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Welcome to the official Victoria & Biddulph Angling Society Web site. We hope you will enjoy viewing the site and we hope that you find all the information you need to know about our club.

2012 Permits Available Now - Senior £28 - Junior £12 - Veteran £18

Latest News

15-12-11- Cricket Ground Pool Re-stocking - CLICK HERE for details

20-08-11- I've not been able to respond to emails for a couple of months due to not having the internet available at home for the last couple of months. Anyone with any questions not having been answered, please re-forward your emails to me.

20-08-11- The Cricket Ground Pool security has now been improved by the addition of a lock to the gate. The lock can be opened with the same key as the Victoria & Havelock Pools. Please ensure that the gate is always locked after you've entered the pools and left the pools.

10-05-11- The Cricket Ground Pool will be Closed from today, 10.05.11 until further notice (approx 1 week) for essential maintenance to the pathway and pegs. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

07-01-11- I am pleased to confirm that we have been allowed 3 Charity Night Fish In's during 2011 on The Serpentine. These will take place on the following dates (Saturday nights) - 30th July, 20th August and 24th September. All dates are the last weekend of the month except August (to avoid the bank holiday). Anglers can as previous years, book a peg by attending one of 4 work parties set for Sunday mornings in March & April. (Those anglers wishing to fish all nights need to attend 3 work parties) The dates are shown on the calendar page. Any remaining pegs will be available at £15.00 per peg (all money raised will go to Biddulph in Bloom). All pegs will be drawn at random a day in advance. Please also note that anglers can book their peg for June 16th - The start of the season by also attending a work party.

10-10-10 - A work party have been arranged on the Victoria & Havelock Pools on Sunday 21st November. The work required is to add some finishing touches to the Victoria Pool in terms of the far bank pegs, intoduce some bankside protection, plus repair the existing pegs on the Havelock Pool (plus anything else a member suggests if suitable). Can any members who can spare 3-4 hours please attend bringing any tools such as spades, wheel barrows, etc (plus personal protective equipment, especially gloves). We will start at 10.00am meeting in the car park.

14-08-10 - The Victoria & Havelock Pools car park extension and pathway is now complete. There is now room for double the amount of cars as previous plus the new path way runs the width of the pool on the near bank due to this area being inconsistant for trolleys etc. Images below:

19-07-10 - All member are reminded that their membership card is also their bailiff card. However, all offical bailiffs are becoming part of the 'Fishery Management Team'. Team members will now not only patrol our waters, they'll also get involved with future development of the fishery as a whole. Any member interested in becoming a team member please email dangoddard22@yahoo.co.uk

19-07-10 - Please note that due to disease all rhododendron bushes within Greenway Country Park in which both the Serpentine and Knype Reservoir are location are being distroyed. Please take care to keep to the pathways. Once complete, we'll hold a work party to create a little extra cover for the pegs that have been over exposed.

10-06-10 -16th June Serpentine - The following pegs will be closed on the opening day of the season - 1, 3, 5, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 20 and 30 as a reward for the excellent work carried out by anglers attending the work parties. The remaining 20 (now comfortable) pegs are available on a first come, first served basis to any other member of the club from dawn on the 16th at the earliest. Any anglers arriving before this time (other than those who have attended the work parties and booked in) will be turned away by the on-site bailiffs. Again, many thanks to those members who attended the work parties, the pool is looking amazing, and you most certainly deserve your reserved pegs, tight lines.

03-06-10 - Bookings are now being taken for the charity night matches. There are a good number of places available at £15.00 per swim (randomly decided). The dates are the 3rd July and 7th August (both Saturday nights). Please email dangoddard22@yahoo.co.uk to book a place.

05-02-10 - Serpentine/Knypersley Res Car Park - The car park is now locked during the night by a barrier. All anglers should have vacated the park by dark. Opening times are yet to be set but expected to be around 6am, although at present may vary slightly. Keys are not available to members for this gate.

05-02-10 - The Cricket Ground Pool gate will soon be locked during the night. A side gate near the club will be fitted with a VBAS lock that can be opened with our standard key (same key as the Victoria and Havelock Pools) available from committee meetings or bailiffs.

