'em - at the PAC Convention next week.

Lots of other stalls make the event worth a look - as in Fox International, Vale Royal Angling, the Tackle Shop (Gainsborough), Zoota Lures, Franglais Fishing, Dave Garner (lures), Dave Lumb Specialist Tackle, Baitbox, Pikepro, Eddie Turner, Coch-y-Bonddhu (books), Derrick Amies (book), Karen Sarkar (art), Zandervan, Chico's Lures, the Pike Shop, Dave Smith Ultralures, Esox on Ice, Bob Buteaux, Fenland Pike (book), Graham Booth (book), Mick Brown (book), David Miller Art and Catfish Pro.

It's at Kettering Conference Centre on Saturday, October 1 - for more details click here.

As autumn hits the Fens, what will the winter bring..?

Autumn's here - as you'll already know if you've been out in the Fens today.

Some reckon it's the best time for pike fishing, as they feed up ready for the winter ahead. Others reckon you need a few good frosts to kill the weed, before it's worth venturing onto the rivers and drains.

We had frosts a-plenty last winter. Not to mention snow and a good old freexe-up that seemed to go on for weeks.

It's a bit early to start predicting what the weather's going to do - let alone the pike. While many struggled last winter, there were enough good fish coming out to keep those tuned into the grapevine keen.

Where things will differ this winter is we're having meetings again for the first time in several seasons. That means get-togethers with some top-name speakers, plus the chance to meet other pike anglers and pick their brains.

Denis Moules will be on the oche for our first one, at the Wm Burt Club at West Wiuch on Wednesday, October 26 (7.30pm). We've got Neville Fickling lined up for the November 30 (same venue), plus more speakers in the pipeline.

Don't miss out. Subscribe to our blog to get an e-mail every time it's updated. Or follow @kingslynnpac on Twitter.

Two top pike anglers head for King's Lynn

Denis Moules will be guest speaker at our first meeting for several seasons, at the Burt Club in West Winch on Wednesday, October 26.

Name a water in the Fens and the chances are he's fished it - and probably added to his lengthy tally of 20lbs plus pike while he was at it.

Denis is someone who has inspired many of the current crop of Fenland pike anglers with his unassuming approach.

He recently co-authored the acclaimed Fenland Pike with Mark Barrett - probably the definitive book on pike fishing the rivers and drains which lie between King's Lynn and Cambridge.

Denis is a bait angler who likes to keep on the move, favouring the leap-frogging style of mobile fishing. We'll catch up with him for a few more details at the Convention, but it's definitely one for the diary whether you're a seasoned hand or new to pike fishing.

Denis will be joining us at the William Burt Club, at West Winch, on Wednesday, October 26 (7.30pm).

We'll also be there to tell you about a few more talks and activities planned for the forthcoming winter.

Neville Fickling will be our speaker on Wednesday, November 30.

King's Lynn born and bred, Neville began his fishing career in short trousers on the banks of the Relief Channel, and went on to become one of the most successful pike anglers  of all time, catching a record fish from the Thurne along the way.

He's as prolific when it comes to writing about pike as he is at catching them, with countless books and articles to his name. Nowadays he runs a tackle shop and bait business, as well as editing Pike & Predators magazine - but still finds time to fish all over the British Isles.

This promises to be another superb evening's entertainment. 

We're lining up more speakers for later in the year and beyond. Until then, there are several ways you can keep in touch. Bookmark this blog and check back from time to time, subscribe by e-mail or follow @kingslynnpac on Twitter.

Free junior teach-ins at Pike Anglers Club Convention, at Kettering

Pike anglers will be spearheading the fight to get more youngsters on the bank, as Britain's top predator club throws open the doors of its annual convention to juniors - and it's only an hour or so up the road from King's Lynn.

Some of the sport's best-known figures will be running special teach-ins throughout the day at the Pike Anglers Club bash at Kettering Conference Centre on Saturday, October 1.

Mick Brown, Gord Burton, Denis Moules, David Wolsoncroft-Dodds, Alan Dudhill and Ashley Brown will be helping Eric Edwards run a series of hands-on workshops at the event.

With free admission to the Convention for accompanied juniors - and a free "goody bag" of tackle essentials for those joining on the day, the PAC hopes the programme will help encourage some of the pikers of the future.

"Several PAC regions now have qualified angling coaches within their ranks and many of them have offered their services to make it a great day for our younger pikers," said Eric.

"Mick Brown will be presenting the opening address at the junior event and we also have presentations by Gord Burton, Denis Moules and David Wolsoncroft-Doods."

Eric told Pikelines the emphasis would be "hands-on", with juniors getting the chance to build their own lure, make traces, learn about pike and try their hand at fly casting.

"The team of qualified coaches will be on hand to ensure no-one gets left out and give everyone one-to-one expert tuition," he went on.

"What's more, thanks to Alan Dudhill and Pikemaster Traces everyone who joins the PAC at the new greatly-reduced price of £7.50 will receive a "goody bag" containing lots of items that can get them started at fishing for pike."

Eric said he was determined to improve on the club's flagging junior membership and get more young people involved in our sport. It's an issue affecting the whole of angling - not just pike fishing.

"Over the past year, as I've come into contact with many young people at PAC-run coaching events, it's become clear that there is a great demand for proper pike fishing tuition," said Eric. "This is our opportunity to swing our club's resources into gear and deliver what the youngsters want.

"I want to make this appeal to regional organisers: Talk to your members and encourage them to bring along a kid to the PAC Convention 2011 - and help preserve the future of UK pike fishing."

Supporters Pikemaster and Pikepro will be donating a pair of forceps, float, lure trace, twin treble trace and other rig bits worth £20 for every junior who joins the PAC on the day.

The Convention is being held at Kettering Conference Centre on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Attractions include guest speakers Dave Horton, Micky Jones and Stephen Harper, along with stalls selling all this season's latest tackle.

Doors open 9am. Admission is £10 adult members, £15 non-members. For more information see the PAC website http://www.pacgb.com/, or follow @pikelines on Twitter.