Ozzie Kings, John Stephenson

Before the "main course" a brief factfile about myself would seem to be appropriate.   I am a 61 years young Geordie living in Whitley Bay on the Northumberland coast.    I come from a scientific background   and was lucky enough to be able to take early retirement at the age of 57.   My main interests are angling , photography and following Newcastle United FC and also my local team Whitley Bay FC.

My good lady and myself spend most of the summer over in our static caravan in Drummore, Mull of Galloway, Scotland.   The scenery there is amazing and the wildlife is quite varied.   From our caravan veranda we have seen basking sharks and otters out in Luce Bay.   The shore fishing can be very good at times with bass, pollack, wrasse, conger and mullet being my normal targets.   The area is also a mecca for tope fishermen.

My given name is John Stephenson but the angling nickname I acquired at an early age was "Snatcher".   In my youth I did take salmon/seatrout out of the river by fair means and foul including "tickling fish" - a dying art today !!!   Nowadays I am too old to outrun bailiffs and even buy permits and licences.

Well thats enough drivel about me so lets head towards the main event.   Back in 2008 the wife and I headed out to Australia to visit our daughter in Sydney.   Being a keen angler I intended trying to catch a few Australian species whilst there.   With this in mind I took over a fair amount of terminal tackle and once in Sydney bought a spinning rod and reel .   I was not expecting or intending to target big fish so I loaded the fixed spool reel with 15lb mono.

We travelled quite extensively during this 2 month trip.   Hugging the coast we had a slow drive down to Melbourne and then onto Adelaide.   From there we flew to Ayres Rock and then onto Cairns and finally had a few weeks staying at Port Douglas.   My trusty fishing gear went with me and I managed to catch 20 species during that time.

Whilst on my 2008 trip I struck up a friendship with a few Australian anglers.   Chris Tyler was my main mentor in Sydney and what he did not know about the fishing in the harbour was not worth knowing about.   He had us fishing from ferry landings that were off limits to anglers and also had me fishing from the Opera Bar of all places.   We managed about 5 minutes fishing there before security spotted us and asked us to leave.

Oops - starting to digress a little but getting there I assure you.  On my last fishing trip with Chris back in 2008 he tried his best to get me a kingfish from Sydney harbour.   On that occasion Chris managed to catch one but I got busted off by a good kingie.   He promised to get me one on my next visit.

Sadly Chris very suddenly passed away last year.   It really knocked me for six I can tell you. I was determined to catch a kingfish during my 2012 trip in his memory.   Through a Sydney Fishing Forum I had struck up another friendship with Ollie who was to be my main fishing mentor on this trip.   What an expert he proved to be - a fish magician if there is such a thing.

On this trip out Ollie told me that kingfish would be the main target.  We set out in Ollies tinny from Sydney North Harbour and rowed the short distance out to where we were hoping to catch some squid.  Live squid is the optimum kingfish bait.  We set up shrimp rigs on our rods and drifted close inshore by Forty Baskets Beach.   Ollie really is a top angler and managed to get six squid to the boat.   All I managed to catch was one!!!!!   I blame being put off by the bikini clad paddle boarders that frequently passed the boat.

The squid were carefully popped into a large bucket which had a portable aerator clamped to it.   Ollie rowed us a bit further out and we tied up to a buoy.   Ollie showed me how to rig up a live squid and we cast them out a short distance, hoping for some kingfish action.

While the kingfish rods were out we tried to catch some yellowtail, also to use as livebait for the kingfish.  Ollie crumbed some bread into the water and soon a shoal of yellowtail were under the boat.  We baited up some very small hooks with pilchard and dropped them over the side.  True to form Ollie caught five and I caught one.  These also went into the aerated bucket.   I was well chuffed as the yellowtail was a new species for me.

After a wait of about an hour a kingfish finally grabbed Ollies squid.   What a scrap it gave Ollie, making several good runs before I managed to net it for him.   After a couple of photos the fish was carefully returned to fight another day.

The next two kingfish also fell to Ollies rod and these were also released.   I was beginning to give up hope of getting my fish when a kingie eventually took my squid.   The fish was not big but what a scrap it gave me on light gear.   I had caught my kingfish  and was well pleased.   A quick photo and back it went.

Ollie suggested trying livebaiting with yellowtail next and no sooner had he cast out then a bonito grabbed it.  Once again another great scrap.  He kept this fish as he was going to use it for shark at a later date.

Before the end of the session he managed to catch another 3 bonito which he also kept for shark bait.   For good measure he also caught two tailor which were returned.  During this period I did not have a single bite !!!!  Ollie is simply a top angler and knows the harbour like the back of his hand.

Well what a great day it had been.   Fishing in a great location with a top angler/mate and catching that elusive kingfish.  That one was for you Chris Tyler, I hope you enjoyed it.   On the way back in we saw a hammerhead shark being caught by another boat.   It looked about four feet long and what problems they had trying to unhook it.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and the supporting pictures.  Did my mate Ollie manage to catch that shark from the shore?   I will stay tight lipped on that one as there may be a follow up article.   I will say that I caught 13 new species during this current trip, one of the captures making the headlines in the local paper.   I also struck up a friendship with Steve Pope whilst in Sydney.   I believe Steve is quite famous in the UK as a top barbel angler.   We also had a few fishing trips together in the harbour,  including one that saw me get totally spooled.

