Bob Harrod wins King's Lynn Christmas Pike Match

Bob Harrod went home £300 richer after winning our Christmas Pike Match with this 14lbs 6oz fish.

Bob's been in the wars a bit one way and another lately, so great to see things go his way today.

Nineteen diehards braved the gloomy conditions for today's bash on the Ouse at Ten Mile.

Bob ignored the favoured swims, dropping in a peg near Modney Bridge. He had his only run of the day an hour or so into the match on legered sardine.

Jordan Brown landed the only other fish caught, nicking a seven pounder on one of his old man Ashley's rods.

One competitor came all the way from Cheltenham to take part. Two juniors also stuck it out - Jordan and young Charlie, from Narborough, who tried his heart out all day.

Both youngsters are getting junior PAC memberships on us, to say well done for trying, on a day when the old fellas struggled.

Don't forget the next meeting's a week Monday, December 19, at the Wm Burt (7.30pm). Derrick Amies is guest speaker, which should make for an interesting evening. Click here for a bit more about that.

Derrick Amies talk in King's Lynn

And now for something completely different, like they used to say when Monty Python was a lad.

We've got former pike record holder Derrick Amies coming along to our next meeting on at the Wm Burt on Monday, December 19 (7.30pm).

He fished with the legendary Dennis Pye as a lad, learning the craft on the Thurne system.

Together they evolved the dumbell method of fishing livebaits. It flies in the face of the way most of us fish today, but it's caught a lot of big pike and on the right water, it's devastating.

It might just make for a fascinating evening - Derrick will be bringing a few bits and bobs with him, along with copies of his book.


There's more on that and Derrick in an interview from Pikelines, click here to read it.

Thanks to Neville for a great talk

Thanks to Neville for an interesting evening's entertainment - despite the odd hiccup on the technical front.

Best bit..? Was it barbel on lamprey (shh...), Nev's forthright views, or the Al Rawlings's trigger - wait until the temps start dropping and hit a water for 72 hours non-stop.

Talking of hiccups, we plan to get the technical side of things sorted before our next talk, which is Derrick Amies on Monday, December 19 - same place, same time.

Christmas predator bash at Ten Mile Bank

 TEN MILE BANK: Venue for the King's Lynn PAC Christmas Bash

Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen. Sod gathering winter fuel for a game of soldiers, he said. I'm off to Ten Mile Bank - where there are shekels up for grabs in the King's Lynn PAC Christmas Bash.

There's a £250 first prize, plus £50 for the biggest fish on offer in a roving pike comp organised in conjunction with our friends at King's Lynn AA. They're lending us their bit of river on Sunday, December 11, for a social with a difference.

All predators count, meaning pike, zander and perch can all add towards your total weight. It's £15 a ticket, draw at the EA car park at Denver 8am, fish 9am - 3pm and meet back at the Jenyns Arms from 4pm for prizes.

It's a rover, meaning up to you whether you fish with baits or lures, plot up in a spot you fancy or stay on the move - KLAA rules must be followed (apart from the one that says predators don't count in matches...), and it goes without saying anyone taking part should have adequate gear, all the unhooking tools etc.

More info from Ashley at our next meeting at the Wm Burt Club on Wednesday, November 30.  If you can't make it, text him to book a place on 07876 491748.

Thanks to Lynn AA for their support.

Fens sunset - the best view in fishing..?

Building Bridges lure match at Ferry Meadows

A lure match is being held at Ferry Meadows on Saturday, November 26, as part of a project to integrate Eastern European and British anglers.
It's being organised by Rado Papiewski, the Angling Trust's Building Bridges project manager.
Registration will start at 8.30 am with fishing starting from 9.00am - 1pm.
"Prizes and bbq will take place at 2pm so we will have some time to discuss the catches and exchange some experience," said Rado.
Entry is £10, plus £5 day ticket. For more information or to book a place, e-mail radoslaw.papiewski@anglingtrust.net . Click here for more on the venue.

EA puts aerators in River Wissey after fish kill

A major fish kill may have been averted on the Wissey after the Environment Agency deployed aerators to boost oxygen levels in the river.

Fisheries officers stepped in after fish including more than 50 large bream, roach, tench and pike  were found dead on Wissey Pools.

Tests revealed low oxygen  levels, believed to have been caused by low flows during the ongoing drought. The EA has placed aerators near Wissington bridge and at Hilgay (left).

Experts are now monitoring the river daily. 

Neville Fickling talk at King's Lynn PAC

There can't be many people who've had a bigger influence on the modern pike fishing scene than Neville Fickling.

He's a Lynn lad who started his career on our local drains and rivers in the 1970s and went on to catch a record 41lbs pike from Norfolk's River Thurne, in 1985.

That record's long since fallen, but Neville's had a string of big fish since, amassing a total of more than 300 20lbs-plus specimens along the way.

How does he do it..? You can find out at our next meeting, which is being held at the Wm Burt Club, West Winch, on Wednesday, November 30 (7.30pm). Admission is £2 for PAC members/£3 non-members.

This is bound to be a big, big night. And knowing Neville, it'll be a night when everyone's going to take away a few new tips and ideas; whether it's on how to fish the dreaded drains, to tackling trout ressies.

We're looking foward to this one. See you there. 

Rain at last - can we have some more please

We've had some rain at last. Not enough to bring any colour to our drought-ravaged rivers and drains, but enough to get the Cut-Off flowing along gently today.

A few bits of duck weed were coming down the drain as well - meaning the baits needed a re-cast every 10 minutes or so to stop in building up on the line.

This can be a bit pricey if you're using sardines as bait.

Elsewhere bits of the Cut are still solid with the dreaded blanket weed. The Middle Level's looking nice, running clear but weed-free.

The Ouse was clear and standing, with a nice ripple on it and few anglers apart from a few around the Chapel.  

Old Bedford River latest

You heard it from the horse's mouth at our meeting - now the Environment Agency has responded to fears over the state of the Old Bedford River.

Click here to read their response to the story in Wednesday's EDP. 

Hands up who believes 'em, bearing in mind some of the other horror stories we heard about the EA's lack of action on other fronts.

As  Denis Moules outlined at the meeting, we all need to be the eyes and ears when it comes to what's happening to our waters and those who abuse them - be they EA officials more intent on ticking boxes than taking action, or those intent on making a quick buck by gill-netting them.