BDAS Matters - Latest News

1 January 2006

The BDAS Committee would like to wish all our members and visitors to this web site a very happy and healthy new Year.

2 December 2005

Carp fishing quietening down at Westbrook Mere as temperatures drop though fish still being caught with a few to mid twenties. Not many anglers on Durrants and few reports from our section of River Colne and Upper Great Ouse though small silver fish and chub to three pounds have been taken from both.

3 October 2005

Scott Campkin has just fished four nights on Westbrook Mere for 22 carp and two bream, with the loss of a further two carp. All fish fell to boilie baits, the three biggest at 18lb 8oz, 22lb 14oz and 24lb 14oz. Nice going Scott.

Plenty of other multi-fish catches being reported with late September and early October living up to its usual fine form.

11th September 2005

Carp to 27 pound 10 ounces - one of the biggest of the season to come from Westbrook Mere, a common, fell to John Larkin who has had a great summer of fishing with numerous twenty pounders while Lindsay Stonebank took 10 fish in an overnight session, the biggest at over 23 pounds.

The Mere has also produced bream to eight pounds - though these bigger fish tend to come to carp tactics and boilie or sweetcorn baits.

Plenty of small silver fish coming at a fish a chuck from most swims with some really lovely rudd up to half a pound. Bill Wade took over 24lbs of silver fish and larger bream to win the latest match at the Mere.

At Durrants Hill Fishery tench fishing is starting to slow but fish to over five pounds are still being caught along with similar sized bream.

Pike fishing has started on BDAS waters (September 1st) though none of the known large fish has yet been reported - some small jacks on traditional silver and black or gold ondex spinners. Remember you must have a pike ticket (which is free) to fish for pike in BDAS waters.

A note for all members possessing a third rod ticket - do remember if that this does not start until October 1st and you also need to have two EA rod licences which will be checked by our bailiffs.

1st September 2005

August was a cracking month at Westbrook Mere with plenty of excellent fish caught - including several bream to well over seven pounds, a number of good tench and a new season's best carp of 27 pound 12 ounces.

John Larkin capped a great summer of catches with a stunning common adding one pound to the previous 2005-6 season's best to date.

Several members had catches of up to 10 fish in overnight sessions, the latest John Dawkins who landed 8 carp and a solitary boilie chasing pike in an overnighter on The Lawns.  John had fish to 21 pounds 8 ounces, this being one of the ancient warrior mirrors. Another of his catch, also featured in the Westbrook Mere photo gallery, was a chunky 17 pound common.

John's stepson Colin Rickard caught Blackspot at 20lbs 8ozs in the Queensway Angling junior carp match to mark National Fishing Week (story below).

And while pleasure fishing with pellet under a float, young Adam, stepson of Nigel Edwards, christened his carp catching career with a beautiful common of 24lbs 6ozs.

In addition to a number of other twenty pounders taken around the Mere (though captors unknown) Gary Cullum had a fine brace of margin-caught tench on floatfished worm - pictures in the photo gallery.

And there have been some nice rudd and roach taken from both the Mere and Snooks Pool during hours of daylight.

Our Durrants water continues to produce hard-fighting carp, and several tench over six pounds, the top fish of the season taking the scales to 7lbs 12oz.

Enjoy September - it's often one of the best months on our waters.....and the weather is usually fine too.

24 August 2005

Catch them young and they are hooked for life!

A DAY of torrential downpours failed to dampen the spirits of young anglers who competed in a National Fishing Week junior carp match at Westbrook Mere on Wednesday (August 24).

The event was organised by Hemel Hempsteadıs Queensway Angling in association with Boxmoor & District Angling Society (BDAS) which has fished the Mere at Bourne End since 1927.

Overall winner with two carp for 32 pounds total weight - including the largest fish of the day, a whopper at 20lbs 8ozs - was 15-year-old Colin Rickard of Bennetts End. Colin was presented with a £100 fishing tackle voucher by Mark Sage of Queensway Angling.

In second place was Matthew Bone (14) of Berkhamsted, who caught a 12lbs 2oz mirror carp and a chunky five pound two ounce bream, while Paul Grange of Chipperfield came third with a beautiful silver coloured common carp weighing exactly 13lbs.

Youngest competitor Josh Swan, just 10-years-old, of Hemel Hempstead, also caught a stunningly pretty fish, a golden flanked common carp of nine pounds that earned him fourth place.