We are now looking at a 3 month return trip to Australia in January 2013 to see our daughter and grandson.   Bring it on and I will be hoping to add to my 33 species tally.   If anyone wants any information/advice on fishing in Australia feel free to get in touch.   This also includes fishing around the Mull of Galloway.

John Stephenson aka Snatcher

Zed Longitude and Latitude....By Rob Shallcroft

Pike fishing had been the mainstay of my winter fishing for 13 seasons, I love it ! My two main pikeing targets past me by. Terrific fishing and lots of effort along the way, I love it ! I fancied a break from it all to be honest and mix it up a bit. What next ?

I fancy a double figure tench, I have a few pits around locally to me that “do” them. I could  put the time and effort in during the spring and summer as my main stay and then during the winter, fish just one long weekend a month and try for a big pike from the Peat Diggins, I’d like that. The thought however of being surrounded by carp anglers fishing for tench, with bivvies and the like puts me off as it might drive me nuts! Perhaps a big winter roach would hit the spot. I’d had a little run of nice ones from one river when snatching baits but I knew I’d not be able to leave the pike alone, plus where the big roach were, was a place I’d rather not be any more. The bailiff did my head in and I’d developed a neck like the girl from the Exorcist film, 360 degree neck turning and looking over my shoulder. No thank you very much, I needed a little break from all that.

Within an 30 mins drive I have two rivers and a canal with a good track record of producing the occasional big zander. I don’t like zander I thought , they eat the pikes food and they are not pike. Pike are the Queens, Zeds are pale insignificant creatures, sandpaper touch and dead eyes. I’d caught one or two in the past and they didn’t really rock my boat…… or so I thought !

UTurn, decision made, a zander season. I kitted out a boat, that is the easy bit as it is simply money and time. I have good mates to call on for help and advice, thanks Steve and Brian. A boat was gained and all kitted out as I wanted, it is however a pain in the backside sat at home, blocking my little driveway up and making it difficult to get the garbage bin out. I’d rather not have the boat at home but it is a necessary evil for efficient pursuit of a big zander on my rivers. A tool of the trade. The boat was kitted out for maximum efficiency. No boat of mine would just be sat in, polished and looked at. I won’t bore you with the details, but everything to ensure I could launch and be on the river quick smart was put in place.

There would be no excuse not to fish short sessions of 3-4 hours, with no mucking around at the slip way. Launching and retrieve was made a “pit stop” affair, being able to launch in under 15 mins and retrieve and drive away in under 15 mins.

 Decisions

Having been in this game of catching big wet fish for a long time now, I've learnt a thing or two from mistakes in the past. It’s always best to keep things as simple as possible. Simple very often equals efficient. I had a long hard look at things over the close season and set my stall and formed a plan of sorts and set rough targets. I “do” targets as they keep me focused and on top of my game plan. Not everyone’s cup of tea I know, but we all take our brew differently and I like plenty of spice in mine.

 Left-ism

I started by reading all I could get my hands on about Zander. I listened to advice from guys I knew who’d fished for them in the past. Lots of conflicting methods and vibe. I should be jigging, I should be chucking shads, I should be float fishing live and dead baits. I should be ledgering with minimal resistance. Big baits sort out the gooduns, don’t ignore sea baits. Small hooks , big hooks, light wire, heavy wire. Barbel rods, pike rods. Day night. Night day. Fish here, fish there, fish everywhere. I was confused ! Clarity came. I’d ignore the whole lot of it and do my own thing and bore them out !

 Slip-ism

I picked a slip way on each river to use and paid my dues to use them. Now for some clever watercraft to pick where I was going to fish, I flicked a coin ! Heads left, Tails right. Heads it was, first decision made, come rain or shine for the whole first season I would only turn left out of the two slipways and fish to their navigatable limit. No big fish reports or info would change that, decision made , turn left it was. This decision simplified things to not flit around too much as there was enough mileage to go at turning left only. Additionally I picked a single bank spot I fancied, to drop into when the rivers were unfishable by boat as a backup, to keep me in the groove,out of the pub and other non fishing mischief I am susceptible to dabbling with.

 

Troll-ism

 Before the season started I made another decision, to troll natural baits only. I’d be at home with this as I only ever use natural baits I've caught myself , both live and dead, apart from when fishing the Trout Waters where the rules stipulate I cannot. I’d done a lot of pike float trolling on big sheets of water in the past, so I’d be reasonably comfortable with the method. To keep faithful to this simple decision discipline, I only took  trolling gear, I couldn’t then change my mind and fish a different option. For three months I simply turned left out of the slip and trolled on the bow mount different areas on my own, holding the single rod and looking at the echo sounder. My fishing and results were very mixed during the first three months, I caught zeds and micro pike trolling but no big fish. However the discipline of sticking to trolling for the first three months gave me a good knowledge of both rivers' contours, snags and bottom paraphernalia. Info gained and time certainly not wasted in retrospect….I did wonder at the time if I was doing it wrong as I was itching for a big fish and not getting anywhere near one.

