We seem to have a small but growing number of users of the Club waters who think it acceptable to leave little behind. We all also need to take our part in keeping this nuisance in check: Rule 2(a) "Members must not while on Society controlled waters: ... Leave litter such as unwanted food, tins, bottles, paper, polythene bags, nylon line, hooks etc. Members occupying a swim will be held responsible for the cleanliness of that swim." All anglers are responsible for the swi

Hi All With the long and hot Summer coming to an end a quick reminder of events on the Club lakes over the next couple of weeks: Sat 22 Aug Hall Farm Small Lake - Get Fishing event Sun 23 Aug Hall Farm Small Lake - Get Fishing event Sun 23 Aug Beggar's Hall - Club match Weds 26 Aug Hall Farm Large Lake - Club Match Sun 30 Aug Wickham Hall - Club match Weds 2 Sept Now at Abbey Cross's Taylor's Lake Weds 9 Sept Hall Farm Large Lake - Club Match Sun 13 Sept Hall Farm Lar

We have a steadily growing pile of items that have been left behind at Club waters. If you think you might have lost something please contact our Club Secretary Robin honsec@bsdas.org.uk 01279 461065 Please note that if items are not claimed they will be disposed of eventually.

Tony is again organising a fundraiser match for Breathe Easy which are part of Asthma + Lung UK (formerly the British Lung foundation). https://www.blf.org.uk/help/support-network/support-in-your-area/all-breathe-easy-groups Draw at 8:30 with a 10 start most likely. Tickets will be £20 on the day with £10 going to Breathe Easy and the rest to the prize pool. Do bring along some loose change for a raffle and the like. Contact Tony for more info on 07837 227017

Hi All A replacement gate has been installed along the track just after the Connect scaffolding yard. This is also now locked. The code for the gate is the same as for the padlock at the lake itself but with one less digit. So, if the lake padlock code is 12345 the new gate code would be 1234. The lake padlock code is in your Club Books.

We have again teamed up with Bishop's Stortford Town Council and Everybody Can Fish for taster sessions on the small lake. The bookings are being run by BSTC, more information here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LEwqcb4TT/ Many thanks to the Everybody Can Fish team again https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17zRT95YMH/

Hi All With the summer holidays upon us we have a busy calendar on the Club's lakes over the next few weeks. MBL weed clearing continues on the Thursday Work Parties Sun 2 Aug - Wickham Hall club match Sat 8 Aug - Hall Farm Large Lake BreatheEasy charity match - call Tony to book on for a good cause Sun 9 Aug - Malcolm Barker club match Weds 12 Aug - Hall Farm Large Lake club match Sun 16 Aug - Hall Farm Large Lake club match Weds 19 Aug - Beggar's Hall club match Sat 22Aug -

The hot and sunny weather for the last few months has meant that the weed at MBL is back with a vengeance. As it has been on lots of other lakes. The Thursday Work Party were down at MBL today (despite the 30C temperatures) trying to get a few more of the swims fishable. As you can see from the photos this is going to take a while so the Thursday Work Party is likely to be down at MBL for the next few weeks. MBL will still be open for fishing during these Thursdays but plea

With yet another heat wave in full swing any grassed areas are now tinder dry. To avoid any risk of fires the Committee have decided with immediate effect that all gas stoves or similar that could pose a fire risk must not be used on Club waters. Please also be very careful with things like battery banks, vapes and mobile phones. Lithium Ion batteries do not like high temperatures and, if they are left in full sun, they could get dangerously hot. We will let you know when we

With Summer and Summer Holidays fast approaching we know how popular the Small Lake is with families and for those Members just looking for a few quick fish. The bright sun and recent warm weather was clearly to the liking of the reeds and some of the swims had been buried by them. With many thanks to Darren Cope and my eldest son Harrison the lake should now be good to go for the Summer. There is a little bit more work to do in trimming the trees but you should find plenty

Hi all Dave Fuller is again this year running his charity match at Hall Farm in aid of The British Heart Foundation. Draw time will be 8.30 with fishing 10(ish) to 3(ish). As well as your entry moneys do bring along some spare change as I am sure Dave will have a few ways planned to try and part you from this. You can get in touch with Dave on 07740 15619 for more info and to book in.

