Protect Our Predators

Any fishing related issues not covered by other categories.

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Save Our Predators

Save
11
85%
Move
2
15%
Cull
0
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Total votes: 13

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Dave Clarkson
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Protect Our Predators

Postby Dave Clarkson » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:42 pm

This should be interesting:

Reading the AT this week Matty Hayes is starting a campain to save our predators, as specimen pike and zander have been found dead or being caught for the table.

His main concern is the Warwickshire Avon where he has witnessed fish being caught not by foriegners but local residents for the table, all this after Bob Nudd anounced last week the pike on the w avon needed thining out :!:

The pike club of Great Britian are this week asking local clubs along the Warwickshire Avon to ask thier members not to kill predatory fish from thier waters.

Now I was wondering what our committee and members think about this situation and is it, could it, should it be an issue for us :?:

I remember my day's as a match angler (Good memory me) and there was nothing worse than building up a swim only to have it destroyed by pike moving in, but never did I wish to catch it and chuck it up the bank, and whenever I heard of this practice it sickened me. I enjoy the odd pike session throughout the winter and they really do get the heart racing as they are formidable predators and give me as good a thrill as a double figure barbel/carp 5lb chub etc.

There are over 400 members in this club and various aspects of the sport covered so we should have a good debate on this one, so lets all be honest with each other on this subject and the only way to do that is by giving an honest opinion/vue on the subject of predators in our waters..

So what do you say (and for those who dont come onto the website what are others general vue's)


Thanks for your time Dave.
Last edited by Dave Clarkson on Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Paul Webster

Postby Paul Webster » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:46 am

I haven't voted on the poll as the option I would select is not there. I am in favour of removing smaller pike ie sub 5lb. This has been proven in the past to actually benefit a water. The worst thing possible is for large pike to be removed this results in an explosion of jack pike.

My thoughts are slightly different with concerns Zander they are none native and shouldn't be returned. I hear the argument now that they are established in our waters so should be left. Signal crayfish are becoming established, mink are established but they are all still non native.

The most annoying for me is the pike anglers bleating on that we should not kill any pike but think nothing of going out and catching roach upto half a pound or more to use as live bait. I'm sorry but to me a 8oz roach is more valuable than any 6lb pike.

Those are my thoughts should upset a few but thats the way it goes.

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Dave Clarkson
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predators

Postby Dave Clarkson » Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:54 am

Paul,

Thank you for an honest opinion, I doubt whether we will make any significant changes but it will be interesting to read others views on this subject, just being open and honest without recriminations will give a general insite to this issue.

Atb Dave

Paul Webster

Postby Paul Webster » Wed Nov 01, 2006 12:56 pm

Dave how about adding a poll option for removing smaller predaters?

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Dave Clarkson
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Postby Dave Clarkson » Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:10 pm

Sorry for the misunderstanding, thats exactly what I meant by move, suppose I should have put remove.

Cant seem to edit the poll now soz.

atb Dave

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Postby drawbag » Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:36 pm

What a great subject for debate, the angling times have dragged up again. I remember back in the early 90's they were moaning about the same thing which prompted the EA to electronet the Avon from just above Evesham down to Pershore with the removal of all Zander and small Pike. However I dont belive this had too significant an effect at the time.

My personal opinion for what its worth, is that nature will take its coarse in time. As with any preditor it will prosper while conditions allow it.

Looking at the Avon now to how it was say 20 year ago, it is clearer, full of weed, and the only other thing a preditor needs is food. So the Avon must also have an explosion of silver fish (which would be long over due). Or the preditors will eat their own too survive resulting in a natural cull.

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Postby Andrew Burgess » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:06 pm

I am a specialist angler who mainly fish for pike in the winter but I do not agree on that the pike need thinning out on the Avon. It was bad enough when the BAA did this last time some 15-20 years ago. When my catch rate really plummeted because I was stick and tired of catching the little small jacks but just recent started catching a few big ones.

I agree with drawbag quote
for what its worth, is that nature will take its coarse in time.


Pike have been around a lot longer than any other coarse fish and hopefully will be for a lot more years to come.
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Postby Andrew Burgess » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:15 pm

Sorry to post again in short notice after the other one that I did find this thread which also a bit worrying as well

Posted: 31 Oct 2006 07:30 AM CST
Angling Times today launched a Protect Our Predators campaign after one of its columnists found a freshly-filleted zander floating in the Warwickshire Avon.

