Hi, I am a complete newbie to pike and any coarse fishing, but have 50 years experience of sea fishing with the last 5 years mainly lure fishing for Bass.
I brought my first ever licence, done some reading, brought some pike lures and visited a local river Sunday to try out the action on the various new lures. Well against all expectations due to murky water, cold temperatures and not having a scooby I caught my first (Jack) pike.
Luckily for me close by was a Thanet/Canterbury member (sorry didn't get your name), as the fish was deep hooked. Despite the research and watching you tube, I completely panicked with regards to the fishes welfare. He came over explained everything calmly regarding handling a pike, let me remove the treble and took a photo for me. More importantly he showed me the best way to handle the fish, advised on cutters for deeply hooked fish and was not judgemental.
As a thank you for his invaluable advise, I promised I would join PAC, so thank you sir and here I am.
GARY