 First Result

 Come late summer I decided to pull off the trolling malarkey and started to sit on spots I fancied and fish more statically. On one of the first static trips a mate, Brian joined me with the promise of a beer and a lorry ratchet strap for my boat. Taking it in turns on my gear, a rod hoops round and I’m netting a whacker for Brian. At last I’m looking down on a really big zander an impressive sight to the eyes. With photos taken, it only took Brian and hour to turn right and swim back to the slip way! Interestingly another friend caught this same fish a month or so before Brian, several miles upstream, highlighting just how mobile these fish can be and how few in number these really big fish actually are. No real surprises there, as this is often the case in all big fish angling.

In time I became impressed by the sight of a big zander on my unhooking mat. They are fascinating creatures to hold and get a proper good look at. Their jaws are the toughest things out there and big ones have surprisingly big mouths and heads on them. If they don’t want to open their mouths for unhooking the angler really does have to prize their jaws apart with the forceps, yet I discovered these jaws can present finicky bait pickups as they can be delicate/nervous feeders. The zanders colouring varies a lot in different water colour conditions, I far prefer the more yellow/green colouration viewed in clearer water conditions to the pale silver colouring seen in prolonged coloured water conditions. I’m an auto setting “point and shoot” camera angler, so my photos don’t always do themselves justice. The zanders fins can be tinged with magenta colouring  especially the tail root and I caught a few with distinctive yellow spots under their jaws and pink splashes of colour interrupting their white belly mass. Their fins are amongst the most delicate of fishes and I would recommend the use of the rubberized landing net meshes available today.

 Zed movements

Mark Barretts excellent article a few years ago in Pike and Predators magazine, concerning bream movements on his waters interested me greatly. I re-read his piece several times. I’d certainly located at times a large bream shoal on one river and fished in and around these areas. My results were poor, these bream were mostly in the 2-7lb bracket and obviously too big for any zander to prey upon. I could never seem to find smaller sized bream populations. What I did find were large mini perch groups that could often be seen and heard plopping around under their favoured tree lines and bleak populations in open water, the zander seemed to prey upon these food sources. Bleak shoals were often a giveaway, as zander would hit the surface and spiky erect dorsal fins could be spotted. Whenever I spotted spiky dorsal fins breaking the water I would do well with multiple catches made, albeit often smaller fish.

 I’ve found when really on the feed, a group of zeds will graze moving upstream, their movement covering much of the width of the river in group patrol. How do I come to this conclusion ? Fishing four rods spread across the river often it’s the down-stream rods that will go first, followed by other rods in direct order to their placement downstream of the boat. I can not be sure and it is a bit of a lunch time theory, but I kinda got the impression they might travel as a group of feeding fish, spreading out across the river in some sort of feeding formation where the greater good of the group might benefit from prey fish spooking and running into the path of other members of the feeding group. When the first fish is landed it is vital to get the bait and rig back out as quickly as possible. I have a big weighted weigh sling slung over the side of the boat ready for quick keeping of a goodun or two.

 The bigger fish often seemed to pop up out of the blue at any time of the day. Often they would come out on their own. Leading to the thought that these bigger fish are on their own or part of a very small group of bigger fish. Perhaps the rest of their once bigger group had died out leaving them alone or in a tiny group of big hen fish. Multiple captures of bigger fish only appeared for me at the back end of the season where some obvious grouping up of all species occurs in certain areas. Nothing new there as the exact same occurs in my river pikeing too.

 Gear

 Rods are a compromise, a heavy barbel rod and quiver is OK in low flow and little debris or snags in a river and ideal to indicate small “pick ups”. A standard fair pike rod is ideal for setting hooks in the hard bone of a zanders mouth but will not give much visual indication on the tip. I use Lumbys 10ft P4’s from the boat, the tip is reasonably light for a pike rod but they sets hooks well too. Plus, there’s always a chance I might hook into a big pike and if I do I’ll want to be leaning into it to move her away from tree line, snags or anchor ropes. I’ll not be wanting a barbel rod in my hand with a 20lb+ pike that doesn’t fancy it’s photo being taken.

Pretty much standard fair heavy braid and wire traces completed simple end set ups and the only thing I developed differently was the use of my barbel bait droppers, pre-baiting little spots on the day being fished as I rotated my fishing spots, upping anchor and dropping in to different areas on my menu.

 I found normal boat rod rests a total hindrance. The action of pulling a rod forward and out of a Roberts style rest was both too slow and the jolting change in resistance caused dropped runs. Thinking cap on, I designed high, stand up fully adjustable boat rod rests that enabled me to stand by the rods in the boat and hit pickups as if I was on the bank with the rods in rests pointing skywards. I like the rods high up in the boat with the butts at hip height and tips in the air. This enables me to pick a rod up and gently drop the rod tip down to pay out a little line against the current should I wish too.

 Pickups and slip ups

 If I get an unmiss-able pick up with the rod tip bouncing or shaking, something is hanging it’s self on the end , I’ll then whack into the offending creature immediately. Indications at the rod tip are mostly shakes, rattles and rolls, rarely do the zander scream or plod off taking much line off the bait runner. This does mean a lot of missed strikes especially when using live baits as it can be difficult to tell the difference between a live bait that has woken up or a zander grabbing and consuming it’s dinner on the spot. In this respect I think the zander very much hit and pick up baits, in a more direct upstream movement, thus indications are often smaller simply because the bait and hooks are not moving far and more often directly upstream.

