NAC/PAC joint Event Leeds Liverpool Canal Jon Neafcy R/O Region 31 PAC GB

Last year we held the first joint event, a social summer nights Eel fishing on a Northwest canal for members of Region 31 PAC GB & the North-West Region of the NAC, the event was well attended and the pike lads dusted their rods off which often lay dormant in the summer months, learned a bit on Eel handling and Eel welfare and a few nice Eels were caught giving them an option for local summer predator fishing.  Since last years event we have had the joint summer predator evening talks including the Pike Anglers Club, Catfish Conservation Group, National Anguilla Club & Zander Anglers Club all under one roof on the same night which was a great success.  Due to the interest in & the enjoyment gained from the Eel overnighter it was decided between myself & Peter Waterfield (North-West R/O NAC) to make the Eel overnighter an annual event, this year there would be a trophy for the biggest Eel caught.

After a bit of pondering it was decided to keep the same venue as last year, for several reasons, car-parking, decent venue for Eels over 2lb whilst being a runs water, miles of fishing, a pub on the bank (always a good thing) & easily obtainable fresh bait.  The venue has also in the past produced the odd Eel over 3lb to over 4lb.  The restaurant owners kindly permitted us to park a few cars overnight on their car park.  The event was promoted within both regions PAC & NAC and via the parent clubs. 

Peter Waterfield offered to do the driving so we paired up, we would arrive at tea time to allocate car-parking spaces, (this would also give me time for a pint or three me thought!  Well I wasn’t driving and I did say this would be a bit of a social too)  A few of us had a bit of a jolly in the pub beer garden before setting up, chatting pike, Eels and Catfish and having a bit of a catch up, until the weather changed and the rain set in.  Despite the bad weather (throwing it down with rain as it did last year) 9 lads from Region 31 PAC turned up and three Eel ‘experts’ from the NAC.  There was as always a mixed range of ages and different angling types and methods employed.  Mark Smethurst from the NAC demonstrated his ultra mobile approach to canal fishing with his push bike and lightweight gear, on which he has previously covered up to 90 miles in a weekend on helping him get to the remotest of spots whilst keeping him fit at the same time!  There are plenty of likely looking areas and features to fish to along this stretch and we meandered outwards at our leisure setting up camp every now and again by out chosen features.
 
My lot came at 11pm, with a confident take on a fish bait promptly missed, the lad next to me Dave Mc C managed one about 1lb 8oz around midnight on lobworm.  One of our other lads Keith Dutton found the fish with several runs including a bonus pike coming his way he lost a decent Eel too but managed a 2lb 1oz winning the day, as far as I know unless anyone has gone ‘secret squirrel’ on me those were the only two Eels caught.  Everyone who attended enjoyed the event and myself and Peter Waterfield of the NAC are already looking for a venue to hold next years event and hopefully we will get a bit better weather too.  I am looking forward to next years event already.