About RA53 - The Glasgow & West of Scotland Regional Association

When the Pike Anglers Club was formed in 1977 it was in direct response to a changing attitude in the angling world with respect to pike, its conservation, protection, development of angling techniques and the management of pike holding waters.

The aims of the pike Anglers club are: to disseminate details on aspects of pike and pike fishing wherever it is threatened; to hold social functions at national and Regional level; to protect pike and pike fishing and improve the conduct of pike anglers on the bank, both with respect to pike and to other branches of the sport; to provide, through Regional Associations, somewhere in each area of the country where newcomers to the sport can get guidance; and to hold events, often at the waterside, for the special benefit of novice anglers.

So it was on an extremely wet and windy night in November 1986 when hordes of wax cotton clad bodies battled there way through the elements to the inaugural meeting of Region Association No 53. Indeed when I arrived at the Stepps bar in Glassford street, I could hardly get through the door because of the numbers of large, hairy pike anglers who were already in residence and inadvertently terrifying the regular clientele, who obviously thought they had stumbled through a time warp into the 'Starwars' pub.

Fortunately the meeting went without any major 'glitches' and the rest as they say, is history. Since that night, the Regional Association has gone from strength to strength until at the end of 1995 it boasted 65 paid-up members. Regional Association membership is open to all PAC members ( national membership being a prerequisite) for the princely sum of £5.00 per annum. An annual fee which has remained static for the 10 years of its existence. How's that for 'inflation busting'?

But what do members get for their money every year? Well in addition to receiving 4 copies of 'Pikelines' the national club's professionally printed magazine witch features articles by pike fishing's top writers, tackle tips, advice, news, stories, letters etc, the RA members receive the following 'goodies'. A monthly newsletter, monthly meetings usually featuring a guest speaker, a series of competitive but not-to-serious outings, the chance to win one (or more) of our prestigiouse 'big fish' trophies (Lomond, other waters, rivers and lure caught fish) and a chance to attend our end of the year 'Angling Night' which features a nationally known guest speaker, trophy presentations, mega raffle & buffet. A night not to be missed!

In addition, RA53 has been or is still involved with a number of pike conservation projects. In the summer of 1995, Barrhead Dam was drained for essential repair work but no one in Strathclyde regional Council gave any consideration to the resident fish population. Step forward RA53 and ST Winnoch Angling Club (coarse section) to do the necessary fish rescue. Then there is the Loch Lomond pike tagging study which has been running for 4 years in conjunction with Glasgow University's Field research station at Rowardennan. This is a long term project which has already turned up some startling information on the biology of Loch Lomond's legendary pike population. To date, approximately 470 pike have been tagged with 154 individual specimens having been recaptured at least once. One specimen has in fact graced various anglers landing nets 11 times since it was originally tagged! This is very much an ongoing project.

Finally there is the small range of RA53 products which include T-shirts, embroidered badges and frozen bait (smelt and sardine) which are sold by the club at a small profit to help defray running costs and keep the annual subs down.

So there we have a brief resume of what the region is all about. If you fancy finding out more come along to one of our meetings. They are held at the Press club, 94 West Regent Street, Glasgow, on the first Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm. You will be made very welcome, so don't be put off by the grizzled appearance of many of our members, they don't bite, HONEST!

Bill Little