Pike Teach-Ins
Farnham Angling Society was the first club in the country to introduce Pike teach-ins back in 1990. 2010 marked the 20th anniversary, and through this period it has educated literally thousands of anglers. They have attracted the attention of Pike anglers from all over the country and even as far as Belgium.
The club noticed a decline in their premier Pike waters, fish were being found dead, showing signs of mishandling, there was also end tackle being found inside some Pike’s mouth, throat or stomach, causing these fish to die of starvation, so a decision was made to introduce compulsory education to protect our precious and vital Pike stocks.
Since the early days the Pike teach-ins have grown from strength to strength to a point where they are the envy of many a club throughout the country.
They cover practically everything!
- The teach-ins kick off with a tackle check where attendants must show they have the minimum requirement of tackle with them. There is even opportunity to purchase tackle you may require, which is sold at discount prices.
- Next you are shown how to make your own traces and a number of rigs are covered.
- Unhooking equipment and how to use it correctly is also shown.
- Correct bank side set-ups are covered along with the importance of load testing your rigs.
- Last but not least, comes the fish handling:
- First you are shown the correct procedure of how to deal with a Pike once it is hooked
- Then the release of the Pike.
- How to deal with a deep hooked fish is also shown in great detail.
- Once all this has been shown, it is then your turn, where you must show you are confident and competent to handle a live Pike on your own.
The teach-ins are free of charge and are run with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Every Pike angler will take a lot from them. We receive a huge amount of excellent feed back each year, from members of all experiences who have attended them.
James Ware October 2011
Just a quick e-mail to say a huge thank you to Mike and his band of helpers for the Pike Teach-In I attended last night. It was an incredibly informative couple of hours! I have learnt a huge amount and now feel entirely confident in handling a Pike of any size. I look forward to upsetting the wife by cluttering up the coffee table with traces and trebles! Thank you again, I really enjoyed and benefited from the session!
Mark Gramson September 2011
Hi there, just a quick email to thank Mike Slater and the guys for helping me and my 8 year son, who now thinks he is the best fisherman in the world !
I have been coarse fishing for some 35 years, but got so much info on the course. Thanks again.
D P Foster September 2011
I have just taken part in one of the FAS Pike Teach-Ins today and found it really useful and of great help. Mike and the team were very good and I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to fish for Pike. Well done and keep up the good work, this course is well worth doing. Thanks again.
Jason - September 2011
I just wanted to drop you a line with some feedback on the pike teach-in I attended yesterday. I am new to this side of fishing and this was a great platform to build from. I think the guys do a superb job at educating all levels and ages of angler to where they need to be at as far as predator fishing goes. It is great that FAS are making these compulsory (and free!) having heard some of the horror stories of dead fish, etc. Every angling club should adopt this approach and enforce having the correct tools for the job if they run predator waters.
Before the session I was a bit anxious about the pike handling side of things, but the guys did a great job of explaining how and why to hold a fish properly. I am now 100% confident about targeting predator fish, and how to save fish that I find with terminal tackle stuck inside them. Please pass on my thanks to the guys.
Steve Coote - December 2010
Big thanks to Mike Slater and his team for a very informative Pike teach-in.
Steve Frapwell - November 2010
Just a few lines to say that I attended the last Pike fishing teach- in at Badshot Lea Big Pond last Sunday. I found the few hours spent there very helpful and even though I have fished for Pike for a few years I still picked up a few pointers. The guy doing the teaching, Mike Slater I think, came across very well and knows his stuff. I found the people there very friendly and most helpful, a big thank you and well done to all the Farnham Angling Society bailiffs for giving up their time for the welfare of the Pike in yours and other waters.
Phil Mandeville: 14th November 2010
I went on the pike teach-today and want to say how really useful I found it. It was extremely interesting and informative and all credit to Mike and the team for their hard work and professionalism.
Terry Morgan: 14th November 2010
Many thanks for allowing me, a member of the Test Valley Angling Club, to attend today's Pike Teach-In. I think it is a great benefit to angling that you do not restrict attendees to only members of your club. The tuition we were given was clear and concise, and for me, has taken the "fear" away from handling a Pike.
