News In Brief
This section provides the situation on our waters, track closures, water closures, general news and site works
Broom Lake Work Party
SDAA members are invited to participate in a Work Party at Broom Lake starting at 9am on Saturday 18th October 2025. The venue will be closed to fishing from 8am until 4pm and only members attending the Work Party will be allowed on site during the closure. The work will focus on cutting back vegetation to open up the swims to aid casting, and filling in any holes at the front of swims. Volunteers should wear suitable footwear and gloves. Volunteers can bring their own hand tools (e.g. loppers, bow saws, pole saws, etc), but for insurance reasons must not bring any power tools. The club has its own power tools that can only be used by designated individuals. The amount of work that can be undertake will depend upon the number of volunteers that attend the Work Party, so please make an effort to attend.
Rivers
The IPA rules regarding the Biggleswade Back Meadows are clearly set out on the IPA website and on the signs at the fishery. The permitted fishing times for the Back Meadows are 6am to 11pm from 16th June to 30th September and 7am to 7pm from 1st October to 14th March. You can only fish with a single rod and line, no wading and no bivvies. SDAA members were recently asked to leave the Back Meadows by an IPA bailiff as they had set up bivvies and were clearly intent on fishing past the off time. Please note that there is also no overnight fishing on the IPA’s new stretch at the Riddy in Sandy.
Broom Lake Track - OPEN
Important Notice: Leadcore and Tackle Safety on SDAA Waters
The use of leadcore is strictly prohibited on all SDAA waters. Any member found using leadcore can expect to face a ban from the club. Within the past week, two catfish have been caught trailing rigs that incorporated leadcore, raising serious concerns about fish welfare.
On 9 August 2025, a 50lb catfish was landed while trailing a rig shown in the photos below. The hooklink had failed to eject from the leadcore leader, and the ‘chod sleeve’ had slid up to the spliced section of the leadcore. This made the splice too large for the hooklink ring to pass over and displace the ‘no trace’ bead, effectively creating a potential death rig.
To protect fish welfare, bailiffs are authorised to inspect members’ rigs. Anyone found using leadcore will be reported to the committee.
Additionally, all SDAA members should be aware that bailiffs may ask anglers to stop fishing and leave the water if their tackle is deemed inadequate or unsafe for the species being targeted. Tackle recommendations for carp, catfish, and pike fishing are provided on page 15 of your SDAA Membership Information Booklet.
Club rules also require that:
Anglers must always have an assembled landing net while fishing.
All members must carry and use an unhooking mat or cradle appropriate for the species being targeted, to prevent fish from being placed on the ground.
Several members have recently been asked to leave SDAA waters for failing to meet these requirements.
Fish safety is paramount. Please ensure your rigs and tackle comply fully with SDAA rules to help protect the health and welfare of the fish we all enjoy catching.