 Perhaps this is exaggerated with the zanders make up  of not being so “bendy” as a pike and very much a sergeant straight up and down fish in movement and characteristic ? Zander can be finicky and it always pays to hold the rod and feel exactly what is going on when you can. Zander will pick up and drop baits repeatedly, the tell tale little crush marks can be seen on retrieved baits. The law of averages tells me they are mostly small fish, but not always and I have touch ledgered and hit the offending small pickups and hooked up double figure fish.  Many years of stand up, single rod, touch ledgering for barbel and chub have been valuable to me in the zander twitch stakes and it’s very difficult to describe on paper what to hit, what not to and when to drop the rod to pay out a little line to get a more positive indication, so I’ll have to leave it at that !

We do all have to be reasonably quick in making our minds up in the decision to strike or not. Zander will wolf baits down at times and its far more difficult to remove a hook that is out of sight on a zander than a pike, as they do not have the retractable white stomach lining of a pike that you can pull into view to remove a deeply hooked fish. Although I have had the occasional zander that runs with the bait, I’ve found this rare, with rattles and pulls the norm.

 If in doubt always have the attention to feel what is going on and if not sure have a little feel and a pull to move lead and bait to make double sure a fish is not swallowing a bait on hooks. This is a double edged sword as unlike pike, moving the bait/disturbing the lead any great distance can spook them and often they do not return.

Having now completed two dedicated seasons of zander fishing, I now reflect, it is a short time in fishing life. I learnt lots but only really scratched the surface in any real understanding of their movements and moods. No doubt if I put more seasons into zander fishing, my observations and thoughts would change as that is how it works and I don’t pretend to be an expert zander angler in any shape or form. I did put a lot of time and effort in and managed to bore out a number of double figure fish but the really big one evaded me and that pains me a little. I didn’t like zander much two years ago but have grown to respect them, if I am honest I would rather they were not in our inland waterways as I’m sure the pike fishing on the three waters I fished would be improved without them as they have become the more dominant predator in terms of numbers. That fact is not likely to change anytime soon. I enjoyed the two seasons in their pursuit, but now it is time to move on to the next challenge……. Thanks for reading my scribble.

Border Assault By Alex Cairnie

BORDER ASSAULT

CAPPED FOR ENGLAND

Out of respect there will be no photos of venue.... 

We were working in Hull and had been chatting daily about the pike as we normally did most days; they always found a way into our conversations.  

Chris had asked a guy from the pike fishing forums about the potential fishing in the area and the fella kindly pointed us toward that neck of the woods. Online reports suggested very average fishing at best and big dubs or 20’s to be rare beasts entirely, but history suggested that it was at least capable of better.

On arrival I was struck by how beautiful a venue this was and how similar it was to my favourite of all English venues the broads,It had the same reed lined margins and flat peaty shallow look to it that screamed big pike. The locals who were also going out had other opinions of the potential, clearly stating doubles were   considered big fish and 20,s were very rare indeed. In fact it hadn't done a genuine one in the previous few seasons according to a small band of locals.

It didn't matter to us we were in England on business and any pike were good pike on a new water and we just needed to get out there and fish, in the back of my mind I seriously fancied this place it had great history and it just looked pikey to me and more importantly I also had the feeling we were there at the right time.

We headed out on our boat and had a slow tour of the place taking in the beautiful views and natural appeal of the place but it wasn't long before we saw a problem….hundreds of problems in fact.

There was a wooded peninsula on one shore and the trees that once thrived were now barren of life and leaf except of course for the 150 odd cormorants drying their wings in urgent anticipation of their next meal. My heart sank....How could pike compete with that? I expected the pike were now hungry pike and skinny too. I had been here before on venues I was telling myself I would be surprised if there was anything left. In hindsight hundreds of cormorants need feeding and I was to be proved wrong at least on that side of things.

We chose a shallow area at the mouth of a small inlet that looked like the most natural spawning bay on the whole place, it instantly jumped out at me and  the swim chosen on the basis of temperature and time of year, no science to that just experience.

I thought if the fish had spawned they could be in the process of re entering the main body of water as we spoke directly below and around us. My spirits lifted when I noticed some fry breaching near the margins. We fished Narfulk style with small bright float ledgered deads in the calm coloured water casting close to the boat in less than 5ft of water. Rod away instantly I was into a fish a hard fighting 10 pounder and a good start, slipping it back I noticed Chris lifting his rod....big swirl behind his float.... fish on! This dropped off after a few violent shakes of the head, we both agreed this had been a good fish and possibly the size we were after.

My next run to the same bait produced an upper double of around 17lbs again in super condition though clearly lean and empty. We were definitely on the money I wondered if other areas would be the same or were we just the lucky ones today. I dropped a smaller fish just as my second rod bent double this was met with solid resistance clearly a bigger fish after a cracking fight I netted a thick 20 weighing 21lb solid and clean. The baits were being taken rapidly and many fish from singles to mid doubles graced our net in the next few hours.

