I guess there must be many who will ask the question, who runs PikeOnline.

That responsibility falls on me David Batten, the natural question that probably follows is, 'who is David Batten'?

The answer: I'm a life long angler and a lifelong pike angler from Essex who now lives in Norfolk, having moved here in 2000, with a view to getting access to some quality and unpressured pike fishing. That has come from the Broads, the Fens and the many lakes and pits across the whole of Norfolk. I have also fished for pike right across the UK and have acquired a wide range of knowledge of many different types of venues.

I am a Life Member of the Pike Anglers Club of GB, and have worked closely with many of the past National Comittees in promoting the welfare of pike and the importance of promoting and supporting pike angling when there has been any attempt to ban pike fishing, live baiting or promote culling of pike. I was awarded Pike Angler of the Year in 1986 by the Scottish Committee, an award I cherish to this day.

I was Regional organiser for Region 48 Norwich and served as the Anglian Regional Liaison Officer for many years, sitting on both local and national bodies as a PAC representative. In that time I organised and ran regular teach ins and fish ins in the Norfolk region.

I am a qualified angling coach whose emphasis is on general coarse fishing now rather than pike fishing specifically.

I have written a series of 4 angling books on Carp Fishing, Pike Fishing, Stillwater Fishing and River Fishing and am currently working on a new series of books. I work as a freelance angling illustrator for Bauer Active titles, Improve Your Coarse Fishing and Sea Angler magazines, working also as web and graphic designer for a nuber of well known tackle and bait manufacturers.

My business website can be found at www.hooklinks.co.uk

The Pike Online website is a platform that allows me to provide the help and assistance that I don't seem to physically have time for and allows me to provide information to any pike angler or angler looking to take up pike angling, using the skills I have acquired by having been a pike angler for almost 50 years.

The methods and information I provide through Pike Online is very much a personal opinion based on personal experiences and won't always reflect other anglers opinions, but what I have provided here will give any one who is interested in pike fishing a sound introduction to this splendid type of fishing.

You are free to compare my information against any other sources, using whichever you feel offers the most suitable for your needs. PikeOnlne being here should you or anyone you know, need help and assitance in enjoying pike fishing and protecting pike.

I hope that answers any questions you may have had about Pike Online. Enjoy.

David.