Denis does us proud, as more than 50 turn out

Huge thanks to Denis Moules, who did us proud last night with a cracking presentation on Fenland pike fishing.

Digger covered everything from the early days to some big fish which he and friends have caught in recent seasons from the drains and rivers.

He also had us in stitches with his thoughts on baits. "The lads I fish with have a name for 'em - horse's cocks," he explained. Then there was the guy they call the Japanese sniper and his encounter with an amorous collie in a farmyard, prior to a strange tasting brew. Priceless.


More than 50 turned out for the re-vamped region's first meeting at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch.  They ranged from several local stalwarts to friends from as far afield as Norwich and Cambridge, plus a sprinkling of newcomers and people thinking of making a return to the local pike fishing scene.

Next meeting is at the Wm Burt Club on Wednesday, November 30, when Neville Fickling will be our special guest for another not to be missed evening's entertainment.

Thanks to everyone who came along last night. See you next month.

Chris & Ash. 

Denis Moules talk at King's Lynn PAC

We've got our first meeting for several seasons at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch, on Wednesday night (7.30pm). Our special guest is the doyen of Fen pike anglers Denis Moules, who'll be giving a talk on fishing the rivers and drains which have brought him a string of 20lbs-plus pike over the years.

Denis has a very mobile approach to his fishing, which clearly works when you look at his catches. There's a bit more about him here. 

Take it from us, it's going to be a cracking night which will set you back just £1 if you're a PAC member, and £2 if you're not. It's the first meeting of a winter programme which includes Neville Fickling and Derrick Amies - two anglers who have both held the record during their pike fishing careers.


You can find out more about forthcoming meetings and other activities on Wednesday night. There's also some grown-up stuff we want to talk to pike anglers about too - like what would you like to see from the PAC locally.

Then there's the state of one of our local drains that's suffering badly after the summer drought - and setting up a River Watch in partnership with one or two other bodies, to step up the campaign against people using gill nets and other wholesale means of fish removal. See you there.

Gallery updated with two 28lbs pike

RO Ashley Brown had two 28lbs pike last season - plus a repeat capture of one of the fish at 27lbs.

We've added them to our gallery - click here to see them and one or two other nice catches.

Derrick Amies talk confirmed

He fished with Norfolk legend Dennis Pye and went on to catch a record pike. Derrick Amies is coming up to give us a talk on Monday, December 19 - and we have a feeling it's going to be a belting evening.

Why..? Because Derrick has some ideas about pike fishing which fly in the face of accepted wisdom. And he's caught some seriously big fish using his dumbell floats to steer his baits in their direction.

Here's an interview he did with Pikelines a few years back, to give you a flavour of the man and his unique methods.Click here to read it.

Derrick will be at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch on Monday, December 19 (7.30pm).

NEW King's Lynn PAC Gallery

We've just set up a gallery. Just click here to have a look and to see how to upload your own pictures.

They don't have to be monsters or come with details of where you caught 'em if you'd rather not.

Denis Moules - a piker's pike angler

A piker's pike angler - Denis Moules with a recent capture

Denis Moules is our special guest as we re-launch the region at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch, on October 26. Here's a taste of what you can expect when Digger hits the oche.

"My late father took me fishing from the age of five," he said. "We fished on most of the Fenland drains around Walton Highway where I was born. Dad’s favourite places were the Middle Level, Relief Channel
and Morton’s Leam. When I was old enough dad took me pike fishing at Morton’s Leam.

"We would spin with Colorado spoons using a large centre pin reel and tank aerial rod. We caught nothing but a seed was sown. As I grew up I was allowed to cycle to the Middle Level and my younger brother
Roger tagged along. We caught lots of pike but thankfully none were big as mother used them for
the table.

"I went to boarding school at Holt Hall in 1963 and whilst there read regularly of Dennis Pye’s
Broadland captures and this made a big impact on me. There was a copy of Dennis’s book “The Way
I Fish” in the Library and I read it to death.

"As I grew up I played football and cricket for my village and other clubs and pike fishing dropped
down my list a bit. I eventually joined the Police Force and moved to Cambridge in 1968. I continued
to pike fish when possible and when a severe knee injury curtailed my football I began to pike fish
big time.

