Fisheries
The Verulam Angling Club is extremely proud of the diversity and quality of its private fisheries. We have on offer a range of fisheries to whet the appetite of all anglers of varying abilities and expertise. Our range of fisheries include not only our own exclusive stillwater and river fisheries, but our members also have access to a number of consortium fisheries. These include The River Ivel (IPA), The River Lea navigation and Stort (Towpath Fisheries), Turnford Consortium Stillwater Fisheries and Fishers Green Consortium which also includes the River Lea.
We also share reduced price day permits at Albans Lakes in London Colney. We’ve recently negotiated access to the Grand Union Canal around Watford controlled by the Watford Piscators AC and also many stretches around Tring and Aylesbury which the Tring Anglers AC control.
Riverside Road
The club developed this 2 acre lake from old cress beds some 50 years ago and is now our main coarse fishery and headquarters of the Verulam AC. Limited Trout fishing is available during the winter months during January and February.
Frogmore
This popular mixed fishery comprises two lakes. The match lake, as the name suggests provides an all round mixed species experience with plenty of F1’s to bolster up match weights. Tony’s Lake is a small weedy lake which is one of our main training and coaching venues but holds a good head of Tench to 8lb, Roach and Crucians.
Smallford
This superb fishery has been part of the Verulam Angling Club since the late fifties and still remains one of our most popular specimen venues. Although not an easy water it still drags back anglers from 60 years ago who still hold fond memories of this mature gravel pit.
Bellows Mill
The club acquired the freehold of this fishery back in 2010 and developed the site into a coarse fishery (Mill Lake) and a trout fishery (Ford Lake). The coarse lake has an ‘estate lake’ feel to it and is stocked with Tench, Crucians and Roach. Ford Lake is the club’s primary Trout fishery which provided trout fishing all year round.
The River Ouzel runs through the site and offers Pike fishing during the cooler months of the season.
River Lea – Marford Farm
The upper reaches of the River Lea in Wheathampstead, this fishery is one of our most popular river stretches. We have two sections on offer namely the ’Short walk section’ and the ‘Long Walk section’.
River Lea – Leasey Bridge
Can be found just off the Lower Luton Road between Wheathampstead and Harpenden. This stretch is very popular with many members having a backwater off the mainstream that holds 10 comfortable swims.
River Great Ouse – Sharnbrook
The largest of our two Ouse fisheries, just 8 miles north of Bedford.
River Great Ouse – Radwell
This single bank stretch can probably claim to be one of the most famous sections of the river renowned for its Chub and Barbel years gone by. Recently this stretch has become popular again with good catches of quality Chub plus the odd Barbel.
River Great Ouse – Carlton Road
Situated just north of Felmersham village, this attractive stretch of river provides around 30 pegs and does provide some good pike fishing in the winter and silvers during throughout the year.
River Great Ouse – Milton Ernest
This superb stretch of the Ouse glides through just south of Milton Ernest and provides good sport with sizeable Chub, Barbel and some excellent silvers fishing with quality Perch.
River Great Ouse – Tingewick
Situated on the western outskirts of Buckingham, this attractive stretch of the upper Great Ouse is a new addition to the VAC fishery portfolio.
Associate Venues
Fishers Green
Our members have full access to all the fisheries which make up the Fishers green Consortium which includes three large lakes and the old River Lea relief channel.
Albans Lakes
These lakes offer specimen fishing and also match fishing in the main match lake on site. Our members are regularly taking part in the many ‘opens’ that the management run throughout the year where 100lb bags of quality Carp and Bream are not uncommon. Carp to 30lb plus are regularly reported from the specimen lakes.
Our members receive a £4 discount on a day permit.
Ivel Protection Association (IPA)
Our members have full access to all the River Ivel stretches that the IPA control comprising over 8 miles of river.
Turnford Consortium
This four lake complex is a popular venue for many of our anglers providing good sport and with Carp up to 40lb and a regular choice for many.
River Lea – Towpath Fishery
Managed by the Ware AC and Hertford AC since 2013 they control sections of the river navigation from Hertford to Broxbourne and River Stort navigation, Fieldes weir, Dobbs Weir and the Old Mill at Broxbourne.
All Verulam Members can obtain Towpath fishery information from the Ware and District website.
Towpath Handbooks are no longer available from the VAC Secretary or VAC Membership secretary.