WELCOME TO VERULAM ANGLING

of St.Albans, Hertfordshire, UK.

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Issue 81

November 2006

QUICK LINKS

Contacts & Guest Tickets

Match Calendar

Match Reports

Trout Fishing

Junior Section

Verulam Carp

Tackle Shops

To contact the Secretary by email Just click here

To contact the webmaster and to send pictures

Just click here

Match Bookings :

Due to water level issues no bookings will now be taken for Frogmore for season 2006-07.

Got something to say or had a good catch on club waters - then just click to let us know.

But if you've a question about rules, club policy etc. email the Secretary

Click here to:

Make this site my Home Page

Remember, our Junior Section needs YOUR contributions..........

VAC members, on production of their club card, can accrue a 'loyalty stamp' and after three paid visits to the venue, gain a fourth visit free of charge.

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£1 off all day tickets for VAC members at

Good Practice Guides

General Advice Handling fish Particle baits

Health & Safety

Weils' Disease

Power Cables

Discount Baits

VAC members get 5% discount on bait products from

GJW Titmuss

Fishing, golf, sun & sand - 2 bed family apartment to rent on the Costa Del Sol.

Now booking for 2007 Discount for VAC members.

Click for info

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Luxury 8 berth caravan to let at White Acres, Newquay, Cornwall

The caravan is sited on this 5 star award winning holiday complex which is also one of the top coarse angling centres in the country comprising 15 lakes.

Bookings now being taken for this season and 2007.

Open from March to October inclusive. Contact Barry Killinger on 07966 394717 for further details.

Christmas party for all members’ friends and families
Date: Friday 15th December 2006..... , Time: 7.30pm..... , Place: Smallford Rugby Club,
Oaklands Lane, Smallford, Just off Hatfield Road A1057
Buffet and canapés all evening. Music to entertain you all evening. Great raffles with prizes.....

Email Chris Knight or phone 07903 192 428 for details and tickets.

Match n Catch....

If you were to look into the history of the majority of angling clubs in England, especially those formed pre-WWII, you will often find that they were created from the desire to compete against like-minded anglers in local or (often works based) knock-up matches. Access to prolific waters was, for most, more an issue of transport than anything else with many many miles of abundant river and canal to go for.

Patiently awaiting the draw at Rockell's Lake, Essex

By forming into clubs and associations these pioneering anglers were able to hire or buy charabancs and coaches to take members to local and remote waters for what must have been very friendly matches what with the pub stops and grub stops. Even the VAC was, I believe still running coaches into the late 80's but, with costs spiralling and private car ownership commonplace, things began to change.

The emergence in the 90's of 'commercial fisheries' and the destruction of fish stocks in many rivers and lakes by cormorants served to encourage the pleasure angler looking for safe and reliable fishing and, it's fair to say, that the VAC has been focussed on meeting this need for many years. There's also been a massive growth in carp fishing over the same period which the VAC has sensibly catered for.

Meanwhile, the match side of the VAC has continued quite happily, in a degree of isolation, running 20 or so matches per season on a mix of club and commercial waters. Attendance has been consistently variable, 30+ in the Summer and 5-15 in the Winter. But whereas VAC membership has almost doubled in the last ten years the match side is generally supported by the same regulars with the precious few new faces only serving to replace those who for whatever reason have moved on. Conspicuously absent is anyone under the age of 25 save for the junior, ladies and senior matches held in the Summer when perhaps six of so juniors show up to test their abilities.

With so many new VAC members it's a puzzle that our matches are not over subscribed. We can only presume that there are those who fancy the idea of match fishing but feel they might not be welcomed or are perhaps are not 'good enough'. Cast these crazy thoughts aside and come and join us. You will find that we're all happy to help, whether it's advice, help with transport or whatever.

Admittedly you missed some of the best matches of the year (see below) but even Winter matches are great fun with the fishing both challenging and rewarding. Check out the recent results - there's no 'superstars' here and everyone has a chance of picking up some coin.

Christmas Match
at
RIVERSIDE ROAD

Sunday 17^th December.

Draw 8:30 Fish 9.30 – 2.30

Entry £2 - Charity donation – Bob Cooper Memorial

(British Heart Foundation)

Raffle donations on the day would be appreciated

POOLS.

£5 Main pool (pay 1^st 3 or 4 depending on numbers,

£2 section (approx. 10 peg sections),

£1 Golden peg.

ALL OPTIONAL

Please book with Brian Lakin to reserve your place

Tel. 01727.764510

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 onwards

Please let me know when booking the match if you require breakfast

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The Xmas draw will take place after the match in the clubroom along with the day’s raffle

For more details on the VAC match section contact Stan Kiddle (01727 850975 ) or Brian Lakin (01727 764510)

3,400lbs of carp!!

That's the approximate total of fish weighed in over the last two VAC matches including a total of eleven ton-up weights brought to the scales. Commercial carp waters aren't every ones cup of tea but Alders Farm and Rockell's Farm are two very pretty waters, in no way 'muddy holes'.

Well done to Roger Smith with 155lb, just short of the VAC record of 169lb, to top the frame at Alders and well done me (Webmaster Stan - pictured right) with 127lb to win Rockell's with Paul Bangs agonisingly close with 126lb.

One things for sure, our next few matches will be a little harder.

Click here for all the results

Join the VAC, the best angling club in Hertfordshire. Membership now at 1,548 and climbing !!

Half Price Membership available now !!

Your Contribution	Keep those pics coming in by clicking here

Ol' George was enjoying a sunny day down at Marford when this 11lb 4oz mirror interrupted proceedings.	VAC secretary John Trew put his pen down and picked his camera up to capture a number of beautiful pictures of our Ouse venues at Radwell (above) and Felmersham.