SDAA controls the fishing rights on several excellent lakes and premier stretches of the rivers Great Ouse, Ivel and its tributaries in and around Bedfordshire, all available on a single club ticket.  The wide choice of venues and species available cater for both pleasure anglers and specimen hunters

In recent seasons, SDAA’s fisheries have produced an enviable list of specimen fish (catfish over 60lb, carp over 30lb, pike over 25lb, barbel over 14lb, zander, bream and tench over 10lb , chub over 7lb, perch over 4lb and roach over 3lb).

Please explore our website to find details of all our waters, membership and other useful information.  The popular ‘News from the Bank’ section gives up to date information on catches and club news.  For a quick overview of SDAA waters and membership have a look at our current flyer (click here to open).

Membership of SDAA is open to all:

•  annual membership is available from early May and is valid until 15^th June the following year (i.e. up to 58 weeks fishing).

•  there is no additional joining fee for new members

• membership also entitles you to fish Ivel Protection Association waters.

• optional night permits are available for those wishing to night fish The Airman, Broom Lake and Willington Lake.

If you require further information please contact Richard Bell (tel. 07594 253239 or click here to e-mail).

 Disclaimer  

Parking at Little Paxton Allotments
 
It states quite clearly in the membership book: “Whilst within Rowley’s Allotments, vehicles must not exceed 5mph and parking is only permitted within the SDAA gravelled parking area, located at the end of the third track on the right.  Members must not park anywhere else within the allotments.”
A number of anglers are ignoring this rule and driving down the first and second tracks within the allotments to park, which is in breach of our agreement with the land owner and potentially puts the future of the fishing rights at risk.  Allotment holders are recording registration numbers of angler’s vehicles parked outside of the designated car park. Any angler found parking their vehicle outside of the designated car park will be reported to the committee.

Stanford Pit
 
Water levels at Stanford Pit have fallen to extremely low levels with much of the lake now dry and the committee have imposed a total fishing ban on the water.  The committee informed the Environmental Agency of the worsening situation some time ago.  However, the EA are reluctant to attempt a fish rescue unless absolutely necessary.  The EA fear most of the fish would die during any attempt to net the fish due to the deep silt and copious amounts of weed, so their chances of survival are probably higher if left in Stanford Pit for the time being.   There are also strict controls governing the movement of fish and a health check would be required before any fish could be moved to another fishery, which would involve netting out a representative sample (minimum 30 fish) that would need to be killed and examined.  The health check is required to prevent diseases and parasites being transferred between fisheries. The EA might be willing to consider transferring the fish from a fish rescue to a holding water (non fishery) without a health check with an option of returning the fish to Stanford Pit if water levels recover. 
Work has been carried out to carefully rake out some weed and branches to create channels that make it easier for fish to move between the slightly deeper sections of the lake.  This action has illustrated the risks and dangers involved while working in heavily silted areas.  Care has been taken to only disturb small areas of the lake on each visit to minimise the risk of causing a rapid deoxygenation of the water.  A few carp died during the recent heat wave, which also resulted in an algal bloom on the water.  Fortunately the recent rain has caused water levels to rise slightly.  The carp can be very visible at times appearing to deliberately push themselves into the thicker areas of weed with their backs showing out of the water.  However, as soon as we have started to disturb the lake with our raking activities the carp disappear down out of view, suggesting there are still several areas of slightly deeper water present. 
Members must not approach dried out areas of the lake as they may well contain several feet of waterlogged silt underneath.  There is also several feet of silt underneath the areas that still contain water.  Neither should members attempt to move fish out of Stanford Pit to another fishery.  You would be putting yourself at risk and committing an illegal act that potentially puts all the fish in the receiving water at risk.  If members do see dead fish, or fish in obvious distress, then please contact an officer of the club ASAP so that they can assess the situation and, if required, request an emergency fish rescue by the EA.  Committee members are monitoring the lake on a regular basis. 
Why are water levels so low?  Stanford Pit largely relies upon being topped up as the water table rises each winter and levels then fall a couple of feet during the summer, before rising by a similar amount between January and April.  In February 2014 the lake was full with water well out into the trees, but we have experience three consecutive relatively dry winters and the water table has only had modest winter rises during 2015-2017.  Last winter was particularly dry in this area and has effected many lakes and rivers.  Members may have noted the The Airman has also failed to have its annual top up the last three winters.  Stanford Pit last dried out completely in the mid 1990s 
It is hoped that the Stanford Pit fish will survive through the remaining summer months and we will have a significant period of above average rainfall to restore the lake back to normal levels.  If there is no alternative, we will ask the EA to attempt a fish rescue.

 IPA Blunham water 
The IPA do not currently have an agreement in place for the fishing rights on this water  (IPA water 13, p37 of the SDAA membership book 2017-18). 
In light of this and with the river fishing season due to start on Friday, June 16th, SDAA members MUST NOT fish or access this water until further notice.  We will update these instructions as soon as the situation changes.

SDAA MEMBERSHIP 2017/18 SEASON
SDAA membership cards for the 2017/18 season will be available from early May and will be valid from date of purchase through to 15th June 2018.  All prices will be the same as last season.  Full details about membership, night permits and application forms will appear on the membership section of the SDAA website towards the end of April.

The SDAA website is kindly sponsored by Andy’s Angling, 19 High Street, Shefford SG17 5DD (click here to open a map to Andy’s)

                                   (click here to open Andy’s website)