Hi All With 1 June we start a new Club year - hopefully you have all managed to renew one way or another. And with the new year comes a flurry of events including a couple not on the usual Wednesdays and Sundays. 1 June - New year and the MBL gate codes have changed 1 June - Hall Farm's small lake reopened Weds 10 June - Beggar's Hall match Tues 16 June - River Stort reopens Weds 17 June - Hall Farm's large lake match Sat 20 June - Hall Farm's small lake - The lake has a boo

Following on from resent Blog posts here are a couple of examples of what we should not be seeing on Club waters. This feeder rig was up a tree at Peg 14 on MBL. This is not a free running rig as the split shot up the mainline from the feeder was clamped on so hard it formed a fixed/bolt rig. The main line was also pretty thin for a feeder rig. This second rig was in the rushes between pegs 18 and 19 at Beggar's Hall and looked like it had been cast over from peg 4. Firstl

This is not the sort of email we enjoy sending. The Club's Rules have been agreed by the Members to try and make sure our Club and fisheries stay in good shape for another 75 years. By joining the Club or fishing on a Guest or Day ticket you have agreed with all the Club's Members to abide by these Rules. Sadly we are seeing a growing number of people not following these Rules. Recent examples are: Banned baits - they have been banned for a reason, e.g. regular overfee

Hi All The new Club Books are here and both Stansted Angling and Rib Valley Angling should have a good number of these if you want to renew that way. Please note that they will probably want cash. We will also be running in person renewals at MBL on: Saturday 30 May Sunday 31 May 10am to 1pm. Cash would be best please as the card machine does not always work down at MBL. It is always good to see a few faces, old and new, and to get your feedback on the Club's waters. ClubM

The new Club books are heading back from the printers so renewals can get underway any moment. You should see the ClubMate page open up for new memberships / renewals over the next few days. As in previous years we will also be sending some Club books to Stansted Angling and Rib Valley Angling and we are holding a couple of days at MBL where you can rejoin in person. Cash would be best for anyone venturing to MBL to renew as the card reader does not always work at MBL. We w

For those of you visiting MBL over the next few weeks you might see some orange sacks around the edges of the lake. These are filled with barley straw to hopefully prevent algae blooms as the weather warms up as these can be harmful to the lake especially as we head towards the time when fish start spawning and they are more susceptible to water quality issues. Please do not remove them from the lake. If they seem to be getting in the way please let us know. Do feel free t

Hi All As we come to the end of the 2025/26 season a few dates for your diaries: Now: A reminder that the close season is in effect so the River is closed. Now: Pike season has also closed. 1 April: The small lake at Hall Farm is also closed from and including 1 April until 1 June. 8 April: The Club's AGM. 21 May: Club presentation night at Hunter's Meet Hatfield Heath. 30/31 May: New Club memberships available in person at MBL. 1 June: The new Club year starts so you

With another year quickly passed by it is time for our AGM soon. Please keep an eye on your ClubMate emails as the Agenda will be circulated via email and we will also add a copy on this page This year's AGM is will be at Great Hadham Golf Club which has lots of parking (postcode SG10 6JE). The start will be at 8pm. Ahead of the AGM attached is our Newsletter with a quick round up of Club matters from the last year. Below is a link to download the newsletter. Your website b

After the last post's example of what not to do this one gives a bit more guidance as to what Club Rule 15 is all about: 15. Any angler fishing Society waters who is intentionally in pursuit of large carp, tench or pike should be in possession of a purpose made padded unhooking mat with a minimum size of 2 feet (60cm) x 3 feet (90cm) and a suitable sized landing net. Landing nets and unhooking mats must be ready before you start fishing. Fish must be weighed where caught