And in fifth place was Queensway Angling junior shop assistant Sam Reynolds who caught two bream weighing a pound each.

Despite the weather, which was atrocious for much of the day, the lads really enjoyed themselves and all of them went home with at least £20 worth of tackle from the £450 of prizes put up for the event, much of it donated by leading tackle companies Fox International Drennan ESP, and Shakespeare, said Mark, the third generation of his family to run the shop - one of the longest established retail businesses in Hemel Hempstead, which has traded on Queensway next to the townıs fire station for over 40 years.

Boxmoor & District AS chairman Gary Cullum added: It is often said that fish bite best when it is raining - and I am delighted to say that this came good during the match. Actually, the truth is that rain boosts oxygen levels in water and this can often stimulate fish into feeding.

As a family club at the heart of the local community, we were pleased to be able to host this match for some of Dacorumıs young anglers during National Fishing Week, a UK-wide event designed to encourage young and old alike into one of the countryıs biggest participation sports.

He added: I know itıs a pun - but if we catch them young, children and young adults are often hooked for life.

BDAS provides some of the regionıs best fishing, running the Durrants Hill Fishery at Apsley and a small stretch of River Colne near Watford as well as its premier water Westbrook Mere.

Founded in 1927 when it gained the rights to the three-and-a-half-acre Mere, a former canal barge mooring, the club gained national prominence in 1966 when local 18-year-old trainee carpenter Ron Groombridge landed only the second ever 40-pound carp to be caught in British waters.

This was a magnificent achievement forty years ago when such large fish were almost deemed uncatchable, said Gary, and interestingly, the 20-pound fish that young Colin caught to win this week's match was one of the same stocking of fish from 1954, meaning it is over 50 years old.

25 July 2005

Durrants Hill Fishery has been producing some of its biggest tench for several years. Following reports earlier this year of fish to seven pounds, Nick Bryant had fish of 5 pounds and 6lbs 12 ozs at the weekend. He and fishing partner Scott Campkin also took four low double figure carp during the weekend session.

Meanwhile, fishing continues to improve  at Westbrook Mere and although not many members were on the water at the weekend a number of fish were caught, including ‘Black Spot’, one of our veteran mirror carp to ‘JJ’ at 21 pounds.

Early reports from our rivers suggest that while water levels are low – a trend right across the Colne Valley -  reasonable bags of silver fish are being taken, including chub to over two pounds during periods of low light.

19 July 2005

Unfortunately there was an oxygen crash and we had s to close the Mere to protect the fish from added stress. 
Unfortunately a few small pike and perch died. 

The problem is now resolved and the Mere will open on Wednesday morning for fishing.

Please be careful to observe the rules governing amounts of bait used.

25 June 2005

Fishing at Westbrook Mere has slowed down though a number of twenty pound plus carp continue to be reported. Bags of bream are being taken from Snooks, along with plenty of silver fish from both lakes on the Westbrook estate.

Our Durrants club water can be hard during the summer months, but the rewards are then. The gravel pit has produced tench to seven pounds so far this season, carp to 16 and bream over six pounds.

Few anglers have visited our rivers - watch this space for river reports soon.

16 June 2005

The dawn of a new ‘traditional’ season.  So the rivers are back today. Don’t forget BDAS  has fishing rights on the River Colne near Watford and the Upper Great Ouse at Stony Stratford. See your club handbook or elsewhere on this web site for details.

If you spend all your time leading out boilies for our carp, why not try a change of tactics at some point this season by running a stick float and light tackle down our meandering streams. You might be surprised at what they are capable of producing.

If you want more information on our rivers, contact club press officer Gary Cullum at press@bdas.org

6th June 2005

10 x 20's on the bank!

The bank holiday weekend proved a good time for anglers at Westbrook Mere when, despite some major spawning activity in the margins, no less than 10 different twenty pound plus carp were caught. 

Top fish, and biggest fish of the year went to young Scott Campkin at 26-10 ( photo in gallery ).

Stalwart Mere man JJ landed 18 fish over three days, with two over 20 pounds and two weeks ago Gary Cornwall had no less than five twenty pound carp in an overnight session, starting on a Thursday afternoon and running through Friday. Gary was fishing on the Lawns.

15 May 2005

Last chance for work party and to renew memberships

May 22 is the last chance for BDAS members to do a work party to renew memberships.

Itıs the official day for members with surnames beginning with: 

8am - 12 midday   R & W     1pm - 5pm   S.