I dropped two more good fish one an easy mid 20 that came to the top before throwing the hooks, they were all lightly hooked but not messing around on the take. Chris shouted he was in and it was a lump, I was hoping for an English pb for both of us and this fish seemed to fit the bill, unfortunately it was to lead him under the boat and in all over the place before dropping off this was a very large fish possibly the best of the day. I could see the look in his eye and little was said. Then I was in  again the float went right under ...my Loch Tamer earned its reputation by stopping this leviathan in its tracks as it headed out towards an anchored buoy , I wound down hard and she came toward the boat going crazy at the sight of the net but she was mine…  She looked colossal.

Her frame was immense and my mind was racing towards that magic number I craved, I rested her for a minute before bringing her into the boat, her head and tail were aged and enormous the muzzle was long and broad like mammoth pike of old but alas it was not to be.

At 27-01 she was well shy of my first guess she was also very empty and clearly just fresh from the act of spawning I cradled her for a while in the net just staring, one of those rare moments when all is fine around you and you are lucky enough to share minutes with this truly pre historic creature that knows nothing of us or our world. This is why I fish, for moments in time I will remember forever among the wild things, when for split second all the bad stuff seems a distant memory and not as important as it seemed yesterday, it’s not just for the capture and love of big pike.

She had Perhaps the largest tail and side paddles I have seen on any pike the photos done her no justice, an old  look in her eye as if this was nothing that would phase her,  she behaved well for the photos too. She swam off strongly and I always say a little prayer that they recover well and see another year. Our mission was accomplished and though we had a tremendous day on virgin (for us) water we could easily have boated 4-5 or even 6 other 20,s on that still February day.  

Big Pike can remain undetected in any water size; I truly believe we only ever scratch the surface with our islands true potential, my own chosen venues are ones of the ultra tough varieties. By choice I am after uncaught and unpressured leviathans in waters with a small head of pike for the acreage... blanks never bothered me the rewards of one run can change everything. I have been lucky to fish with pikers of a similar standing, one in particular being my late friend James Lockard who was a master at douring it out, unfazed by the elements or time alone, eventually extracting the largest fish on those rare occasions.

Sure there are monsters out there…..

Time really does fly, I will go back but when who knows...will it be as good, probably not but unless you go you will never know.

Al Cairnie

(Harelaw Henry)


Below is an open invite for members of the Pikers pit in memory of James Lockard, from Alex at his fisheries, I'm sure this is extended to anyone wishing to participate, Alex can be contacted via the forum under the name of Harelaw Henry.
http://www.snypesfishery.co.uk/ or alternatively through his fisherie. (editor)

I will be inviting forum members to a social in remembrance of a good friend and top piker James Lockard who passed away last year. Forum members contributed to the fundraiser HELD AT HARELAW last year and i plan to hold it each year between my own venues and hopefully loch fad, a favourite haunt of James over the years. The first will be held on Snypes where myself and james spent many winters blanking mostly, though not always...

It will be by blind donation on the day with the funds supporting the st vincents Hospice. (dont be shy)

space for pikers a plenty so come along and have a bash with the trophy going to captor of the biggest pike over the weekend. Bivvying allowed

barbie beer and raffle ....usual banter 



1st-2nd JUNE- date confirmed, changed due to unforseen circumstance

The crossing by Alex Cairnie

The Crossing

I saw him come barefoot and savage, a voice of horror echoed in my ear

Erotic in his rage I saw rusted steel shatter brittle bone. Black Flesh opened up to let life out and new life in

I saw hands raised clutching their worldly possessions in their palm

Limbs and hair detached from the heart and soul that gave them life.

In a moment that lasted an eternity in my head I wrote. Words, words that would define me

Poems or songs, I scribbled them on a page I would remember forever in a land that had suffered more than I could grasp.

No words were enough, and no poem could absorb it, only the eyes of people can tell the story and prove the facts.

Only the eyes of people can explain exactly what happened, in a moment that will stain humanity till the end of time.

The eyes of men women and children that didn’t deserve to witness such horror but by the law of nature had no choice.

Soulless faces with eyes deeper than the abyss of hell. In my mind I wrote and didn’t stop.  

My words were from a deeper part of my being where I can justify the worst of humanity to myself

Visions of doing the same that had been done, as justice for all or too simply justify the horror that at least

It was capable for a human to commit such acts and think nothing of consequence.

I fell back to verse, all my life I found solace in words, Hemingway, Hardy, Thomas and Sassoon great poets urging me to write more.­

God keep us close that I can smash your rotten skull

And live to see it clot among the tiny shrubs

I’ll take sentry till the sun has bleached your bones

And washed the stained earth clean beneath you

I’ll stay awake until the devil departs your soul  

And I will burn the plants dead again that spring from where you fell.

No life shall I let live in your name to rid the earth of the plague that

Boiled inside you.

Only then will the joy of birds be heard again in this hellish land.

 Four Thousand miles from home, with only one wish to kill a man I’ve never met.

This was my ambition this was my purpose, this was all I was here to do and I wanted that chance more than anything ever before. I’m squatting with my eyes locked on the small clearing to my left, beads of sweat have drenched my shirt and my webbing feels weightless with the sudden burst of adrenalin coursing through my veins. Hearing footsteps and the snapping of twigs and leaf, my mind races but as the first man enters my sight I feel calm. Bang Bang Bang 3 shots to his torso and he is down. Bang Bang 2 into the second and he follows hard to the jungle floor.