Matt Hayes found a caravanner fishing nearby using three sea rods as nightlines. He openly admitted taking large pike and zander because he enjoyed eating them.

"The worrying thing is that this guy is one of many British anglers taking pike to eat or sell," Matt said.

"When combined with the pressure that foreign fish theft is putting on stock levels, it's little wonder that finding specimen predators on the Avon and Severn is harder than I've ever known it. Something must be done."

PAC president Phil Wakeford said: "We agree with what Matt's saying and we're 100 per cent behind him.

"We feel the real battle is to anglers to keep bombarding the EA with calls every time they see something, then we follow them up and keep exposing the inaction until it does start taking the problem seriously."

In his leader column, AT editor Richard Lee writes: "The mindless slaughter of pike, zander and perch that is undoubtedly happening across the country must stop - this isn't the Dark Ages."
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Dave Clarkson
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predators

Postby Dave Clarkson » Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:59 pm

Andrew thats the article which got me thinking about this thread, just interested to know what our members views were.

Me I am happy to catch all species, though I mainly fish for barbel until the conditions deteriorate, then it's pike, haven't had a zander yet but happy to get one all the same, each to thier own really, every angler has a view of pike and zander in our rivers, like it or not they are there but unless you fish for them its rare to catch one, but when fishing for silver fish they do ruin a swim which is very frustrating, thats a scenario that doesnt effect me but for some its a major issue.

Lets hear a few other views on the subject.

Thanks for the posts AB and Dr Rog

atb Dave

Paul Webster

Postby Paul Webster » Thu Nov 02, 2006 8:33 am

Dave,

Until this season I would have agreed with the statement that its rare to catch one unless fishing four them. In the past it has been rare if I hook one in a season but this season I have hooked four for definite and suspect another two.

Don't get me wrong I go pike fishing in the winter and every single one goes back I just think the number of small pike has shot up this season and can understand why some of the comments have been made this season about reducing the numbers. But if what is in that article is right and the bigger fish are being taken to eat that would explain an explosion in smaller pike.

I never use livebait always using bought sea or fresh water deadbait. I just find it hypocritical of people that say its wrong to kill a pike but don't worry about killing other fish to catch one.

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Postby Stu » Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:00 pm

Dave,
I haven't done any pike fishing for about 15 years, when I used to do a little with my brother who was really into it. Purposefully catching a nice pike (I have had them to 12lb) was fun but was and never will be my fishing of choice. However, now my eldest (he is 9) has asked to go pike fishing I fancy another go at it.

However, when we go we it will be with the following "rules";

I would never use live baits. My choice. I respect all species and would not purposefully harm any fish. If others want to use live baits that's up to them, but I would be annoyed at the use of decent sized roach, skimmers etc being used as live bait. 2-3oz fish are fine if that's your thing but I will be using dead sea baits.

All pike and zander will be put back irrespective of size. If a club wants to remove any specie (not just predators) or fish under a particular size/weight then it should be done professionally and the fish transferred/sold. Not chucked up the bank or smacked on the head. If the club/water had a rule requiring me to do this I wouldn't fish there.

I have seen so called match/club anglers kill jack pike. While the pike may be a nuisance while fishing they do not deserve this. Clubs should ban this treatment. It is immoral, undefensible and ammo for the anti's. Unless clubs take the appropriate action against such people then they risk losing their waters and bringing the sport into disrepute.

Stu

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Dave Clarkson
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predators

Postby Dave Clarkson » Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:46 pm

Stu,

Very well put, I too even as much as I enjoy the odd pike session dont agree with live baiting, many say it catches more fish but even if thats true, I think of it as inhumane, now before I am attacked as a hypocrit regarding inhumanity let me explain, when it comes to fishing, for me its the outwitting of a species, to catch and then safely release it back to its habitat free to carry on as though nothing happened apart from giving me great pleasure.. as for live baiting, well sticking two trebles into a fish to make it thrash around giving signals to any predator that it is in distressed and then for it to be eaten alive is a no no, I love to catch pike but I am not willing to sacrifice one spieces to get my thrill. Lure fishing is becoming more and more popular, far better to use a lure than a live bait.

Thanks again Dave


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