Support Martin James MBE

I am taking part in the abseiling event as I have seen some of the work carried out by the ABF The Soldiers Charity. At 75 I still feel I should do all I can to help those less fortunate than myself. At the present time we are getting a lot of our troops returning from Afghanistan badly wounded that many people don't hear about. If I can help to improve their life quality by fund raising that makes me feel a lot better. I can get out fishing when I need too. Many of these guys have to have personal assistance. At present I am getting some plans in operation to get some blind trooper out fishing in June. Yes it will only  be a small group who will leger or use a bite indicator but if they get some help in getting out fishing, their lives will be improved. All my guiding, writing fees etc go directly to my 2 chosen charities  

Kind regards Martin

Help Martin reach his  £3000 target 
Click here to donate to this great cause

End of season presentation 03.04.13

Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain's very own general secretary Alan Dudhill will be presenting this seasons accolades to region 31 members for their achievements over the 12 months. There will be a buffet and raffle with some top prizes including a days fishing with Alan Dudhill and top predator book Fenland Pike by Denis Moules. This presentation will be held at the usual haunt, Caledonian pub in Ashton next to the tesco petrol station on Bolton road, meeting starts 8pm.

Win a days pike fishing with PACGB General Secretary Alan Dudhill 

Top prizes to be won

Region 31 PAC first coaching session 2013

Region 31 coaches Kevin Dunne, John Woods, Denis Bird and Karl Devlin assisted Eric Edwards in delivering a very successful and enjoyable coaching session for 30+ junior members of Prince Albert Angling Society on one of there staffordshire club waters Gailey reservoir. Setting up a dead bait rigs, lure fishing and trace making were just a few examples that were demonstrate by the region 31 PAC qualified coaching team under the ever watchful eye of  region 31's senior level 2 coach Eric Edwards. All in all it was another successful mission completed, demonstrating pike welfare in an exemplary manner and promoting safe pike fishing methods.

Kevin Dunne showing the budding young pike anglers how to set up a float ledger rig

Kevin Dunne letting the kids cast out the rigs they made and explaining to them how the rig works

John Woods explains lure fishing 

Denis Bird teaching the art of trace making

Last but not least Karl Devlin with the baits out waiting for that all important fish to demonstrate his pike handling skills to the junior members.

A big well done to all the region 31 coach team and PAAS 

Prince Albert Angling Society

Denis Bird

Denis Bird had 2 successful two day trips to chew valley and managed to catch a 24lb 12oz and a 28lb 5oz on each of the sessions, both fish came to dead baits, well done Denis.

Lakeland First

Congratulations goes out to Mick Cottam on the capture of his first lakeland pike, no monster but this should open the flood gates for future success, well done.

Dennis Moules 6th March 2013

Fenland pike ace Dennis (digger) Moules will be region 31 PAC's special guest for our march meeting. Dennis has caught numerous big pike, over 100 20lb+ and is the author of the book Fenland Pike. Not one to be missed so stick a reminder in your diary or on your phone and get down to the Caladonian Pub in Ashton on 6th March, the show starts at 8pm.

Pikeathon 2012

 Steve Davison, Shane Patterson and Vince Williams all raising money for Diabetes UK.... 3 Men 21lbs of Pike to catch each day for 14 days or a terrible forfeit....

Region 31 will be playing host to Steve, Shane and Vince at our usual meeting venue the Caladonian pub in ashton at 8pm on Monday 4th March for an informal chat, Eric Edwards will also be there and will be explaining some of his lure fishing tactics on the river Wye, all are welcome. The next day Eric Edwards will be guiding them on a local water and hopefully put them on the fish, if anyone can do it Eric can (fingers crossed).

Steve Davison

Shane Patterson

Vince Williams

See Pikeathon link below for more info

http://pikeathon2013.blogspot.co.uk/

Region 31 members help snare fish thieves

Massive result for region 31 PAC members Adam Cauldfield and Danny Taylor. They discovered a gill net in a northwest river on Sunday and after coordinated work between RA31 and the Environment Agency two arrests have been made. The EA wardens sat out in sub-zero temperatures for two nights to achieve this and deserve enormous credit for doing so. Let's hope they can make the charges stick in court and let's hope this sends out a big message to all other fish thieves.
RA31 has a very good working relationship with the Environment Agency and this has helped a great deal in securing this action, the two members concerned did exactly the right things and without their decisive actions this would not have been possible, big "well done".

The EA have issued the following statement;

"Acting on good intelligence regarding the presence of illegal nets on the River Mersey. The Environment Agency Fisheries and Biodiversity teams have over the last few days undertaken an enforcement operation to gather further evidence.

As a result of the operation two arrests have been made and a casefile will now be prepared for consideration by our legal team.

Due to the on going development of the case we are unable to share any more information at this time. The support of the local angling community in this operation has however been exceptional and their support is much appreciated."

