About the pike angling club Fishing for pike has always been a popular branch of the sport and its popularity spawned the PIKE ANGLERS CLUB a club worth joining with its own code of conduct.
Before starting
to fish
THINK. Are you too close to another angler? Are you likely to
interfere
with their sport? When bank fishing try not to fish any nearer to
an
angler than is necessary, leave them plenty of room if you can.
When boat
fishing try not to encroach on another angler's fishing area and
give bank
anglers at least 100 yards clearance if possible. Rods should
never be left
unattended in any circumstances. If you decide to leave your swim
for any
reason, REEL IN, it only takes a few seconds for a pike to swallow
a set
of hooks. It is unfair to ask or expect another angler to attend
your rods
whilst you are away. He has his own tackle to deal with and whilst
looking
after yours could have his own unattended baits gorged by a
pike. ALWAYS ensure
that you
have the correct tackle necessary, especially a large micromesh
landing
net, unhooking mat, forceps, strong wire cutters, small bolt
cropers, wire
traces, scales and weigh sling. The use of
semi-barbless
or crushed barbed hooks in sizes 6 or 10 is preferable to barbed -
you
will not lose fish. Semi-barbless hooks are not an excuse for
allowing a
pike to swallow the bait. It is important
to
correctly place the hooks in the bait in order to minimise the
chances of
deep hooking. For most livebaiting the top one in the dorsal and
the other
behind the pectoral. For legered deadbaits the top one in the tail
root
and the other no further forward than the dorsal
fin. NEVER wait for a
second
run. Strike as soon as you are sure that the pike has the bait in
its
jaws. Although conditions may differ, always assume that the pike
is of
reasonable size and strike sooner than later. A pike missed is
preferable
to a deep hooked one. Remember, hooked pike not only suffer damage
from
the hooks but also from the extra time it takes to get them
returned to
the water. Handle all pike
with the
utmost care. On landing lay it on the landing net, grass or an
unhooking
mat. NEVER on uncovered hard ground. When boat fishing always take
carpet
underlay, foam rubber sheet or an unhooking mat to cover the
bottom
boards. NEVER use a pike gag when unhooking, use the forceps and
hand
technique. Laying the pike on its back and firmly holding its
lower jaw
(through the gill cover, avoiding the gill rakes) with one hand
and
removing the hooks with the other. Always be especially careful
when you
find it necessary to insert the forceps behind the gill covers. At
all
times make sure the fish is held firmly.Weighing should be carried
out
using a weighing sling or soft net - NOT with the balance hook
under the
chin. If you have to,
retain
pike in a specially designed pike tube or retention sack, but only
for the
minimum period of time necessary for photographs, etc. Always sink
the
tube or sack well and leave alone once in position. DO NOT tow
fish around
in tubes or sacks (it is dangerous to do this) or transport pike
long
distances in boats. In warm weather in particular, pike can easily
die
from this mistreatment. All pike should be returned to the water
as soon
as possible and in all circumstances, DO NOT retain pike just for
the sake
of it. When livebaiting
the use
of bait no longer than 8=94 (20 cm) is recommended. The
transportation and
subsequent translocation of livebait from one water to another is
an
offence throughout the British Isles and should NOT be practiced.
The
continuation of this Practice will lead to prosecutions, acrimony
and the
eventual banning of livebaiting altogether, use only fish captured
at the
venue. It is essential to ensure that livebaiting is an acceptable
method
on the water you are fishing. Always bear in mind that as well as
presenting hooking problems the use of large baits is more likely
to incur
the wrath of pleasure and match anglers. Be tactful at all times
when
livebaiting. Always respect =
the
property of others and as such poaching is not condoned. Always
obtain
permission to fish wherever necessary and comply with any rules
the water
owner imposes. Make sure that you have the correct Environment
Agency rod
licence. Do not damage
crops,
fences or trees and don't leave any litter or tackle behind and
never
light fires. Should you discover anything left behind by any other
anglers
- take it home. Always respect the environment and its wildlife,
discarded
litter or tackle give all anglers a bad name. Amongst some groups
of
anglers it has become fashionable to act in such a manner as to
cause
annoyance to others. Pike anglers should not be seen to be party
to such
behaviour. The good name of
the PAC
and the esteem in which it is held has taken many years to build
up, yet
irresponsible actions by one or more members could destroy in
minutes all
that hard work. The name of the PAC is entrusted to each and every
member
and all members are PAC representatives. YOU are the PAC and by
adhering
as closely as possible to the recommendations listed above you
will not
let it down. If you see
anyone abusing
pike try to persuade, educate and convince them that there is no
reason to
mistreat pike. Never lose your temper, if they will not listen,
leave and
report the incident to the fishery owner and your Regional
Organiser.