But don't let that stop you turning up at the Mere at 8am if you have not yet helped put a few hours labour back into the club.

The Westbrook Estate has benefited from two work parties while today (15th May) members turned out to work at the club's Durrants complex at Apsley.

Any member who has not renewed membership by June 1 will face a re-joining fee, or possibly have to go on a waiting list.

A few hours of voluntary work is not much to ask in return for the quality of fishing now available within the club.

8 May 2005

Twenty five members competed in the annual 48 hour carp match held at Westbrook Mere this weekend (Friday- Sunday).

Fish came to most rods with the overall winner being Jamie Marsh with 82.06 pounds of carp.

Minty was second (71.10) and Steve third with 66.02 lbs.  Berko John netted 60.14 for fourth while Alex notched 42.08, Ben 40 pounds and Jay 33.08.

In total the anglers caught five twenties, the largest at 24.04 for a total weight of 535.04 pounds.

The bailiffing crew did the honours at all hours with the scales and Ian Gilmour was in charge of a succulent hog roast Saturday lunchtime - which produced enough meat to see out the rest of the event.

Big thanks to Ian, to Pete and Scott Campkin, to Ash Tate and Mark Feander for the organisation.

And extra special thanks to our two supportive Hemel tackle shops - Kevin at Old Town and Mark at Queensway for the donation of prizes. Mark in particular weighed in with some super prizes of tackle and bait.

1 May 2005

Boxmoor and Districtıs Westbrook Mere has lived up to its usual spring time excellence with up to 11 carp caught in a session.

James Kirby the latest to have that many fish, though nothing over 20 pounds among the boilie caught fish.

Generally at the Mere there have been plenty of carp, mainly commons, with a few nice coloured and toned mirrors have been coming out to just under 26 pounds - it wonıt be long before shrewd management polices bring back the clubıs first 30 pounder for some years.

Plenty of young, hard fighting commons in the mid-twenties have plenty of room for growth.

Fewer anglers are on the banks for silver fish, but there are small bream, roach, rudd, and perch a plenty for float anglers in all swims and in Snooks pool. Lightweight tackle and a sprinkling of maggots is all that is required a rod lengthy or two from the bank.

Just down the road at the clubıs Durrants Hill Fishery, the carp, tench and bream have been showing, Tom Peverill the latest to bank a five-pound plus tinca.

Tony Croft had four lovely flavoured-pellet caught carp of 12 pounds, 13-12, 15-02 and a personal best Durrants fish of 15-14 (see Durrants picture gallery), these commons from a stocking just two years ago when the biggest fish was just over ten pounds.

Durrants is a food rich, and often difficult to fish, water with a mass of summer weed, and these fish are growing well since we stocked them in 2003, said club chairman and press officer Gary Cullum.

Note: For members still to do a work party to renew their membership for2005-6, the dates are May 15 and 22 (see story below). Any existing member not renewing before June 1 could be back on a waiting list.

24 April 2005

Thank you for doing your bit for the club!

Well done to all members who have attended one of the first two Westbrook Mere work parties - the second one was today. A huge amount of swim and bank rebuilding has been carried out around the water and much debris has been cleared and removed, or burnt.

Necessary tree works have been taken place and more pollarding and tree removal will be carried out over the coming weeks. Though some areas may look a little denuded of bankside trees and vegetation, the work is all part of a clearly defined estate management plan to improve water quality and keep the estate as natural as possible.

A number of Leylandii Cypressus trees are among those being removed. Where appropriate, native species will be replanted in due course.

Donıt forget if you have yet to do a work party the two remaining dates to report to the Mere are (with member surname initials):

May 15

8am - 12 mid-day M & O     1pm - 5pm    J, K, L & N

May 22

8am - 12 mid-day  R & W     1pm - 5pm   S.

If you have missed your day, donıt worry, just attend at least one of the remaining dates.

Itıs your club, play your part in its future success.

And again, thanks to all members who have so far given freely of their time to help improve the Westbrook estate.

18th April

Boxmoor's Bill takes top trophies.

BDAS member Bill Wade walked off with most of the glass and silverware when he was presented with no less that six top trophies at our Angling Society's Annual General Meeting.

The yearly gathering, which gives rank and file members their chance to have a say in the running of the near 80-year--old club, was held at Nash Mills Village Hall.  The meeting was attended by around 60 of the club's 350-strong membership.