I jump forward and make sure with two shots more to each of their heads as a third charges toward me his eyes bulging in their sockets, his naked torso is muscle and bone shining like oil in the baking sun, an AK47 pointing directly at me and he’s shouting and screaming like a banshee while firing rapidly miss, miss, miss. I am suddenly aware that I am laughing wildly, I engage and don’t stop until I hear a dead mans click. He has covered 20 yards before falling at my feet very dead, I laugh, I laugh louder then I shout, fuck you.

I turn to look at Charlie and he is standing there, all very calm and cool he smiles at me and says “you’re fucking mad Al” in his finest cockney accent. Three down dead, no injuries to us, we’re OK we simmer down have a look around then we can have a chinwag and a wet, we take the weapons and some pictures and leave knowing how lucky we are and how unlucky they were to meet us.

I slept well that night and didn't give it much thought the next day or in the weeks to come, to be honest it just fizzled out in my mind and became another day. I was here and they were not, and we carry on.....

I understood quickly what kind of engine drove me after this and my time in the services was limited at best. I needed action if I was to remain focused without it the blackness that haunted me would return and dictate my days as it had in the past. I had my share of fun and memorable events I left not knowing the scale of things to come in Afghanistan which was just around the corner, though we really thought it wouldn't come off. How wrong we were. But in hindsight, had I used my nine lives already? Only the gods know that.

AC

John Currie... a most tenacious chap.

The one & only John Currie ....

It seems as if John Currie works full time to give anglers a voice in Broadland but he finds time to work and fish a bit too.  Even in the mad week before Christmas he’s still found time for a chat with the Pool-siders. Thanks John, here we go…

How long have you been an angler?

I understand you’re not native to Norfolk, where did you grow up and how was the fishing there?

I’m 53 now, first session on the Medway at 7 so 46 years an angler.  I was born in Scotland and moved to Dagenham at age of 6, then moved back to Scotland at 8. We then moved to Brixton aged 9.  Fished the Thames a lot and pits around Cheshunt and Broxbourne. The Medway a bit, Blenheim lake and even Wraysbury.  We used to jump on a train and head for some place we had read about in the papers or heard about from Johnsons tackle shop in Brixton.  My old man was good about taking me and my mates, a different world then, he would leave us out at nights on our own all of us under 16. We got booted off Diana fountain at Hampton court trying to night fish.  Police gave us lift back to station were we slept till first train in morning.  Had great weekends around Goring and Pangbourne.  It felt like paradise to us, getting out of Brixton to real greenery.  We even fished Clapham common just to get our fix. The serpentine seemed pretty good when your that age.  We got kicked off all the royal park lakes, didn’t seem to matter at the time.  One winter we kipped on a boathouse near Pangbourne, one of the crew lit a fire and next thing is we are trying to stop this posh boat house going up in flames.  The house behind must of seen the flames as we heard shouting and torch lights, we decided to leg it for the station.  Really good move as the bobbies were waiting for us there.  We all denied knowledge of any wrong doing and apart from been covered in and stinking of smoke our story was somehow blown!  Next morning saw a group of loving parents reunited with a bunch of Herberts all crying "It weren’t our fault".  All charges were dropped as soon as said loving parents agreed to cover all damages.  I was 13 at the time and my Dad said I needed to learn some discipline. He enrolled me in Fitzroy lodge boxing club.  Now this I liked, we had meets with other clubs or wars.  Repton was always nasty but great fun.  I loved it until I met a lad from Repton who wasn’t a fighter but a boxer.  I managed to catch him a few times but he was class, made me feel useless.  In the third round my old man said I needed to pull something out of the bag and dig deep.  I bided my time, missed him with an upper cut and as he stepped back I kicked him in the nuts!  Dad didn’t speak to me for a week and I never boxed again.  I moved onto things were I could boot people and the star at the time was Bruce Lee.  So started an interest that lasted for 20 years.  I loved to fight, it made me feel alive.  I never was a technician but enjoyed the battle.  I took gradings in 6 different arts and I can’t describe how much it meant to me.  At 36 I suddenly realised I wasn’t enjoying it anymore and stopped.  At 16 I was well known in the Brixton area as someone who enjoyed the healthy rough and tumble.  The inevitable happened and after waking from a coma and a nice knife wound in the back my parents moved to Norfolk..

Norfolk was a shock to me.  Took me a while to get used to the quiet and being out of the speed of a city.  The fishing was the biggest shock, lots of space and not many other anglers.  I had fished the Scottish Lochs with my uncles and loved the vastness of the lochs, but Norfolk had a different feel.  My first few years were spent fishing for anything and everything.  I would like to paint a picture of my incredible angling skills but truth be told you didn’t have to try hard to catch. I had a couple of periods when I left Norfolk and moved back to London for work reasons. Also a long stay in Rhodesia.  I always ended up back mainly for the fishing.  The Lochs had a huge draw on me and I had a couple of dangerous incidents due simply due to being on my own.  I only fish then in company now. 

With all the stuff you’ve got going on, how often do you manage to go fishing? And do you have time for any other hobbies/interests/family?

Why Pike?

Do you fish for other species?

