BDAS Matters - Latest News
28 May 09
Our new season started on the 1st June membership forms are available from both Queensway Angling or Old Town Angling in Hemel Hempstead, or by downloading off this website.
22 May 09
Club stalwart Russell Croft broke his Mere PB by almost three pounds when he landed the Mirror 'Moonscale' at 27lbs 4ozs today.
It was weighed and witnessed by Alan Cripps and caught at 6.30pm on a bottom fished boilie. Moonscale was in superb condition as this picture taken by Alan shows.
April 2009
Tireless match organiser Mick Mothersole was named Clubman of the Year at the 2009 annual general meeting. Club committee chairman Gary Cullum, who presented the Award, said: Mick has organised club matches for a number of years. it can be a thank less task though I know he gets great enjoyment from not only being involved but in also participating in the matches.
Mick was presented with the Ken Charge trophy - a crystal bowl commemorating more than 50 years service to the club of former secretary, the late Ken Charge.
Other trophies were also presented to the winners of the club's annual fishing competitions.
Those present at the AGM heard it had been a good year for the club with plenty of carp caught from its waters up to almost 30 pounds, with bream to ten pounds, tench to over seven pounds and growing bags of silver fish.
26 April 09
First of the work parties
More than 50 members turned out for the first of the annual work parties in glorious sunshine today. They joined club committee members in strimming and rebuilding swims, grass cutting, pruning and tree felling at our Durrants day ticket and club lake in Apsley.
A huge amount of work was undertaken which could not be handled by bailiffs or committee alone. Thanks to everyone who turned out. Durrants looks all the better for the effort.
20 April
Work parties and bank-side safety.
The work party season fast approaches with scheduled work parties for Sunday April 26 and Sunday May 10. Please see your AGM and Spring newsletter for the list of surname initials which denote when you should attend. If you cannot attend the work party you are scheduled for, please attend the other one to avoid having to pay the £30 waiver fee.
Outside of our annual work parties for members, the need for emergency work arises from time to time and the ability to reach members swiftly to ask for assistance is a reminder that all members with email addresses should notify one of the club officials.
Please drop a mail to club management committee chairman Gary Cullum (chairman@bdas.org) and he will ensure all addresses are collated and forwarded to the membership secretary
18 April
Club AGM
There was a turn out of around 10 per cent of the members for the club AGM which was held at Westbrook Mere on April 18. Members heard from the club committee on various aspects of club management and had the opportunity to discuss matters of interest and concern.
18 April
New members Simon Boi and Chris Hayward had another cracking short session on the Mere prior to the annual agm which was held at Westbrook for the first time in its 82 year history today. It was attended by 34 members and committee.
But for Simon and Chris. it was a 21lb common for Simon and a cracking, wonderfully coloured 19lb mirror for Chris.. It was a super reward for the intrepid duo who have fished five consecutive weekends since joining the club.
17 April
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 against the R.R.P on selected major items of tackle. 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 members¹ 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 at Queensway and Kevin at Old Town your full support. In return, they will endeavour to look after you.
15 April
Club AGM
A reminder to members that the club¹s AGM takes place at Westbrook Mere on Saturday (18 April), and not at Nash Mills Village Hall as in previous years.
Doors open 12.30, meeting commences at 1.00pm. Club waters will be closed for the duration of the meeting.
2009 Work Parties
Annual work parties for members take place on April 26 and May 10, the first at our Durrants Hill water, the latter at Westbrook Mere. Details of both work parties are in the AGM Newsletter sent to all members.
The work parties are the time to renew your annual club membership - all memberships must be renewed by June 1st.
March 2009
New member Simon Boi with his first Westbrook common, a March-caught 13 pounder taken during a weekend session with his brother CC, also a new BDAS member.
Welcome to the club lads...
New members in the news
Simon Boi and his brother Chris Hayward had a great Easter weekend at Westbrook Mere.
Said Chris: 'I had 3 runs that came to nothing then finally had a beautifully marked 14.8lb mirror while my brother Simon had three commons of 12lbs, 14lbs, and 14.8lb. Naturally I'm chuffed as this is my first Mere carp since becoming a member earlier this year.
5 May 2008
Eight year old Sammy Watson, daughter of bailiff Jason notched up a fine brace of personal bests when she joined dad for a weekend on the Mere.
Sammy started with a stunning five pound 14 ounce tench before adding a 12 pound mirror. She capped off a memorable couple of days with a superb 19lb 13 ounces mirror.
Sammy with 5-14 tench. - No wonder she's smiling
Just missed the twenty: 19 pounds 13 ounces of Mere muscle
Good fishing Sammy. Hooked for life?
28 April 2008
As we move towards summer the carp have turned on at Westbrook Mere. Warmer water temperatures have brought them on to feed before spawning.
Dave with veteran Mere Mirror Moonscale at 25lbs 2ozs. A fish that has
graced anglers
landing nets for more than 50 years
Chippy Dave - committee member Dave Rawding -
banked 13 in a weekend
session to 25 pounds 2 ounces, all fish coming from a canal bank swim.
15 July 2007
Westbrook Mere has been fishing its socks off with several mid and upper twenty pound-plus carp caught in a single session. Best reported catch, by club vice-chairman and membership secretary Ian Gilmour, is 13 fish over a late June weekend period to 27lbs 10oz.
Plenty of young commons and mirrors coming out over 20 pounds, mainly to boilie baits. Head Bailiff Mark Feander says T1 baits are scoring well.
The Mere is yielding good silver bags and occasional good bream and tench are being caught.
At Durrants Hill Fishery in Apsley , strong fighting carp to over 19lbs have been caught this season, with bream, to 10 pounds 2oz and tench to over seven pounds. Early days on the rivers, with no reports yet from Colne nor Upper Ouse
The clubs matches, mainly at Durrants have been won with good bags, the night match won by Bill Card with over 15 pounds of fish. The match yields over 38 pounds in total.
16 June 2007
Traditional start to the rivers season - and don't forget Boxmoor has two stretches, a small section of River Colne near Watford and a fine stretch of Upper Ouse near Stony Stratford - know for its good chub and perch, and big bags or silver fish.
28 April 2007
Boxmoor & District Angling Society handed out its silverware to a number of members at the club¹s 79th annual general meeting, held at Nash Mills Village Hall.
Trophy winners at this year¹s Boxmoor
& District Angling Society AGM held at Nash Mills Village Hall.
Winners all, (pictured left to right): Christoper Waldron, Richard
Woollard, Mick Mothersole, Tom Peverill, Club President Tony Price and son
Billy, and John Sawyer
Those present heard it had been a good year for the club with plenty of carp caught from its waters up to almost 30 pounds, with bream to ten pounds, tench to over even pounds and growing bags of silver fish, especially to the club's match fishermen.
The Ken Charge Clubman of the Year trophy - a crystal bowl commemorating more than 50 years service to the club of former secretary, the late Ken Charge, was awarded to Christopher Waldron of Northchurch.
Christoper Waldron, Boxmoor & District Angling Society Clubman of the Year
Christopher, recently retired and a regular at the club's Westbrook Mere fishery at Bourne End, won the award for all the little things he does around the club.
Club committee chairman Gary Cullum, who presented the trophy, said: 'This year's award was not given for some huge achievement but for a collection of small deeds, showing that any rank and file member can make a difference. 'The committee acknowledged Chris's efforts at Westbrook Mere, not because of some huge deed but because of his community spirit. He is always prepared to help out - sweeping up, offering a helping hand, or simply making a cup of tea for others.'
Other trophies were presented to the winners of the club¹s annual fishing competitions.
2007 marks the 80th anniversary of the Club which has strong links with Dacorum Borough Council and various youth development schemes.
7 January 2007
Unusually mild weather conditions have kept the carp on the feed at Westbrook Mere, premier water of Boxmoor & District Angling Society at Hemel Hempstead.
Fish over twenty pounds have been coming out to regular rods, top fish of the week being a 27 pound bronzed flanked common to one of the teenage members.
Not many pike have shown since the season opened in September but some good bags of silver fish, including roach to a pound plus and good slabby bream are being taken on pole and light float tactics in the Mere and its Snooks Pool.
Regulars at neighbouring club and day ticket fishery Durrant Hill Road in Apsley have been catching late season tench to over five pounds, bream of a similar size and mid double figure carp.
Few reports coming off the club's River Colne near Watford and Upper Great Ouse near Stony Stratford which in past seasons has produced big chub and perch.
Club details and membership forms from Hemel Hempstead's Queensway Angling and Old Town Angling.
Kind regards
Gary Cullum
1 January 2007
The BDAS Committee would like to wish all our members and visitors to this web site a very happy and healthy new year.
Gary Cullum
Management committee chairman.
21 August 2006
Plenty of mid-twenty pound common and mirror carp coming from Westbrook Mere, the club's premier water that members have fished for the past 79 years.
John Larkin notched his 24th and 25th twenty pounders - at 24-plus and 25 plus pounds respectively in the same early august session.
Fish being taken on all manner of bottom and pop up boilie baits, and plenty also falling to corn.
Not so much action on Durrants though regular Russ Munn had a super overnight session landing five tench to five pounds and a brace of similar sized bream.
5 July 2006
Heading towards the 30...
Top fish of the season, this common of 28 pounds 12 ozs was taken at the
end of June by Graham Shuck on pop up baits from the margins. This fish
was caught during an overnight session.
23 June 2006
June 23rd - the 40th anniversary of the capture of a Westbrook 40 pounder by local lad Ron Groombridge, an 18-year-old trainee carpenter from Adeyfield. Ron, and BDAS shot to national fame when news spread of the huge fish. At the time Ron was one of only a few members who seriously fished for these 'uncatchable' monsters.
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After more than 15 years away from the club, Ron returned today to walk the banks and reminisce. He was presented with a bottle of champagne by club committee chairman Gary Cullum in acknowledgement of his angling achievement at a time when rods were made of split cane.
5 June 2006
James tops 27 pounds
Yet more twenty five pound plus fish are being caught from Westbrook Mere, our premier water, the latest a spawn / milt free 27 pounder to Mere regular James Kirkby. The fish was taken on bottom bait boilies from a central canal bank swim close to lily pads.
3 June 2006
It’s been a great few weeks at Westbrook mere with plenty of twenty
pound plus carp – in fact plenty of 25 pound plus carp coming to a mix
of tactics. Top of all catches has been Justin
Preston...here’s his report..
“Things didn't go to plan as I wanted to fish the bench, but it was
already taken by Jamie. So I looked further down to swim 20, decided to
fish there, as it was my best swim last year. After an hour of
fishing, I had my first common carp, 15.8lbs. Followed by one more common
during the night which weighed 15lbs and then one mirror, around 8am ish,
which was 14.3lbs.
Started to feel good with three in the bag. Then, two hours later, out
came this lump of a mirror, which Tom identified as Lucy, weighing in at
26.12lbs, witnessed by Tom, James and Jamie.
Things couldn't get any better, new personal best and another named fish.
But did it stop there? No! At 2.30pm, I had another screamer, which was a
common, 18.4lbs. Then to top it all, at around 6pm, out popped Moonscale,
25.8lbs.(also witnessed by James and Jamie).
Strangley enough all six carp were caught with the same rod, same place
and same bait (smokey mackerel).
All in all, blinding session, two more named
fish in my bag, plus new p.b of 26.12lbs.”
Tight
Lines
Justin
Preston
20 May 2006
Fish on the feed
Warmer temperatures have brought fish on the feed at BDAS Hemel Hempstead waters. Even the club's day ticket fishery at Durrants Hill Road in Apsley has been producing fish to the few anglers fishing the water. The water currently provides free fishing for anglers. Biggest fish caught in the past week is a 12 pound carp to a local schoolboy angler.
The club water at Durrants has been producing carp, tench and bream while some good shoals of perch have been spotted.
Plenty of 20 pound plus carp coming from Westbrook Mere to over 26 pounds while tench to six and a half pounds have also been caught in the last two weeks.
Club member Nigel Edwards had six tench on carp tactics in a weekend session.
No reports from our rivers which remain closed until June 16
6 May 2006
BDAS at the heart of the community
Angling coach John Castle (far right) at Westbrook Mere with Grovehill
youngsters.
Also pictured are Karl Stonebank (back right) and Outreach worker Tony
Bolt (back row left)
Boxmoor & District Angling Society has been forging even closer links with the community with a return visit to its Westbrook Mere fishery by youngsters from the Grovehill Fishing Project.
The youth development scheme designed to give young people a clear focus in life, is run by Dacorum Borough Council and supported by various agencies and authorities including Herts. Police.
In tough conditions the young anglers aged between nine and 14 mustered 35 fish in a morning session at the three acre lake at Bourne End, home of BDAS for more than 77 years. They were ably assisted and given tuition by local Professional Anglers¹ Association coach John Castle, a good friend to the fishing club and who also chairs neighbouring Watford Piscators.
'They were quick to learn and remarkably patient,' said John, a fisherman for more than 50 years, adding: 'It¹s a delight to see a child¹s face when he or she catches a fish. Let¹s hope these youngsters are hooked forever on the country¹s largest participant sport.' DBC active communities officer Karl Stonebank, the leader of the scheme said: 'We are delighted with the reception we have received from Boxmoor fishing club on two occasions now. Westbrook Mere is a wonderful environment and the lads love fishing in a safe and secure environment where the club officials really care about helping out with community projects.'
30 April 2006
Cripps
family fishing success after 30 years…
A 30 year old injustice
has been finally put right for the Cripps family
Oliver, from Abbots Langley, won the trophy for catching the largest pike - a whopper of 14 pounds - during the past 12 months from Boxmoor & District Angling Society waters in Hemel Hempstead.
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His uncle, club
treasurer and committee member Alan Cripps, from
Abbots Langley said: “Justice
has finally been done. Thirty years ago my brother
Stuart caught an eighteen and a half pound pike from the same water
“But Stu, then also aged nine the same as Oliver is now, was at the time
a junior member like me and juniors were not allowed to enter the club
competitions - so the fish, the biggest caught that season, went
unrecognised.
“I am delighted that 30 years on young Oliver will have his name on the
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Other trophies were
presented for match fishing while
Clubman Of the Year - an
award given to a rank and file member for work carried out on behalf of
the club, went to David ‘Minty’ Sandison for a huge amount of
voluntary work around the club’s Westbrook Mere at Bourne End.
David, from Luton, spends much of his free time at the local lake
which is a former gravel extraction pit and also served as a
working narrow boat mooring during the early years of this century
before the fishing club gained the rights in 1927.
for Clubman - Scott Campkin, and George Waterfield.
21 April 2006
Welcome back!
For some time now our club web site has not been fully live as we had to suspend some pages when we lost the web space we had been kindly provided with free of charge. We lodged temporarily with a service provider, but had to endure various 'pop-up' ad pages and general 'clutter'. We also had to remove our splendid photo galleries and our forum chat section.
However, that is in the past and we are now up and running again as you will notice if you navigate around the site.
If you are a visitor - then welcome, we are pleased you have chosen to browse our site. If you are a BDAS club member then welcome back.
We will be back with regular news updates, fish catch pictures and news on our water management strategy.
The important news for now though is that the Club's AGM is on Saturday 29th April at Nash Mills Village Hall starting at 1.30pm.
The AGM is your chance to come and make a positive input into
your fishing club.
Please make every effort to attend.
And finally, please read your Spring BDAS Matters newsletter again to remind yourself what dates and times the 2006 work parties are. Work parties don¹t have to be hard work, are always good fun - and are a great way to meet other members. They are also the occasion during which you are expected to renew your membership for the 2006/7 season.
For those who need that reminder there are only two work party days this season - but we expect a mass turnout of every able bodied member to ensure we complete all scheduled works. Our senior citizen and disabled members are also most welcome to attend, either to renew their membership - or to help make a few cups of tea!
The dates are May 7 and May 21st, with the assembly point being Westbrook Mere. If you are not sure which of the four half day sessions you should attend then drop a mail to chairman@bdas.org
Your club committee looks forward to seeing you next month and whatever you do - enjoy your fishing!
Gary Cullum
Management committee chairman
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