That was a good turn out and ensured a positive meeting with a number of club-related issues under discussion. It is also the occasion when club trophies are presented for match fishing and for various individual catches, said club management committee chairman Gary Cullum

Interestingly - if you fish the club matches and your name is Bill, there's a good chance of success!  Not only did  Bill Wade walk off with most of the pots, but there was success for three other Bills -  Messrs Card, Lee and Brown among the overall winners, added Gary.

Though it was a good day for anyone named Bill at the Boxmoor & District Angling Society AGM, other anglers did not not go home empty handed. Here with some of their trophies are, left to right: Ray Killick, Mick Mothersole, Bill Card, top rod Bill Wade, Tom Peverill and Bill Brown

Builder Roy Fisk, pictured above having received the Ken Charge Clubman of the Year Bowl for 2005 at the Societyıs annual general meeting which was held at Nash Mills Village Hall.

Roy, a regular carp fisherman at Westbrook Mere at Bourne End, received the award in recognition of his work for the club over the past 12 months. Roy has given freely of his time, not least in helping to build the replacement workshop.

16th April

Work Parties: your turn to help.

It's the work Party season, the time when it is your chance - or turn - to help your club, and the occasion to renew your annual membership.

You should take your old club card, one new passport sized photograph and your subscription dues, including the cost of a night ticket and/or third rod if you want one, with you in an unsealed self addressed large brown C4 envelope.

It is likely your membership will be renewed while you do your work party - but in case thatıs not possible, thatıs what the large envelope is for.

Pensioners and disabled members are not expected to attend work parties, but it would be nice to see you.

Members who cannot make any of the dates below will have to pay the £30 waiver.

While work parties might take place any any of the clubs waters, assembly is always at the Mere.

The initials show which surnamed members should attend. If you can't make your date, please choose another.

Your membership needs to be renewed by June 1 to avoid the possibility of going back on the clubıs membership waiting list.

April 17 
8am - 12 midday  H & I     1pm - 5pm  D, E, F & Y

April 24
8am  -  12 midday  C, A & G     1pm - 5pm   P, T & B

May 15
8am - 12 midday M & O     1pm - 5pm    J, K, L & N

May 22
8am - 12 midday   R & W     1pm - 5pm   S.

29th March

Spring time at Durrants

The fishing is starting to pick up at our Durrants Hill Fishery, club member Tony Croft taking a brace of low double figure carp, a tench of four pounds and a three pound bream during an Easter session at the Apsley lake.

Meanwhile, at Westbrook Mere, the carp action has been good for many members. 
Of those catches reported, the best over the Easter weekend was 11 carp banked by 'JJ', including fish of 19lbs 6ozs and 18lbs 4ozs.

14th March

AGM and work parties

Members should have received their Spring 2005 BDAS Matters newsletter today. It contains the agenda for the clubıs AGM on Saturday April 9 (1.30pm at Nash Mills Village Hall) and all the officers reports for the 2004-5 season.

It also lists the work party dates for the coming spring. 

They are:  April 17  -  April 24  -  May 15  -  May 22

Members are to assemble at the Mere, morning or afternoon (details in newsletter) and should take their old club card, a new passport size photo and cheque for subscriptions, to include fee for night ticket and/or third rod if required. Members who cannot make a work party will have to pay the £30 waiver, unless exempt by age or illness

8th March

Closed membership means renew your club ticket promptly and attend a work party session this spring!

Did you know that club membership is now closed for the first time in a number of years. Why is this? Because BDAS has been successful in attracting new members, and in keeping its existing members.

The fishing has been improving in the past few years, especially in Westbrook Mere, our prime water, the club's management policies have been winning approval, and we are a happy club with an excellent mix of experienced and inexperienced anglers, comprising both young and old (and middle aged!) and both male and a growing number of female members.

And what does this mean? It means it is crucially important that all members attend a work party this spring to renew their card. Failure to do so (unless you are exempted or opt to pay the work party waiver which is fine  -  we appreciate some members have work or family commitments at weekends), means you might find yourself on a waiting list and unable to be a member from the start of the new club season which is June 1st.

6th March

Annual General Meeting

Saturday 9 April: that's the date for your diary so that you do not miss the club's  Annual General Meeting at Nash Mills Village Hall. The AGM starts at 1.30 pm and is likely to go on for an hour.

All the detail and the agenda is included in the Spring BDAS Matters newsletter which is being sent out at the end of the coming week.

