THE ULTIMATE ANGLING BUCKET LIST

Phill Williams, small Zander
locations where they are currently absent.
It wasn't until the mid-1970's when the zander had very
clearly bred and spread, and with coarse fish numbers
throughout the Fenland system in free-fall, that the proverbial
really started to hit the fan.
From the Relief Channel, the zander had pushed out into the
River Ouse and on throughout the linked system to the point
where, when John McAngus and the rest of the team
conducted fish surveys, there was pretty much only pike and
zander left.
Coarse anglers and clubs who would previously spend
heavily throughout the area were up in arms demanding that
action be taken, and after a study by Cliff Cawkwell and John
McAngus, in 1981 through on into 1982, a pike and zander
cull was called for, and reluctantly in many cases carried out
by anglers throughout the middle system, resulting in many
thousands of zander and a smaller number of pike being
removed, which, in hindsight made absolutely no difference
whatsoever. The zander was here to stay.
What this story hopefully does is under-score the need for
anglers to think very carefully and ultimately pull back from
making alien introductions, even of indigenous species, to
Yes, in terms of disease. But more especially in terms of balance, because as the zander has
demonstrated, in open systems, there really is no going back.
Associated audio interview numbers: 19.
WALLEYE Stizostedion vitreum
Bucket List status – no result yet
A fish not unlike the European zander, distinguished from it on the basis of subtle colouration and
patterning differences, and not a fish I intend devoting anything in the way of time to here other than as
a passing mention for completeness, as it should never have been here in the UK in the first place, and
under current legislation, is unlikely to ever again.
A mistaken release as part of a batch of black bass eggs imported from America for a failed experimental
release of that species into the Fens in Norfolk almost a century ago, containing the lone walleye we
see in the British record fish list, a slot that has now officially been closed to claims, very likely as it
had been the only surviving outcome of that whole sorry affair.
PIKE Esox lucius
Bucket List status – result
The perfect example of a well-designed predator. Eyes high up on the head for forward vision and attack
from below; large mouth full of sharp teeth; long sleek body profile for short burst speed, plus a colour
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