Article by Eric Edwards 

A twenty in the snow for R31 RO Jon Neafcy

Region  31 RO Jon Neafcy had a cracking result in the weekend snow with this cracking 20lb 10oz pike from a large still water, the fish was caught on a  Baitbox Mackerel, well done Jon.

Stu Gillham presentation 06.02.2013

Stu Gillham will be doing a talk at region 31 on the first Wednesday of February, Ex pat Stu will be flying over from his fishing resorts in Thailand which hold some of the biggest fresh water specimens in the world including Siamese carp over 160lb, Stingrays to over 250lb, Mekong cat fish 300lb and Arapiama in excess of 400lb. Gillhams fishing resorts holds over 16 different IGFA world records and boasts some of the finest big fish fishing in the world. This is a rare opportunity and not one to be missed so get down to the Caledonian Hotel, Bolton Rd, Ashton  on 06.01.13 at 8pm and join us.



See links below

Gillhams fishing resorts Thailand
Gillhams fishing resorts Thailand

4 to go

Region 31 regional organiser Jon Neafcy sets himself a target each year to better himself when it comes to pike fishing. After the 2011 season finished he set a goal, this goal was to catch 100 doubles in one year, with only a few weeks now left this year he has already caught 96 pike over 10 lb and with the holidays fast approaching Jon has a real chance of achieving his goal.

Martin James MBE

BBC Radio Lancashire presenter, angling author and Angling Trust Ambassador Martin James has been appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for voluntary service to angling, conservation and to charity.

A very well deserved "congratulations" to Martin!

Decembers Region 31 club outing a success

This months club outing proved successful with almost everyone who attended seeing at least one fish in the net. Two of region 31's newest members Paul and James Hudson experienced action on their first club outing with a jack apiece, it was the first time the father and son duo had experienced a large glacial lake on a pike fishing trip. Another new member to the club this year Bernie Brennan had the biggest fish of the outing 15lb 12oz, this too was the first time Bernie had fished this venue. Brian Sephton (Sefo) managed a Jack and a double as did Keith Dutton. Most of the fish caught on the outing were caught a distance using a small boat with an electric outboard to put the baits out.

Region 31 RO Jon Neafcy also had success with a 13 lber, making it his 92nd double so far this year, Jon has set himself a goal of catching 100 doubles in a year, only a few more to go Jon we wish you all the best.

James Hudson with a nice jack

Paul Hudson with his first glacial pike

Bernie Brennan with the biggest of the outing at 15lb 12oz

Sefo with a scrapper double 10lb 13oz

Keith Dutton with another scrapper double 11lb 3oz

Our bait boat for the session

RO Jon Neafcy with his 92nd double of 2012

Region 31 New year events

Up and coming Region 31 PAC events for the 

new year 2013

January - 2nd  Andy Blazey & Richard Wesley

February - 6th  Stu Gillham Owner of Gilham's resort 

Thailand

March - 6th  Dennis Moules co author of Fenland Pike

April - 3rd  Region 31 presentation evening, PACGB's 

General Secretary Alan Dudhill will be handing out 

the awards.

All meetings start at 8pm upstairs at the Caladonia 

Hotel, Bolton rd, Ashton in Makerfield (next door to 

the Tesco garge)

Al Rawlings 28.11.12

Al Rawlings will be doing a slide show at the Caladonian Pub at 8pm on Wednesday 28.11.12. Al has caught over 430 pike over the magical 20lb mark.

Derrick Aimes this wednesday

Just a polite reminder, two times British record holder Derrick Aimes will be doing a slide show at the Calodonian pub, Bolton rd, Ashton (next door to Tesco) this coming Wednesday. There will also be a buffet and raffle prizes, spread the word, lets have a BIG turnout. The presentation starts at 8pm upstairs, members £2 non members £5 kids free.

Junior jack catching the big girls

 Junior Jack pike Jack lloyd-morgan and his Father howard lloyd fished a local drain using float fished sardines in 2 half day sessions they had 18 pike between them including 5 doubles. 

Jack Lloyd-Morgan 

RO Jon Neafcy having a bumper October

A selection of just a few of the fish Region 31 organiser Jon Neafcy has caught this October, two of which were over 20lb and the other  just ounces short.

Derrick Aimes Presentation 7th November

Derrick Aimes has been one of Britains leading pike anglers for over 30 years. Twice breaking the british record, the best with a fish weighing 42lb 2oz in August 1985.

Caledonian pub (next to Tesco express), Bolton Road, Ashton in Makerfield, WN4 8PF, starts at 8pm.

Region 31 gets local press coverage

Region 31 regional organizer Jon Neafcy got some welcomed press coverage from local newspaper Wigan Observer (see link below for full article). Jon had a fantastic start to the new pike season with 5 doubles including a 20+. I will also add that Jon recently suffered a trapped nerve in his hand and still managed to land this impressive haul of pike.
 
http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/other-local-sport/net-gain-for-neafcy-1-5012324