At 27 I realised I was enjoying Piking more than anything and apart from the very rare carp trip, brief chub interest and Perch trip it’s been that way ever since. I manage two to three sessions week in the winter, preferably boat fishing.  I’m lucky enough to live a mile from the River Yare and am placed well for most of Broadland.  Speaking to some mates I realise how lucky I am in being able to pop out and be fishing in under ten minutes, it’s something I have never stopped being grateful for. As I’m self-employed I will stop work to milk the good times, this to me is important.  I read Nev’s list and know some of the hardcore guys, I also know how far they have to travel to catch.  I know how much time they put in to catch and I’m impressed. I often wonder how some of those names would fair with what I have on my doorstep? There is no doubt that Norfolk Piking has gone downhill in many ways for many reasons and this is something myself and others are working on improving..

We can’t ignore the politics & the Heigham Sound dredging in particular. A couple of years ago I attended the meeting at Norwich where Dan Hoare of the BA answered questions.  From what I remember a lot of the proposals anglers put forward that night are finally being implemented by BA.   (e.g.  suction dredging, work in winter, toxin tests etc)  Is if fair to say the BA are finally listening? 

In the meeting you refer to it was suggested cold water dredging was safer, and we gave them some obvious advice about times of tides for times of dredging. All of that was ignored for two years. They agreed to winter dredging because we gave enough information to NE so NE could advise them it was the way to go! We asked for suction dredging they said it was too expensive. Now they are using it, some success in those areas. Im afraid I believe they would use clam shell if they think they would get away with it.  The toxin count wasn’t mentioned at that meeting we were just asking for regular cell counts. What I have discovered since is how we cannot depend on cell counts but need toxin counts.

Could you sum up the situation as things stand now?

We have had massive success with EA and NE who have listened to me and are investigating Prymnesium for the first time in 15 years. We have contributions from them that have enabled us to get a world leading expert on Prym to visit and investigate the problem. We also have a desktop study sponsored by NE and a PHD study on Prym on the Thurne. The most exciting thing is the "John Innes Centres "involvement. They believe they can produce an on-site test kit for toxin in the next 18 months. This would be like a pregnancy test kit, add water and it will show if toxins are present.  At the moment the test for toxin can take a couple of days and cost hundreds of pounds. We envisage this kit will be issued to regular Thurne visitors and boatyard staff. We will then have instant results. Going on from this is my next challenge, a freshwater fish refuge on the system.  One used to exist but was deemed to affect reed beds so was capped. I will argue that saving fish is more important than saving reeds!  JIC also believe it is possible to find the chemical tipping point and negate Pryms upper hand amongst the algaes present on the system. Johannes Hagstrom also believes the system could be bio manipulated to push Prymnesium to a position were fatal blooms would not occur. Whatever happens we are trying and have fantastically gifted people involved. My good friend and at the time fellow PAC ro Steve Roberts was with me when we lost the planning application  for Duck island despite passionate letters from the likes of Steve Harper.  BA bamboozled the planning committee and it was frustrating to hear BAs claims on safety. A couple of years on we are in a good place and BA recently asked to meet with me on how they can get involved. The meeting was a success and I hope they work with me on solving the problems. Steve Roberts is now working so many hours as a carer he moved aside for Micky Cox to take over as RO.  Without either of them things would not be where they are now.  When the dredging issue started I had no end of conversations and e mails telling me I was wasting my time taking the issue on. I would suggest to anyone faced with an issue that could affect Pike to get PAC involved and make the change needed to ensure Pike conservation and protect Pikers.  BA have a legal right to dredge, we will make sure it is carried out as safely as possible.

Another knock on effect from all of this was a tagging project with the EA.  This project was started in answer to Broadland Pikers worries about declining Pike stocks.  We are tagging on two sites and waiting to prove retention rates of the tags.  If as we hope the tags have a long working life the project will roll out onto the rivers. We have tagged over 250 Pike and so far retention rates look good.  The tags are cellophane thin and measure a couple of millimetres long and same again wide. We decided on such small tags to alleviate anglers concerns of number plates on their quarry. We already have some very good data on growth rates etc. This long term project will enable us to sit down with all controlling bodies after a fatal salt surge or perhaps a Prymnesium bloom and work out how to restock the system. It will also give answers to possible restocking because of low Pike numbers. I have also just taken delivery of some DO and conductivity meters from the EA. This follows on from myself and Steve Roberts trying to find how bad a salt surge had affected the Yare, we were basically looking for dead fish.

Are there still things anglers should be wary of?

We explained to EA how useless we felt and told them of our concerns of the lack of data on salt surges. This resulted in another project. We now have a couple of DO meters and a couple of conductivity meters. We will visit any river in Broadland in danger of salt surges and record levels of incursion. This will enable EA to compile a data base and plan possible refuges .The sad fact is we don’t have enough info on how bad some of these surges have been. I and others believe the Yare and Waveney have been very badly affected. Before anyone asks why EA are not doing this, well fisheries staff in Broadland are few and far between.  In a surge they will be out on the rivers raising the curtain at Potter and doing their job. I would rather be involved and contributing rather than depending on them for information. Pikers have so much going against us at the moment we need to help ourselves. We will be getting some basic training in the meters use and away we go, as always Mr Cox is a volunteer for custodian of one of the meters.

