Thames Gateway PAC : Region 19: January 2007

13.1.07

Welcome to the Blogspot for the all new Thames Gateway PAC Region

The Thames Gateway region meet on the first Tuesday of the month at the Papermakers Arms, Hawley Road, Dartford, Kent.

We intend to run meetings all through the year, but only play host to guest speakers during the pike season proper, which will be September-April.

Meetings will kick off from around 7.30pm onwards, with the guest speaker starting at around 8.30pm.

With the location of the meeting venue, we hope to attract pikers from the North Kent/South Essex/South East London catchment area and any brave soul who wishes to venture from further afield. All anglers of any age and ability with an interest in our toothy adversary are welcome.

Your Regional Organisers

I will be acting as RO for the Region. My name is Steve Gould and I have been pike angling seriously since 1983, although i did have a 10 year break between 1994-2004 when i discovered fast cars and faster bikes(the wilderness years I like to call them), but i returned to the fold with the fire burning as brightly as ever.

I'm the one with the silly hat, and the jolly looking chap with the santa-esque apperance is our assistant RO and Treasurer John Synnuck. John is also Treasurer for the PAC commitee. He is also one of lifes characters who has the annoying tendancy of being extremely successful in whichever branch of angling he seems to participate in, but I can't hold that against him as he is an excellent fishing companion and all round good egg.

Contact details: pacregion19@aol.com

Inaugural Meeting:Tuesday 6th February

Our first meeting is on the aforementioned date at The Papermakers Arms,Dartford.

Directions for the pub are here

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;q=DA2+7RB&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=51.433464,0.227966&spn=0.055221,0.186939&om=1

To open precedings our guest speaker will be the legend that is

BILL PALMER

Bill is the author of two very successful books and the captor of more big pike than you can shake a stick at, so come and join us for lots of pike related banter, sandwiches and beer!

Precedings will start at 7.30pm, John and I will be the furtive looking ones sitting at the bar hoping for lots of people to turn up.

Members £2.50

Non members £3.50

Hope to see you on the 6th

March's Meeting

Tuesday 6th march

Guest Speaker

MARK BARRETT

(All round predator angler, fenland guide and PAC general secretary)

ABOUT THE P.A.C.

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 it's inception, the PAC has done much to 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.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.