Pike Handling Day Sunday 28th October

when is this?

bump

I think the target date Sunday 28th October at Hurst Park.
Dave is still sorting out quite a few details with Elmbridge council.
The plan was to buy a dead pike from Billingsgate fish market, , to save the problem of obtaining and keeping a live fish, avoiding unecessary stress on it, and allow a much greater degree of handling than previously. Anyone able to help, please shout.

a dead pike you must be having a laugh
i think i could comfortably remove a hook from a dead pike,surely this cant be the same as handling a live pike?
no matter how many dead pike i handle (and i hope i never have to handle any dead pike} this could not give me any confidence in handling and caring for them.

i agree willie people need to feel a live pike to learn anything about handling and un hooking

Happy to fish overnight the day before and try and get one or two fish, sure I could find some others happy to help out?

andrew could meet you there early doors if you gonna try for them

OK so that idea went down like a lead balloon

I have no doubt Andy you could catch one in no time, you fish-magnet.
Do you think it would be worth getting a dead one from the market as well anyway?

I'm happy to help again with this. I'm also concerned about the dead pike idea, unless we had signs up assuring the public of where the fish came from I think it could have a negative effect.

I'll also contact Jeff & Steve to see if they are available.

Ed Randall wrote:

Do you think it would be worth getting a dead one from the market as well anyway?

Yeh... I'll bring the cooking gear Ed...


Richard

The dead pike idea....basically us committee members who aren't pike experts are listening to someone who is.

It came from someone who had to catch some against the clock and on demand for everyone expecting there to be some live pike, then handle them when they'd been in a keepnet overnight and all day and now feisty.

He also said it wasn't fair on the fish being repeatedly handled.

Thanks Neil, Andy, Lee... I will be in touch

Unlike any previous events where we have just used council land, we need to book it, so do it properly. They were not particularly happy about what has gone before so have had to 'sell' them the idea, all looking good though.

We are meeting on Weds so will post up full details after

Just a thought, if we have the dead pike we can make a quite bit of a point that we didn't knock this one on the head, if you want to eat one they are quite available from the fish market, so don't do it just buy one if you really want to eat it (I've seen carp in the window of Sandy's Fishmongers in Twickenham, I'm sure they'd get a pike in too if anyone asked for it).

There are certain advantages to having the dead one (in addition to, not instead of, the live one)

• kids can handle it, touch it,
  
• put their hands in its mouth, check out the teeth
  
• get a close look at the gills, how delicate they are
  
• all without any risk to them or the fish.
  
• And emphasize the license rules on the taking of fish as part of that (it has to be 60-65cm else its illegal).
  

No dead Pike mate, doesn't really teach people as such.

Dead Pike!!! An absolutely appaling idea!!! Has anyone thought to ask the EA if they can keep one or two back when they do the nettings and bring them down in a tank? They've done so for me when I've helped do Pike teach ins always found them helpful.

Thanks Malcolm, yes that's the plan, few details to sort out but yes. Cheers

What are they not happy about? Two years ago the day was a roaring success in my opinion, nothing but positive comments from all involved and those passing by.

That's good to hear we,as anglers,can't be seen to be using dead fish for demos.

Neil Depledge wrote:

What are they not happy about? Two years ago the day was a roaring success in my opinion, nothing but positive comments from all involved and those passing by.

I Spoke to a colleague at work the other day and he had said he had attended the last one then pulled out a pic of his son holding the pike and there was yourself next to him Neil. He was most impressed with the day.

Glad he enjoyed it. Most people have a positive view on angling when they engage with anglers.

Neil Depledge wrote:

What are they not happy about? Two years ago the day was a roaring success in my opinion, nothing but positive comments from all involved and those passing by.

Hi Neil, the council is touchy about blocking towpath access, H & S etc. Dave is on the case with them though.

Might have known H&S would have been involved

The reason for the councils involvement was due to using their land, this time we have it all signed and sealed. This is a historical problem as goes back a year or so, you can guess the rest.

So

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

The Thames Anglers Conservancy Free Pike Day will be held on the 28th October at Hurst Park in Molesey from 08:30 - 14:00.

On the day there will be demonstrations of how to handle Pike correctly avoiding damage to yourself and more importantly the fish. Pike can be easily damaged by incorrect handling and unhooking so this is a chance to learn from the experts.

On had will be members of the Pike Anglers Club, Neil Depledge and Steve Aldridge along with local guide/fly angler Mark Anderson and lure expert Jeff Kennet.

Plus we have two coaches provided by the EA who will be offering assistance to those starting out.

The experts will be on hand to offer advice and information on rigs and techniques and have take on hand.

You can bring done you Pike gear and get it checked over or just come along and discuss the finer points.

Goodie bag for the juniors (kindly supplied by the EA)

Hope to see you there

can someone send this to keef arfur on fishermans blues to get some publicity,also if poss a few posters scattered around fishing tackle shops etc?

As you can guess mate, we are on that