"The Fens were on fire and I visited places where my father had taken me years before. My first 20
came from the Relief Channel just south of Downham Bridge and a few days later I caught one of 24
lbs. from the Old West. The Fenland drains are up and down but one of the most important things I
have learned is that the good swims will return to life eventually

"I basically taught myself to pike fish but learned a lot from Ray Webb and Barrie Rickard’s
book “Fishing for Big Pike”. I got to know Barrie and he informed me he with others was forming the
PAC. I have been a member from day one eventually becoming Regional Organiser for Cambridge
and then Liaison Officer for East Anglia.

"I usually fished with my own pals but got to know all the stars of the 1970’s. Bob Church and John
Mc Angus became good friends and on occasions I fished with them. Bill Chillingworth was always
one step ahead of most but had his own select band of friends.

"Over the years I have fished most of Fenlands waters. I now have 104 pike over 20 lbs. topped by
one of 31 lbs. 8 Oz’s. At present I am catching some very good pike from one or two drains. The Fens
are never producing big pike from every drain, so it pays to have good knowledge of several.

"I am often asked if the pike fishing is as good as it was in the 1970s. This is a hard one to answer but
the answer is yes, but you have to work hard and have a lot of good information or long experience
to reach the heights of the 1970s

"I have written two books – “The Fenland Thirties – A History of Fenland Pike” and “Fenland Pike”
with Mark Barrett. Both have been outstanding successes and very popular in piking circles

"I am a great believer in putting something back into the sport and represent the PAC on the Lower
Great Ouse and Fenland Fisheries Consultative. Here we make representations to the EA about the
Fenland Drains and highlight what we think is wrong.

"Recently a new by - pass pump has been constructed at Welmore Sluice on the Delph to rapidly
remove flood water from the Ouse washes. This should prevent future pollutions on this drain. Also,
the John Rennie sluice at Denver has been de - silted which should help the Relief Channel return to
its former glory. These projects were undertaken as a result of my representations to LGOFFC.

"At present I am working closely with Ashley Brown of Kings Lynn AA and PAC to highlight long
underlying problems with the Old Bedford. This has suffered badly as a fishery in recent years
(EA surveys confirm this). Local Angling Trust officials are also actively involved. As the man
said: “Nothing escapes the eye of a lone pike fisherman”!

"My talk and digital presentation is titled “A life with Fenland Pike” - my pike fishing from day one. I
will also be selling signed copies of my book."

Denis will be our special guest at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch, on Wednesday, October 26 (7.30pm). All are welcome - you don't have to be a PAC member to attend.

Derrick Amies is heading for King's Lynn

NORFOLK LEGENDS: Dennis Pye and a young Derrick Amies

We collared Derrick at the Convention and he's agreed to come and do a talk at one of our meetings and bring some of his memorabilia and famous dumbell floats along.

Derrick was taken under the wing of legendary Broads pike angler Denis Pye as a young lad. He went on to eclipse Pye's captures and catch a record pike. There's a full interview with Derrick from Pikelines here - it's an amazing story.

Derrick's methods and thoughts on finding pike are individual and fly in the face of many of our modern assumptions.

Yet few have tried the dumbell method of steering a livebait, which he perfected fishing the Broads with Dennis Pye - how would we fare giving it a go on the rivers and drains of the Fens..? 

Date-wise, Derrick's talk is probably going to be in December - check back for details nearer the time.

PAC Convention was a great day out

Pike anglers from across the Fens and further afield enjoyed a top day out at the PAC Convention at Kettering.

Numbers were well up on last year, at an event which always seems to cram so much into a few short hours.

Piking2012 is being held in Harrogate, on September 22 - a bit further to travel from Lynn, but we're sure it will be well worth the trip.

No idea who they've got on the speaker front next year, but the three main speakers at Kettering laid on three cracking talks. Click here for a report on the PAC blog.

Don't forget our programme of winter meetings kicks off with Denis Moules at the Wm Burt Club on Wednesday, October 26. Click here for more about that - or come back nearer the time for an exclusive interview with Denis.