Welcome to Verulam Angling Club Trout Section

The VAC has for some thirty years organized 10 weeks of fly-fishing for trout at its Riverside Road fishery around the time of the traditional coarse close season, from the end of February to early May. Because of the growing popularity with members for this branch of our sport we had just about reached saturation point at Riverside Road in terms of angling space and so opened Ford Lake at Bellows Mill for additional fly-fishing in September 2011 for a three-month trial. Over 1400 trout were stocked for the 2011 season at Riverside Road. Rainbow trout were introduced approximately every two weeks and ranged from 1.5 lb to over 4lb with an average of 2 lb. Fishing is fly-only and you must be a VAC Club Member. There is a strict 3 Fish limit per day. Some of the more skilled members managed to catch 3 fish every visit in 2011 with the average just over 2 fish per visit. Members who buy a standard season ticket fish the same day each week but this can sometimes be varied by prior arrangement. A standard half season ticket is available to fish the same day on alternate weeks. We also have, at a premium, full and half season “floating” tickets where the member can fish any day of their choice in a week subject to prior telephoning to check available space on the water. Day tickets are available to all VAC members provided there is space on the water and they may also take an accompanied guest with them, after purchase of a guest ticket, again, at a premium. All tickets must be purchased in advance. The cost of a full 2011 season ticket was £100 for 10 days fishing and a half season ticket £55. Full floating tickets were £130 with half floating tickets at £70.  Day tickets to VAC Members cost £17 and accompanied guest tickets £24. Most club members who use this facility agree this has to be the best value trout fishing in the south of the England. In 2012 the Riverside Road season is planned to run from around the end of February to the beginning of May, exact dates to be confirmed.   Ford Lake at Bellows Mill This new venue opened for trout fly-fishing from 1st September until 30th November with trout stocked in a similar way to Riverside Road. As it’s a new water we tried out a new simplified ticketing system. Thirty members bought a season ticket for £80 to fish Ford for any eight days during the three months with a 3 fish per day limit but no more than once a week. Day tickets at £13 with a 3 fish limit were also available to all VAC members with the other fishing rules the same as those for trout fishing at Riverside Road. In addition to rainbow trout a few brown trout were also stocked to provide variety. Although smaller than riverside Road it has proved successful and plans are being made for a full season in 2012, again exact dates and details to be confirmed Ticket prices are reviewed annually at the Trout Section Annual Meeting held in January. Any VAC members interested in trout fishing at Bellows Mill or Riverside Road should contact Neil Roberts.  Trout Section Annual Meeting Ticket prices are broadly determined by the cost of the stocked trout and proposals for the 2012 season at both waters will be a reviewed at the Trout Section Annual Meeting to be held at the New Greens Residents Association Hall on 10th January 2012, 7.30 for 8.00. 2011 Season Summaries  Riverside Road : The 2011 Trout Season at Riverside Road ended on 6th May with a record number of members having taken Season (69 this year) with a further 30 buying Day Tickets.  In all, our records show we had no less than 568 rods visit the water which gives an average for the 10 week season of 56 per week or 8 fishermen per day while the maximum we can have at any one time is 11, the number of fly fishable pegs.  The popularity of our sport continues to grow amongst our club members and attracts new members every year.  Long may that continue! The season started during the very cold snap at the end of February making fishing difficult and ended in the midst of the hottest April since records began so the fishing this year was more challenging than in recent years, but still, we managed an overall average catch per rod of 2,01, down from last years record 2.26 per rod, but still very good given our attractive rate for season tickets of about £10 per day.  In addition, if wanted, we held two other free venues which season ticket holders were able to take advantage of, our annual charity Dave Marlborough Memorial Match (DMMM) with 14 members attending this year on Friday 29 April, and then our final Alterative Methods Fun Day at season’s end where we had 29 members fishing in two sessions, morning and evening, the following Friday, 6th May.  All told we stocked 1410 fish average weight of just under 2 pounds and landed 1145 of them according to the returns.  As mentioned above, another great season but with more variable results each week so at least there were few complaints of it being “too easy” at season’s start this year. Ford Lake - Bellows Mill : After much hard work landscaping and building casting platforms by the fisheries team a hut was erected and fly-fishing started on 1st September. This trial season at Ford Lake, Bellows Mill proved very successful with thirty members buying a season ticket to fish on eight days. These ticket holders had the option to take a guest with them for an additional charge and five did so.  In addition twenty-five day tickets were sold to other club members. In all some 680 trout, including a few browns, were stocked and, just before the trial ended at the end of November, 497 have been caught giving an average of just over 2 fish per angler. The fishing is very different to Riverside Road with the water being crystal clear and in good light the trout can be seen right across the lake. Nearly all the members who have fished Ford Lake have commented about the excitement of seeing trout following their fly and, on at least 497 occasions, taking it. With water so clear some anglers used a dry fly to good effect. Ford Lake promises to be a great addition to VAC trout fishing in the coming years. One increasingly popular event we have been running for several years has been our Free Casting Clinics run By Clive Butcher and his team, one before the  season began and one soon after its start.  Not only was it free to any VAC member wanting to try fly fishing out, we even provided the kit to those that needed it.  We plan to do the same again next year so why not have a go and see if you too would like to try it out. Oster Bayne - Trout Section Chairman New to fly fishing? We are again giving free guidance to any VAC members wishing to try Fly-Fishing in 2012.  The dates are: 12/2/2012      10am – 12noon        Casting Tuition                      Bellows Mill 26/2/2012      10am – 3pm            Introduction to Fly-Fishing*   Riverside Road 3/3/2012        10am – 12noon       Casting Tuition                      Riverside Road * This will be held in the meeting room at Riverside Road where refreshments will be available for a small donation. All equipment is provided so why not have a go? Please contact  Clive Butcher if interested. Returns (Excel format) : 2009 2010 2011   * Away Days * During the summer months a number of day trips are organized to quality commercial fisheries, giving members a chance to fish together at other waters and get to know one another.  During 2010 we had Away Days to Eyebrook Reservoir, Yew Tree Fishery, Elinor Trout Fishery and Rib Valley Fishery. Venues for the 2012 season will be announced at the Trout Section Annual Meeting at New Greens Residence Association Hall 10th January 2012.   Scenes from last season   Alan Stainton stocking 23 Feb   Garth Ballard with an early fish Neil Roberts hosts an introduction to fly fishing   The Thursday boys resting their casting arms.  L-R, Mal Shaw, Fred Edwards, Hugh Smith, Bill Arnold & Bob Ring Richard Russell with a 6lb 6oz specimen   Nick Ring, having completed his bag, instructs Mal Shaw Bob Ring - concentrating ! Bob again - casting a narrow loop

More from our archives Click the  to see Neil's article in the Herts Advertiser    Trout Section Round up If you wish to see more photos from previous seasons at Riverside, along with photos from the away days and more, click here! Looking to improve your Fly Fishing? Don't know where to start? Click here to enter the 'Fly Fishing Manual'

Fly Fishing for Trout at Riverside Road; A Newcomers Guide In Search of Urban Wild Brown Trout on the River Chess Oster Bayne's 2010 Review