20-01-10 - Serpentine Charity Night Fish-In's 2010 - We have now set the dates for 2 all night fish-ins for summer 2010 - Both saturday nights on the 3rd July and 7th August. Anglers can book a peg by attending one of 4 work parties set for Sunday mornings in March & April on The Serpentine. (Those anglers wishing to fish both nights need to attend 2 work parties) The dates are shown on the Calendar page of this website. Any remaining pegs will be available at £15.00 per peg (all money raised will go to Biddulph in Bloom). All pegs will be drawn at random a day in advance. Please also note that anglers can book their peg for June 16th - The start of the season by also attending a work party.

14-11-09 - Stocking Update - The Victoria Pool has received a stocking of 2000 young carp. These fish have been purchased from the same supplier as the young Serpe fish due to the quality of growth rates of this strain. The fish were mainly commons with 1000 averaging 4"-6" and 1000 averaging 6"-8". Please click the link to see full details of the phase 2 works on the Victoria Pool.

14-10-09 - Work Party on The Serpentine - Sunday 1st November - Meet 10.00am on Knype Car Park.

09-10-09 - The Victoria and Havelock Pools are now open as usual following completion of phase 2 of the planned works.

09-10-09 - The Serpentine Charity All Night Fish-In - Results

01-10-09 - Temporary Pool Closures - The Victoria and Havelock Pools are currently closed from today for approx 1 week while phase 2 of the works is carried out. 15 new 'platform' pegs will be build, the car park re-surfaced and 2000 young small carp will be introduced. It may be possible that the pools are open on Saturday and Sunday (see notices on gate) although the car park is closed until after the works have finished.

12-09-09 - Serpentine Charity Night Fish-In - A one off chance to fish the Serpe in the hours of darkness - 26th - 27th September. £15.00 per peg. All money raised will go to Biddulph in Bloom. Limited places available so to apply for a peg please email dangoddard22@yahoo.co.uk with your name, membership number and telephone number. Successful applicants will be notified by 20th September. All pegs will be drawn at random a day in advance.

12-09-09 - Rule change - No Baitboats to be used on the Serpentine or Knypersley Reservoir.

17-07-09 - A work party will take place on Knypersley Reservoir on the 15th August at 10.00am (meet dam wall). Please try and turn up to help improve our venues.

03-06-09 - The first phase of the Opencast Pools improvement project was completed today. Each pool received a floating island to provide increased cover for fish plus a new specially designed area to spawn. The islands when fully grown with also improve the general look and feel of the pools. Phase 2 of the project will take place later this year.

The larger of the 2 islands located in the centre of the Victoria Pool

The smaller of the two islands in the centre of the Havelock Pool.

12-05-09 - The final work party on the Serpentine was carried out yesterday morning. Overall, attendance was aceptable but with a little more help we could have done all the pegs. The work was generally concentrated on pegs 2, 4, 8, 9, 11a, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 30 (Note: These numbers are likely to change in the near future and the pegs will be re-numbered). Please see a few images below:

The all new peg 30 in the shallows taking the angler over the silty margin to the waters edge.

Peg 19 now comfortable and mud free.

Peg 2 relocated away from the fallen tree that closed the old peg 2.

Peg 11a with a new extended platform well above water level.

And peg 16 restored to its former double peg status.

10-04-09 - Open matches have begun on the Cricket Ground Pool on Saturday mornings. The draw will take place at 8am, entry will be £7.00 per angler.

10-04-09 - Members are reminded that to fish the Cricket Ground, Victoria and Havelock pools at night, they must be in possesion of a night permit available only from monthly committee meetings. There is no night fishing available to junior members. All other waters have a total night fishing ban.

21-03-09 - Work Parties on the Serpentine will taken place at 10.00am (Meet Knype car park) on the following dates - 4th April, 3rd May and the 10th May.

17-03-09 - Cheshire & North Staffs Angling Association, the controlling club on Knypersley Reservoir of which we are a shareholder has launched its own website - www.cheshireandnorthstaffsaa.com

15-03-09 - News has reached me this morning of a massive 31lb Pike that has been caught from Knypersley Reservoir. If the lucky angler could get in touch by emailing me I'm sure we could get a few pictures on this site.

12-03-09 - Just a reminder that the close season starts on the River Dane and The Serpentine on the 15th March. That means the last day for fishing is Saturday the 14th March.

12-03-09 - Over the last few weeks a number of anglers have heard the the Big Linear (The largest fish in the Serpentine) has died. I would like to re-assure everybody that this fish is still alive and well and it was the Sandy Linear (Which was possibly the 4th largest) that unfortunately died. The picture below was taken yesterday 4ft in front of peg 14 which I was fishing at the time. The Big Linear steadily swam back and forth for nearly an hour (with a group of 5 other fish) just teasing me before disappearing off to my right bypassing all my efforts to catch her. The picture isn't brilliant as it was taken with a standard lenses.

