Jim Howe had a great session recently, by landing this 18lb, 12oz monster. Not only is it a great achievement, but even more so when you find out he landed it using his pole. Jim has kindly emailed the clubs website to explain how he went about catching it?


My pole set up was 14 elastic with a 4lb, 12oz hook length, tied to a size 12 hook. Using pellet I presented the bait tight to the lily pads, off peg 21 at 9 metres. The whole fight lasted around 10 to 12 minutes. The carps first initial run went straight into the middle of the lily pads. After a good 5 minutes of playing the fish I manage to persuaded it to come out of the lilies. At this stage I had know idea it was a carp and thought I was into a big tench. I manage to get the carp out of the lilies only for it to make another run back into them again. Undeterred the fight continued until it shot off towards peg 22 and open water. It was not until then that I realised I was into a good carp. Once I knew it was a carp of a good size my use of brute force subsided and I changed tactics to show the fish more respect. The weigh in was witnessed by Michael Ayliffe and this photography shows what lovely condition the carp is in.
Jim went on to say that he has never seen a pole of his so curved with a fish running away towards open water. It goes to show what you can do with a pole in skilled hands. Well done Jim.

Another whopping tench caught this time by Matt Higgins. We have little detail to provide at this stage but what we can tell you is it weighed in at a colossal  8lb 9ozs.

What a nice tench Geoff Owen caught on Sunday 6th May. Not just the one either, he landed a brace of them, off peg 38 in a 2.5 hour session. Both weighed in at 7lb and 7lb 14ozs. Also well done to Geoff for taking such a great looking shot. As you can see, members are catching some quality fish.

Keep those images coming. Feedback indicates that club members really enjoy looking at photographs taken by other members. It also goes to show we have some quality fishing in the lake.

Tony Hook has forwarded this image of his son Matthew, who landed a very nice 4lb tench recently. This is Matthews biggest tench to date and looks very proud of his achievement.  Tony also mentioned that over the past couple of weeks they have both had some other nice tench between them with the largest weighing 5lbs. Whilst at the lake Tony has spoken to other anglers who have reported tench to 6.5lbs were landed all in lovely condition.

New Lake Record
Gary Bradshaw has landed a new lake record with a 33lb Common Carp. This breaks the previous record by 3lb 11ozs. This new record has taken its time coming. Not since 26th June 2005 has anyone landed anything bigger, which is sad news for Chairman Martyn Gibbons who previously held the record. For more details click here

Several good size carp have been caught recently with Matt Higgins weighing in with a 23lb 14oz Common on January 27th 2007.  

Water levels are extremely high due to recent rainfall during January 2007. The bottom left hand side of the lake is completely flooded and so are most of the points. Although this is normal, we have not experienced this level of water for several years. The high winds has also taken it's toll on several trees as well as pushing general lake debris on to the side banking of the lake. Several good chub to 3lbs have been caught recently and anglers have reported that the lake is fishing well considering the time of year.

WARNING - The platform at the club hut has become unsafe due to rotting timbers. Although the toilet is useable we advise not to stand on the platform area. This area has been cordon off, but due to recent storms may no longer be visible.    Anyone with old railway sleep to donate let us know. The water management team will hope to repair the platform in spring and need to use sleepers to form a solid foundation to repair the platform. 

Despite the showers and strong winds this years Open Day, held during August Bank Holiday Monday, proved a great success with more numbers attending the event than the previous year. Organisers were surprised at the turnout especially the number of families who took part in the open match. The Chairman (Martyn Gibbons) was delighted with the number or people who took part in the Open Day quoting that the "Reg Edwards Lake had not seen so many anglers at every peg for many a year and it was good to see everyone enjoying themselves". The Chairman went on to express his congratulations to the organisers of the event who did an outstanding job putting everything together despite the hardship of preparing the lake without the proper tools This comes after equipment was stolen from the container. The Open day will help recoup cost of some of the equipment, but in the meantime we still have to borrow tools from friends of the society to maintain the lake said Martyn. The Open Day is certainly an annual event for many of the youngsters of Sawbridgeworth as the tuition section proved one of the main attractions. This year every child who attended the tuition area and caught a fish received a Leeda Whip with rig valued at £30.00 in the hope they will catch the bug and start fishing. Over 50 children took part and as well as receiving their Whip each got a certificate of merit signed by the Chairman. It was also great to see many of the junior anglers on the open match out fish some of the more senior club members, to their disgust, but that fishing..... For more details of the open day click here   