Work Parties

The newsletter also contains important information for renewing your membership..and the dates of all the Spring 2005 work parties...your chance to put something back into your club. And remember, if you canıt make the date specified for your work party, please attend one of the other days listed in the Newsletter.

We have much work to carry out in the coming couple of months and your assistance as a member is vital. Work parties also represent a great networking opportunity and a chance to meet some like minded colleagues.

They can also actually be good fun!

28th January 2005

Westbrook Mere continues to fish well even during the colder snaps. Lead bailiff Mark Feander reports plenty of larger carp, including two nice commons of 25lb and a 22lb to BDAS member Steven Rand.

A few smaller carp to up to 15lb came out this past weekend.  Few anglers reported fishing for pike at the moment, though plenty of fish to low doubles have been showing.

Bailiffs Report - 18th January 2005

Mark Feander - Head Bailiff

Happy New Year to you all

I hope our waters fish as well as they did last year and you catch that special fish during 2005.

On the fishing side of things the pike fishing has been great at the Mere with 4/5 fish being taken per sitting; the best times seem to be about

9am-12pm coming to live baits (if you can catch them).  Dead baits seem to be taking the bigger fish, those between 4lbs-12lbs. 

The carp fishing has been fairly good as well, good winter spots seem to be the snags.  Ian Gilmour landed 6 from this spot and Dave Rawding landed 7 (top rod).

Fish are still coming out at the usual spots around the Mere as well.

Durrants is fishing quite well with the odd carp and quite a few tench coming out.  Speaking of Durrants the gate before you go in to the lake has now got a club lock on it so please can you lock this gate if you are on this water - I ask this as we have had quite a few fly tippers down there and we must try to keep them out. If you do see anyone dumping rubbish or causing damage please do not approach them, but if possible get the registration number of any vehicle they may be using and contact me or any other committee member with the details. 

I know I say this all the time but litter can still be seen on the banks of the Mere. If you are on a swim and there's a small piece of litter please pick it up...  I know it might not be yours but it makes life much easier for the bailiffs who constantly pick up litter (and litter will not be tolerated on our waters). 

Can I also remind all juniors that night fishing is not permitted unless accompanied by a parent,  grandparent or other adult guardian  (not your mate who is on for the night).

Please remember that  rods must not be left unattended on any BDAS water for any reason at all, not even for a quick chat to your mate half way round the lake, please remember that a snagged fish might be a dead one so please stay with your rods.

Well, that's about all for this short report other than to thank the rest of the team for all their hard work that they continue to put in.

Well done lads!

Lead Bailiff    Mark Feander.

Plant Mechanic Needed for Club Dumper

Last year we bought a second hand dumper to replace the old club one, which dated back to the late forties. The new dumper is a vast improvement apart from the fact that the brakes are almost non-existent.

If you are a plant mechanic and can give us some time, we need to hear from you so that you can service the brakes for us it would count as your work party. Tell us what parts you need and we can get them on site ready for you to do the work early this year.

Call Mike Heylin on 01442 230925 or 398022 and have a chat about it.

Have you been with BDAS for more than 50 years ?

We are looking for the longest standing member of BDAS. For two reasons, our newsletter editor wants to start preparing a history of the club and would like to talk to you about the early years. The other is a special surprise for the longest standing member.

So if you reckon you are the longest serving member or you think you know who it is, please get in touch with Mike Heylin at the registered address and let him know the date of your joining, your existing membership number and how old you are.

10 % discount for BDAS members

BDAS has negotiated special discounts for its members at Hemel Hempstead’s tackle shops. Both Queensway Angling and  Old Town Angling will provide a 10 per cent discount on selected major items of tackle (at R.R.P). You will need to produce your membership card to enjoy this benefit, which can be substantial  against  major high-cost items.

We do appreciate the support of our local tackle shops; just as both of them appreciate  our members’ support. There has been much speculation in the trade press over the last few years about the role of the local tackle shop, given  the rise and growth of the mail order specialists.

Local shops can’t survive on just supplying maggots and other bait.  Do give Mark and Wendy at Queensway and Kevin at  Old Town your full support. In return, they will endeavour to look after you.

Caught a carp or net-full of fish you are particularly proud of?

Then drop an email to our publicity officer Gary Cullum at press@bdas.org or call him on 01442 233656. We'll also get your photo on this web site

If you have a photograph or story for the next BDAS Matters or a pictures of you and your captures for our pictures page please contact the editor, Gary CULLUM  by e-mail:  press@bdas.org or    Tel: 01442 233656