Ken Gomm - emailed September 2010
I am a new member of the FAS and applaud the Society's policy of requiring all members who wish to fish for Pike to attend a Teach-In first and satisfy the Society that they have the necessary tackle, knowledge and basic handling expertise before being allowed to proceed. Mike Slater conducted a brilliant teach-in on Sunday 19th September, which I attended. If all angling Society's adopted the same policy it would greatly improve the lot of the Pike. Congratulations, and please convey my thanks to Mike Slater.
Tim Howes - emailed September 2010
Hi there, I would like to say a big thanks to Mike his team and every one involved for their time and expert advice during the Pike Teach-In. I am a very keen Pike angler and think these fish deserve a high level of respect and care. I went to the teach in on Sunday 19th September and to be fair I did not think there was much I did not know about Pike fishing but after listening to Mike it has already made me a better Pike angler.
Colin Rane - emailed September 2009
Just wanted to email a quick word about the Pike Teach-In I attended last Sunday. I thought it was excellent and very very thorough. My main concern has always been about handling the Pike. Having had one on one guidance while I handled the Pike has been a huge huge help. I think the teach-ins are a superb idea and in my opinion, all clubs should take the same approach. If I had fished for Pike last season on the R&D AA, without having to attend a teach-in (doesn't exist), I would not have had any knowledge how to handle the Pike and therefore would be putting the Pike in danger. I would like to say a big thanks and well done to the guys doing the teach-in.
Brian Fuller - emailed September 2009
I just thought I would drop you a line on the Pike Teach-In on 21st September held by Mike Slater and his friends. It's not often that we send letters, e-mails, etc. when we are happy or pleased with something, but are always ready to complain. I attended this weekend's first teach-in with some trepidation really. Although I wouldn't call myself an expert, I have caught a fair-few Pike and was a little disheartened that I couldn't fish FAS waters without attending this course.
I would be the first to say that I was wrong in thinking that it would be anything like a waste of time. I found it very educational and enjoyed listening to somebody who obviously had more than enough passion for the job of teaching itself. With additional help from his colleagues, Mike made this, apart from the education, a much enjoyable experience with plenty of stories and banter of all kinds.
And ... I must say, I didn't realise how many mistakes that I was actually making on the bank myself. Little mistakes of course but nonetheless I feel as though I have actually attained a much better understanding of this side of our sport. I hope that you could forward this on the correct party and encourage these teach-ins to continue. Regards from a much appreciative angler.
C E Parslom - letter September 2009
I just wanted to thank you for the Pike Teach-In I attended today. Although I have been Pike fishing for 30 years, I still found I learned some useful tips. If only all clubs held similar events, I am sure our Pike would be in much better shape. At least in FAS no one has an excuse for loosing or damaging fish. Mike Slater and his team deserve a huge 'Thank You' . Please pass this on on my behalf. Tight Lines.
Anyone wishing to fish for Pike on FAS waters must attend a Pike teach-in. This includes all guests and exchanged members. Anyone who is not a member may also attend a teach-in, all are welcome. Dates and times will be shown in your member’s handbook, newsletters, tackle shops and the FAS web site each year.
Pike 'Teach-In' Dates & Information
Please remember that to qualify for a ‘Pike Fishing permit stamp’ in the Handbook, attendants must arrive before the stated time of each teach-in session (times indicated below) and bring the required equipment as per bye-law 4.s.ii a-g (see pages 10-11 to allow for a tackle check otherwise you will not be able to complete the teach-in).
- 15lb b/s main line on a spool
- 24" (60cm) long pike traces made with high quality wire [minimum 25lb breaking strain]
- Large knotless landing net with 36" long arms
- Large unhooking mat
- 12" long artery forceps
- Side cutters, able to cut problem hooks when caught in the soft throat tissues or gill rakers.
- An adequate Carp/Pike weigh sling.
Note: Due to the current restriction on the use of your own landing nets (c), unhooking mats (d) and weigh slings (g), members are required to leave them in their car until inspection.
You must be prepared to handle pike during the teach-in session.
- Sunday 18th September 2011 10.00am - 12.30pm
- Saturday 24th September 2011 1.00pm - 3.30pm
- Wednesday 5th October 2011 6.30pm - 9.00pm
- Sunday 6th November 2011 10.00am - 1.00pm
The sessions will be held at Badshot Lea Big Pond car park. Date and venues of any additional ‘Teach-Ins’ will be in the Autumn Newsletter
You don’t need to book for a teach-in
For further information contact, Mike Slater 07967 736 815.