Unfortunately the club suffered a break in at the club lake in July. Thieves took of with valuable equipment from the green container. This means our team of volunteers who maintain the lake are lacking vital equipment to keep swims and surrounding vegetation at bay. We are now in desperate need of a petrol driven lawn mower suitable for cutting the grass around the lake to keep the pathways clear. Anyone with an old petrol mower that is no longer needed and would like to consider donating it can call David on 07739 730948. 

In the meantime club officials are looking at storing equipment off site as a long term measure. Any member who sees any suspicious activity while at the lake should immediately report it to the Police and club officials - details of who to contact can be found on your club card.

Just to remind members that issuing the lake gate combination to anyone is a breach of club rules. Any member found doing this will be expelled from the club. If a member of the public wishes to visit you during a fishing session as a guest. The correct protocol is for you to escort them into and out of the gate.

The lake continues to fish well with continuing reports of good size Tench, Roach Rudd and Bream. L. Goodson a regularly on the lake recently caught a Tench to 7lb, 8oz & 8 drams, making this the official club record, witnessed by others during a recent match. 

12th June 2007 update. The lake is really fishing well with anglers taking good catches of tench and roach. The carp have recently spawn and reports have been received that carp are being landed to 1lb 8ozs. -

James Howe had a good day at the lake on May 13th with a keepnet full of tench weighing in at 21lbs. Club captain, David Rogers was on hand to witness and weigh the 6 tench caught by James, the biggest of which weighed in at 6lb 8ozs.  Caught from peg 41, James used pellet on both the pole and quivertip.

Other members have also reported that tench are regularly being caught, with Robert Tonkin landing an 8lb 5oz tench recently?

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Lake activity has been quiet during the past few months, except for the hard work Michael Brown and John Armes have put in carrying out general maintenance work. This Sunday (9th April 2006) saw L. Goodson catch three good tench of peg 6.  Although we have no confirmed weights, Mr Goodson who is an experience and knowledgeable angler believes one tench reached about 4lb, another to 5.5lbs and the biggest to around 6lb. All caught on pellet.    
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If you would like to report how the lake is fishing, contact David Spears on 07739 730948 or email us at sawbridgeworth.anglingsociety@ntlworld.com
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We are always looking for members who are willing to volunteer and help out around the club lake on works parties. Can You Help. If so,  email us on the above link.  Its a great way to meet other members and feel involved in maintaining the beautiful features we have at the lake.  You will also pick up handy tips on the best locations to fish and what's being caught, just by talking to other anglers.  More importantly if you want a good laugh with a bunch of like minded people and you have a few hours to spare let us know.  And kids its not just the adults who have all the fun.  We would love to see youngster get involved too.      

The lake continues to spring surprises on unsuspected anglers (18th September 2005) with an abundance of perch being caught. The perch are generally located in most parts of the lake from the margins to about two rod lengths and at varying depths. These perch can be easily targeted on red maggot and if your on the deck your also in for a chance of picking up a good 2lb plus tench.  Beyond two rod lengths roach will show to either red maggot of small pellet, again vary your depth and hook size. 

Water levels in the lake have risen in recent weeks which may have helped Dave Rogers net 7lb of roach in one session recently (Sunday 31st July 2005). 

The lake is looking fantastic at the moment.  The water has just started to colour nicely and several shoals of roach are regularly reported seen on the water surface.  The pH levels and oxygen levels are spot on, so the water is in perfect condition.

Neil Armour recently caught a 7lb 8ozs bream in superb condition off peg 28, adding to his 5lb Tench he landed earlier. 

Tench are certainly showing at the moment with Alan Thorpe bagging several good size fish on peg 26.

Martyn Gibbons banked a common carp of 29lbs 5ozs, which is a new lake record.