One of the things local and visiting anglers can do to help the situation on not only the Thurne but any river drain or lake is to report anything suspicious to the EA. Fish killing or theft or fish dying or in distress.  It is staggering to hear people complain about such and such and when you ask if they reported it they answer no.  It’s especially important on the Thurne so we can react to possible fatal blooms. The sooner we hear of problems we can save fish.  Prymnesium can be devastating in a short period of time EA have proved in the past they can save fish if informed of problems.  Please remember to get an incident number so we can track how the problem is dealt with 0800807060 is EAs number. People have rung me before they ring EA, thanks for the info but please ring them first.

I was really impressed with the way you handled the original meetings particularly as there was a lot of passion involved.  People were able to express themselves strongly but there was never any hint of things getting out of control.  At one of the meetings I managed to attend, I was impressed with Mark Owen of the Angling Trust, has the AT been a big help?

I was impressed with the anglers’ attitude of those that attended that meeting. It was potentially explosive, yet everyone conducted themselves professionally. Mark Owens later involvement and attendance at meetings was impressive. I dare say he could be great in an appeal for funds or some such project but he shines in conflict situations, you want him on your side. I can only speak as I find but I’m an AT member simply because I have witnessed AT in action.

Do you have any fishing heroes, past or present?

What is your favourite type of water?  If you had to choose would you fish Broads or Lochs?

Who is your ideal boat partner?   This could be a mate or a hero, crumpet or all three.

Will have a think about heroes as I don’t think I do! I love the vastness of the lochs and there wild places at times. I also love the intimacy of the broads and there tranquillity, so I couldn’t choose. Steve Roberts is a good boat partner for me as he is easy going, mostly I want to strangle boat partners. The embarrassing thing about it is everyone who knows me just accepts it, when we do tagging or social fish ins I nearly always wangle a boat on my own. I have a huge interest in polar exploration so would share a boat with Shackleton or Amundsen to hear their stories.  The only other person who has survived my company a fair few times in a boat is Julie my partner. She enjoys lure fishing and has become fairly proficient at it.  Because of her hatred of getting cold and for some reason she thinks i get stroppy if she is noisy in the boat her trips with me are few and far between!   I will mention another project with the EA and backed by NDPC ,PAC and Broads Angling Strategy Group, our wheel chair friendly boat. It has been very rewarding at times to take out adults and kids .We have always been flexible who we take out and it has a lot of use from kids who shall we say need escorts from their current addresses! I underestimated how enjoyable the whole thing was going to be. I would like to hear from more people who would like to use the boat escorted or not.

Is there anything you dislike about modern Piking/Pike scene??

As for dislikes of modern Piking, there are a few.  I always like reading Nev’s list but I never meet anyone anymore who has had a good or bad season. Its all I’m on my 50th or one more to do a hundred. To contradict myself it has so many flaws, but I like to keep an eye on it. The guys who have to travel to get to half decent waters, guys that push family ties, the lads who work long hours then fish weekends all have my admiration and there are plenty of them who catch impressive Pike.

We Pikers always seem to be on a knife edge of falling out, anti-livebaiting, some pikers don’t like lure anglers, if you fish chew you’re a glory hunter. We would do well to remember we are all Pikers and a bit of understanding and acceptance to different opinions and techniques might make us all a lot stronger. Pet hates in Broadland are people who leave rods unattended, speeding Pike boats who whoosh past you .People on the bank with all the latest gear costing a fortune and no unhooking mat. They weigh as much as a tin of coke aren’t always needed but why not have it in case? Better stop there as I feel a rant coming on.

 Many of us have enjoyed reading your story of a Scottish 31 as told in ‘Dream Pike’.  Do you still have another ‘Dream Pike’ you’d love to catch one day?

I still have dreams of monster Pike. I fished a loch that was a grueller to get to, 5 hour walk with tackle. First cast I had a trout, third cast made the trip worthwhile but I watched a Pike in stream that fed the loch that would of been a dream to catch. These things keep you going in the lean times. I fished for three days on that loch and caught nowt else. I have been back once for a few small Pike, but the place haunts me.  Steve Roberts and I also have unfinished business on another loch, he hooked the biggest Pike I have ever seen had it boat side and he lost it.  He was quite calm and I went ape shit.  As a bank partner I seem to do well with Mr Cox, we have had some good days together. But I nearly always fish on my own.

Thanks a lot John, really enjoyed this!  If anyone from the BA ever reads it they’ll think twice about getting into a row with you again, come to think of it they’re probably thinking that already!  As a frequent visitor to the Broads can I thank you, Steve, Micky and all in the Norwich club once again on all you continue to do for angling in the area.  Over the years, Pikers have been given a bad press at times but here we have an example of Pike anglers leading the fight on behalf of all anglers and true wildlife lovers.

This interview from John currie, yet again emphasises the tenacity of the man in the face of what was historically a difficult issue to deal with, whereby the relevant authorities are having to now face up to accountability, and culpability.

Besides John, stands Mickey Cox and others, who are slowly changing the mindset of these authorities, and put in selfless amounts of time and effort (even personal funds), for the benefit of pike and angling.

I sincerely hope that those who fish remember these individuals and the bodies that are fighting for our chosen sport, and put their support behind them, be it Pike Angling Club Of Great Britain (PACGB) or the Anglers Trust (AT) and that to unite is to strengthen our cause behind the maligned ignorance of days old. (Editor)