12-03-09 - First work party on the Serpentine has been organised for the 4th April beginning at 10.00am. Meet on the Knype car park.

24-01-09 - Issue 13 of the VBAS Bi-Annual Newsletter is now in tackle shops.

18-01-09 - It is with great regret to inform you of the death of 'The Sandy Linear aka The Mid Linear' in the Serpentine. This fish was last caught in the summer at over 25lb and was over 45 years old. Unfortunately, the fishes death was caused by it getting tethered up after being hooked and trailing approx 30mtrs of mainline. Although this was an accident please be sure to check that any rig used is 100% safe and that all mainline is regularly changed to prevent weak spots. As a result of this loss long shank hooks such as the Fox series 5, long shank nailer and other similar pattern of hooks should not be used on VBAS waters. RIP Sandy Linear.

01-12-08 - New 2009 permits will be on sale from today. Although we have had increased water rents, work completed, etc we have been able to keep prices at the same bargin price as in 2008.

13-07-08 - Sales & Swaps page updated!!!

27-06-08 - NEW RULE - A booking in permit is NO longer required to fish the Serpentine. Just purchase your annual permit and go fishing. Please note that only 30 anglers will be allowed on the water at any one time.

26-06-08 - Work parties have taken place on The Serpentine and Tick Hill Lane Pool. The Serpe has has many pegs cleared of overgrown bushes and overhanging tree's making all pegs readily fishable. Tick Hill has has sone pegs re-made and a lot of the reeds cut back to provide new ideal fishing spots. Check out notice boards for any future work parties. Your help will definetly count.

08-03-08 - NEW ARTICLE on the Serpentine - Serpentine - The New Generation

29-02-08 - The Serpentine future monsters are already putting in an appearance!!! Check out Water Reports for details.

31-01-08 - News just in. The Big Linear has put in its first appearance for the year. For more info Click Here

28-01-08 - The old-style Water Report page has returned!!!! This means more in depth water reports, with more helpful information. We still need your help so continue to tell us what you've caught by emailing mycatch@vbas.4t.com

09-12-07 - Phase 2 of the winter 2007 stocking took place today. In total, approx 80 5 - 10lb carp have been introduced to the Serpentine. These carp should boost the quality of the specimen carp fishing at the Serpe. We hope that within a few years, these fish should weigh well in to double figures steadily progressing to specimen weights. Many thanks to Staffordshire County Council who have supported this project.

Please click here to see pictures of the days events.

09-12-07 - The Fur & Feather match took place today. Although the weather made fishing difficult, 20 anglers fished for the 13 prizes. Please see match results for final standings.

08-12-07 - Please be aware of the maintenance work being carried out on The Cricket Ground Pool during the next twelve months. The pool will remain open for fishing although we ask anglers to take extra care.

11-11-07 - After two years of disappointment, Victoria & Biddulph AS match team finally got their hands on the Inter Club Challenge Trophy. The annual match fished against the Gardeners Arms AC was fished at The Cricket Ground Pool on a windy Sunday morning. Teams of ten a side were drawn against each other with the VBAS team getting odd peg numbers, and GAAC getting even. The 5 hour match clearly saw a couple of individuals getting amount the new carp, with VBAS's Graham Massey winning with nearly 15lb. The overall result was Team VBAS 36lb 2oz to Team GAAC 10lb 1oz 8dr, giving VBAS the long awaited win they needed. Well done to those who took part.

09-11-07 - Phase 1 of the Winter 2007 Re-Stocking Program took place today. Over 500 8-10" carp were introduced to the Cricket Ground Pool. The idea being to introduce carp over the typical size of what the resident pike would eat so providing the quality fish that have been missing for a few years. The fish were introduced at a ratio of 70% Common Carp to 30% Mirror Carp. Thanks to the committee and bailiffs who took holidays from work to help out. Phase 2 is likely to be completed within the next 5 weeks and details will follow on completion. Please see pictures below of the phase 1 stocking.

 

 

Please help us run this web site and keep it updated by e-mailing any catch reports, photos, and articles to us. Remember, this site is run for members by members so your help is needed to keep it updated.

 

Copyright Daniel Goddard