Canterbury pac: PAC Convention 2016

On Saturday 17th September 2016, the Pike Anglers’ Club will be making a welcome return to the Kettering Convention Centre for our annual convention. This venue is familiar to members as it has hosted three previous conventions and proved ideal for the purpose, being popular with all who attend, both members and traders.

The address is Kettering Conference Centre, Thurston Drive, Kettering, Northants, NN15 6PB. The site is just off junction 8 of the A14, which is not far from the junction with the M1 & M6. For directions and travel options, please visit: www.ketteringconference.co.uk/location.php or to find out more about the venue, please visit: www.ketteringconference.co.uk

This year sees three fantastic Guest Speakers lined up for you, with a real depth of talks to provide for everyone’s tastes and styles of pike fishing.

Dominic Garnett is based in the South West and has a different take on pike fishing to most, and is an excellent writer; his talk takes its title from his recent book ‘Crooked Lines on Pike’

Rob Christen is from the edge of the Fens, and is amongst the most successful of modern pikers. Rob will be telling the audience about his Fenland Fifteen.

Finally Steve Hincks talk is entitled ‘My Fishing Life So Far’. Steve hails from the North West, and has an amazing record with big pike from big waters, so this one will also be another treat!

Also in the Conference Hall will be the club’s annual awards and in between the speakers, you will have plenty of time to browse the trade hall and chat with a who’s who of British piking: including Neville Fickling, Dave Lumb, Stephen Harper, Dave Mutton plus many others who are always ever-present at the PAC convention.

You will be able to renew your PAC membership by visiting to Brian and Paul and the memberships desk, while Mark & Gary will be manning the PAC products stand where you can pick up top-quality PAC branded merchandise.

As usual, the second-hand stall will be worth a look in the hope of a real bargain, and the youngsters will be well catered for with junior coaching available.

This year, the committee are asking members to make their own hotel arrangements, as in previous years block-booking has caused problems. The committee and traders will be staying in the Premier Inn on Rothwell road, which has been the scene of several entertaining nights and fragile mornings. Book early to avoid disappointment.

The Full List of Hotels is:

Premier Inn,
Rothwell Road,
Kettering,
Northants,
NN16 8FX
0871 527 8564

Holiday Inn Express,
Rockingham Road,
Kettering,
Northants,
NN14 1QF
01536 210 210

Naseby Hotel,
Sheep Street,
Kettering,
Northants,
NN16 0AN
01536 734736

Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel,
Rockingham Road,
Corby,
Northants,
NN17 1AE
01536 401348

Holiday Inn Corby Kettering A43,
Geddington Road,
Corby,
Northants,
NN18 8ET
01536 4101020

Aim of the PAC

The Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain was formed in 1977 as a direct result of changing attitudes toward pike.

For far too long pike had been regarded by fishery owners and some anglers as vermin, to be killed and removed at all costs. Since its inception, the PAC has done much too drastically change this mistaken attitude and pike are now widely regarded as a positive element in the natural balance of any fishery. Pike fishing has without doubt become one of the most specialised branches of coarse fishing. Not least in the methods of handling, unhooking and safe return of the fish once caught. One of the most important aspects of the PAC's work is in helping young or novice pike anglers to overcome what for some are areas of difficulty. You may well have experienced that feeling of 'what do I do now', having just caught your first pike. You are not alone; many have experienced it and lived to tell the tale, thanks to the friendly assistance of PAC members offering sound advice and guidance. The PAC works continually for the benefit of all pike and pike anglers, we seek only to further the opportunities for pike fishing, whilst preserving all that pike fishing is all about. We strive to protect pike from persecution by those who do not understand, or choose to ignore, the facts about the important role the pike plays in the balance of nature. We also work to promote pike conservation through safe practice by anglers.

Piking Basics

Pike are a large aggressive fish with a mouth full of teeth and should not to be fished for with any old tackle or on a whim. Despite their appearance pike are very delicate creatures and the utmost care is required in their care/handling and return. Far too many fish are damaged each season by poor practices/bad handling by novice fisherman who have not researched piking properly. It cannot be stressed enough that in the quest to become a competent piker one should glean as much info as possible, and should seek out someone who is an experienced piker to educate/demonstrate just how it is done. We at the club will be more than happy to steer anyone in the right direction. For both the novice and more experienced pikers alike, here are some links that cover the basics that we all need to know. http://www.pacgb.co.uk/tips/basics.html Follow all the

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PAC Convention 2016

The Full List of Hotels is: