Latest News

BDAS Membership full for Season 2022/2023


BDAS have now stopped taking membership applications for the new season. We will be introducing a waiting list moving forward. Anyone in mid transition of joining will be honoured up until the end of the month. Should you wish to be added to the waiting list then please email your details to membership@bdas.org


Our season's run from the 1st June 2022 - 31st May 2023

 

New locks now in place


Please make sure you don't leave the locks open and the code is always scrambled after opening and closing.


Pixies Mere is open!


As of 7am on Saturday 22nd August the gates opened on Boxmoor & District Angling Societies newest acquisition, Pixies Mere! Something that many of our members have been eagerly awaiting for many months, sharing stories of somewhat halcyon days of fishing cottage corner, the pads and even catching some of the old residents that once graced the lake.

It did not take long on the 22nd August for the steady trickle catch shots making there way onto the socials with buzzing anglers sharing their prizes, with some members landing up to 23 Carp over the weekend…Top work Scott! Even more exciting was seeing some of our junior members getting in on the action, with memories being made on the opening weekend check out these shots from our junior members:




If you are heading down to the Pixies in the coming days and weeks, please make sure remind yourself of the BDAS rules either on this site of posted on the gate.

Finally if you would like the chance to have your photos on the website, or would like to hear of news on anything specific, please contact me on jack.player@yahoo.co.uk or speak with one of our committee members.

Tight Lines!

Jack


June 2020 monthly update

Its safe to say June was not the month we envisaged following BDAS waters reopening in mid-May and so many of the lake’s residents making their appearances on the bank. Unfortunately, on the 6th June the committee made the decision to close Westbrook Mere due to a significant drop in oxygen levels, this temporary closure was put in place to protect the fish and ensure no undue stress was placed on the livestock, whilst the team focussed on bringing the levels back up.


Having stayed in touch with members of the committee throughout June I have been amazed by the dedication the committee members and bailiffs have shown over the past 4 weeks, from daily water testing’s and consultations with the EA, to overnighters at The Mere to ensure the pumps were maintained and the fish were monitored round the clock. One thing to remember through all of this is that the Committee and Fisheries team do this all voluntarily and for the benefit of the club. Its reassuring, as a member myself of BDAS, to see such a committed team that not only ensure the wellbeing and safety of our treasured fish, but also support the development of Boxmoor District Angling Society.


I was delighted to hear the news on the 30th June that after 24 days, The Mere was back open!! The committee have also now made the decision to update the COVID-19 booking process, Durrants can now be fished without booking in advance, with a maximum of 8 anglers able to fish up to 24 hours at a time and Westbook Mere moving to a similar approach, with no booking required Sunday through to Thursday with up to a maximum of 14 anglers able to fish up to 24 hours a time. For Fridays and Saturdays, the booking process will continue for now, please call the booking line 07581180877 9am – 6pm ONLY.


With the lake opening 5 days ago, it didn’t take long before the Facebook page started filling up with pictures of carp being caught from across the lake, there were no surprises to see our Bailiff’s Ricky and Jack back in the action with several bangers and another 30 to grace the bank! We also saw Nathan Hunt have cracking session in Gilly’s with not only his new PB and one of the Lakes VIPs, Spike tipping the scales at 34lb8oz at a new top weight and to top it off Nathan backed it up with another common at 30lb8oz! Great work Nathan!! 


Tight Lines!


Jack Player

 



(Spike @ 34lbs8oz, caught by Nathan Hunt)



(30lb2oz Common, caught by Ricky Lamb)

 



(28lb10oz Mirror, caught by Jack Lamb)



May 2020 monthly Update

May, for many, has been a month of ups and downs, but reopening Westbrook Mere and Durrants were personal highlights. During closure the committee worked diligently behind the scenes ensuring our fisheries were safe, secure and ready to be open once we received the nod from Boris. Returning to Westbrook Mere it was obvious to see how much work had been undertaken with Gilly’s having a full makeover and Bamboo losing its slightly precarious fish magnet.

Since re-opening on the 15th May, we’ve seen over 50 carp make the bank, with an impressive 7 30’s caught out of Westbrook, of which 5 tipping over the magical 30 for the first time. Congratulations to Andrew Hywood who managed to lure one of the lakes VIP’s Spike at a new top weight of 34lbs.

In light of COVID-19 the Committee have also implemented a new booking system (Please check out the Club By-laws section on the site and the Facebook page for more information), targeted at ensuring all members have the opportunity to come and fish at the fisheries, to book onto either Durrants or Westbrook Mere please contact 07904 140547 between 0900-1800.

The end of May also marks the end of the 2019/20 season, we would like to wish all of departing anglers the best of luck but also welcome all of our new members to the fishery as of the 1st of June for the 2020/21 season, I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ray Sullivan on his Life Membership, Ray originally joined the BDAS in 1963!

Going forward I will be posting a monthly update, sharing news and key updates from across the Boxmoor and District Angling Society, and I would like to hear from our members on what they would like to read and hear about? If you have any suggestions, please feel free to email me on Jack.Player@yahoo.co.uk.

Finally, I would like to wish you all the best of luck for the new season, and hope to see you on the bank soon,

Tight Lines!

Jack Player

(Spike @ 34lbs, caught by Andrew Hywood)


(23.04, caught by Jack Lamb)



BDAS Lakes closed due to COVID-19 Lockdown

BDAS Waters are now closed due to COVID-19. Please follow our BDAS facebook page for updates and more information.

Pxies Mere to be a BDAS water for June 1st 2020

BDAS are happy to annouce that Pixies Mere Fishery will be open to all BDAS members from the 1st June 2020. BDASfollow, to keep upto date please follow our BDAS facebook page

3 New fish over the 30lb mark!!!


Summer 2018 has started extremely well for BDAS. 3 new fish registered over the 30lb mark now gives us a total of 8 known 30's in Westbrook Mere. A new mirror of 31lb 4oz caught by Sam Soloman only proves that the carp in Westbrook are still going from strength to strength

BDAS wishes all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


Still 9 membership tickets available for the season. Looking for a fantastic gift for someone? Get in touch with our Membership Secretary to find out more.


Best wishes


BDAS Committee

 

 

BDAS Charity Match

Singles Carp Match

Date: 8th Sept - 10th Sept 2017

 

Our annual charity carp match will take place on the 8th September 2017. All money raised will be donated to Macmillian for Nurses.

Some great prizes to be won on the raffle. All members that wish to buy a ticket for the raffle please visit the Tackle Shack in Adeyfield Square.

Good luck to all the participants

BDAS Committee

3rd July 2017

BDAS INTRODUCES EVERYONE TO ANGLING AND LOCAL WILDLIFE

 

Boxmoor & District Angling Society will be hosting a Family Event at its Westbrook Mere fishery just off the A41 at Bourne End on Sunday July 30th.

Open from 10.00 in the morning until 4.00 pm the local fishing club is offering free taster sessions for new anglers of all ages with fully qualified coaches, free tackle and bait, with soft drinks and teas and coffees available.

One of the highlights this year will be an opportunity for children to explore the miniature monsters that live in our rivers with live samples under the microscope. There will be new fishing equipment, at low prices to help keep children entertained during the long school holidays and give everyone who attends the chance to continue fishing until they have joined a local club and can learn more.

We want to encourage people of all ages to get out into the open air, enjoy the weather and wildlife and learn about fishing

Free parking next to the fishery, which can be found on the A41 Slip road at Bourne End heading towards Hemel.

Further details of this and other local events can be found at www.nationalfishingmonth.com where you can book your slot for the day.

Organiser Contact:​ Daniel Kite Secretary Boxmoor & District Angling Society

Tel: 0758 1180877

Email: secretary@bdas.org

National Fishing Month is a celebration of angling and is run by the Angling Trades Association in association with the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency.

23rd May 2017

Big fish update

Our biggest resident "The Box" Common has just been recorded at 35lb 9oz. Congratulations to our member Gary for catching the fish

22nd May 2017

The club can confirm we now have a guest night ticket in place. The ticket will allow members to bring a guest and fish over night.

The ticket can also be used by members that do not have a night ticket on there membership.

Tickets can be purchased from either the Tackle Shack in Adeyfield Square or The old Town Angling Centre.

Guest day ticket price is now £10.00

Night guest ticket is now £25.00

Tickets will be available from the 1st August 2017

 

21st May 2017

BDAS Carp Doubles Final 2017

We are happy to annouce we have our 1st BDAS Carp Double's Champions. Congratualtions to Ty Yarham and Simon Jackson.

They came top of the pile with a combined weight of 276LB 13OZ's!!!

1st Place - Ty Yarham and Simon Jackson with 276lb 13oz

2nd Place - James Kirkby and Stuart Sheppard with 142lb 7oz

3rd Place - Gary Sykes and Lindsay Stonebank with 81lb 12oz

Biggest Mirror trophy over the series went to James Kirkby

Biggest Common trophy went to Ty Yarham

Congratulations to all our winners. Remember we will have our singles JJ Memorial carp match early September 2017

BDAS Carp Doubles Tournament will be back for 2018!!!


20 September 2016

Apply now to join the 2017-18 waiting list


The club’s membership book is now closed. Should you wishing to join the wiating list for the 2017-18 season, which starts on 1 June 2017, please go to the Documentation section of the website (see navi bar on home page) and download the form.  Instructions for where to send it once completed are on the form.



1st July 2016

BDAS INTRODUCES EVERYONE TO

ANGLING AND LOCAL WILDLIFE

Boxmoor & District Angling Society will be hosting a Family Event at its Westbrook Mere fishery just off the A41 at Bourne End on Sunday July 31st.

Open from 10.00 in the morning until 4.00 pm the local fishing club is offering free taster sessions for new anglers of all ages with fully qualified coaches, free tackle and bait, with soft drinks and teas and coffees available.

One of the highlights this year will be an opportunity for children to explore the miniature monsters that live in our rivers with live samples under the microscope.

There will be new fishing equipment, at low prices to help keep children entertained during the long school holidays and give everyone who attends the chance to continue fishing until they have joined a local club and can learn more.

Everyone who participates will receive a NFM Goody Bag containing a ‘Get Into Fishing’ booklet full of information on how to get started and advice on different types of fishing and a certificate of participation as a memento of their days fishing.

Michael Heylin OBE, club secretary, said: “We want to encourage people of all ages to get out into the open air, enjoy the weather and wildlife and learn about fishing. It is the only sport you can do from age four to ninety-four, so fishing gives children a life-skill that will last as long as they live.

“Everything is provided including free parking next to the fishery, which can be found on the A41 Slip road at Bourne End heading towards Hemel.”

Further details of this and other local events can be found at www.nationalfishingmonth.com where you can book your slot for the day.

Organiser Contact:​ Michael Heylin OBE

Secretary Boxmoor & District Angling Society

Tel: 01442 255862

Mobile: 07836 718187​

Email: secretary@bdas.org

National Fishing Month is a celebration of angling and is run by the Angling Trades Association in association with the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency. All over the country, qualified coaches give their time freely to welcome newcomers to fishing

Membership 2016-17

We welcome new members - who will find a 2016-17 Application Form in the documentation section of the web site. Please download a form and follow the instructions.  Please allow up to 28 days for your application to be reviewed and processed.

For general membership questions please email club treasurer Alan Cripps : treasurer@bdas.org

 

Don’t forget to support your local tackle shops

Don’t forget to offer maximum support for the tackle shops that have supported BDAS and its members for many years. The club is served admirably by Old Town Angling (above left) and The Tackle Shack (above right) and both shops are deserving of your business.  They can’t survive on bait and small tackle item sales, so do give them every opportuity to provide best price for major items of tackle. Show your club card and you will get a discount off full recommended retail price.

Old Town Angling is at 75 High Street in Hemel Hempstead old town. Postcode is HP1 3AF and telephone number: 01442 252373

The Tackle Shack is at 4, The Queen’s Sqaure, Adeyfield, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4ES. Telephone is 01442 262368. Website is www.thetackleshack.co.uk, email : ian@thetackleshack.co.uk

 

Second thirty three pounder ‘Spike’ caught


Two thirty three pound commons have been caught in the same week. New member Richard Beaumont caught his first Boxmoor fish today, Sunday 31 January, when he landed a common weighing 33lbs 7ozs. It’s his first fish and only his third session since becoming a member.   The fish is known to carp anglers as Spike - a different fish to the first 33 pounder caiught earlier in the week. Congratulations Richard.



Largest ever Common from BDAS waters 

The largest common carp to be caught from BDAS waters has been banked this week (Tuesday 26 January 2016) by Doug Gosling at 33lbs 6ozs. it was witnessed and weighed by club treasurer Alan Cripp on a brand new and previously unused set of Reubon Heatons. The fish is known as The Box. Congratulations Doug!

As far as we know from available records the fish is the second largest fish in the club’s 89-year history.


The largest on record is a 40lbs 8oz carp caught by Ron Groombridge, then an 18 year old, on 23rd June 1966. At that time it was the equal second largest fish ever caught in the country - behind Richard Walker’s Redmire Pool caught 44 pound common in 1952 and Eddie Price’s 40-08 mirror, also from Redmire.



Fantastic response to our winter special offer on membership!

There has been a fantastic response to our special offer on winter 2015-16 membership. As a result, BDAS membership is now closed for the remainedr of the 2015-16 season. Club membership secretary David Wiltshire is accepting names of potential members for the waiting list - which should grant acceptance into membership from June 1. If you are currently seeking membership - do drop David a mail to membership@bdas.org

 

Take advantage of our special winter membership offer now!


Calling all potential new members - take advantage of our special Christmas offer for winter member. Or ask a loved one to buy a reduced cost membership for you.

See the membership form under the documentation section for details of how to join on a month by month basis from January to May 2016. It’s a great and cost-effective way of deciding if you would then like to join the club on a full year basis.

Any questions or additional information required - drop an email to membership secretary David Wilshire at membership@bdas.org

 

 

BDAS Club Newsletter
We publish a BDAS Matters newsletter around February each year which gives details of the AGM and carries the annual reports on the club and the management of our fisheries. This is sent to members by post and will be available on this page.  Occasional newsletters are published through the year but the Club’s Facebook Group is becoming the instant news forum for many members.


The AGM is your opportunity to contribute ideas for the running of the club and to have your say on exisitng polices.  The club can only be as good as its members so we really want to see you at the AGM.  Discussions can be lively and interesting.