Fenland pike. What does the future hold?

[kfsand]

Hi all,

I've fished the fens for pike (but mostly zander) for several years now and after speaking to a few of the "old" boys i get the feeling fenland pike fishing is looking pretty bleak for the future. Most opinions being illegal fish removal.

I'm interested to hear more peoples views on this.

Cheers

[tjnorton]

Becoming a regular occurance unfourtantly. On exeter canal a long line was discovered. Luckily no fish had been snared but who knows how long it had bee there or checked.

tj

[Dinenzo]

A bleak future for the fens? I think that does appear to be the sad reality of the situation. I have fished all over the fens for about 15 years all told and in that time I cant remember a time when the fishing has been as hard as it is at the moment. For me, fishing has become progressively more patchy over the last 4-5 seasons. Obviously I only have my own personal experiences to draw upon, but having witnessed first hand pike of all sizes (including some really big pike) being illegally removed by the net full, its not hard to understand why these once prolific pike and zander waters and dying a death.
Even on the most unlikely looking tiny land drains that are so far off the beaten track that you wouldn't expect to see anybody else, I've seen fish being taken. These people are everywhere! If you challenge them they make it out that they don't speak English and if you report it nothing gets done about it (in my experience).
I'm not saying that the fens are finished, far from it. There is still some really good fishing to be had but it's just not what it used to be and I believe it is getting worse. For me, there was a time when a 20lb pike off the fens wasn't that special a fish as they were pretty common place. Put in the hours and a 20lb'er wasnt that unlikely. Over the past few seasons they have become fewer and further between. This might just be the waters I've fished, the way I've fished them or just bad luck. Whatever the reason, I'm slowly falling out of love with the fens.

[Pikeman]

Unfortunately it's not just the Fens, there isn't a water in the land that hasn't been affected......

And the funny thing is we are all sitting back watching our fishing disappear before us, 5 years tops & there will be barren waters everywhere...hmmmmmmmm just like Poland

[kfsand]

I just saw this on the AT website. If this is what happens you can understand why people are reluctant to do anything. It will get to the point where its too dangerous for anyone to challenge poachers!

http://www.gofishing.co.uk/Angling-T...with-harpoons/

[Pikeman]

Nasty story , but would they have done the same to a younger man (not taking anything away from the Bailiff, at least he had a go with his stick, despite being outnumbered !)

[kfsand]

Good point and good on the old man. I don't think anglers can count on the ea or the police to make it go away. I think its up to us anglers and the clubs we belong to. A club i belong to is lucky enough to have security guards from the local factory patrol the river banks. Not many clubs can afford that luxury though!

[Pikeman]

If clubs want members they must do more to preserve the fishing they offer, people will not want to pay good money to continually blank on waters
Once members of a club it's up to individuals to protect their fishing (within reason) in my club we get together in two or more & challenge the bankside vermin, a smack in the mouth often offends...but works

The alternative is to give up fishing, but you won't get much for your tackle in the future, the way it's going

[NIGEL68]

Hi all I have only been fishing the fens for the last five seasons so have probably missed the best years I have yet to catch a 20lb pike or double figured zed, 19.08 best pike & 9.08 best zander so far but have witnessed bigger caught by friends so like you say I dont think fens are finished but I have heard some horror stories regarding dead lines & nets. Sometimes you think am I fishing an empty drain? A couple of weeks back I was talking to a baliff who told me they are thinking of wearing stab vests a very sad day for fishing!!!!!!!