Maldon Angling Society

Members are warned that Whitehouse Farm are having a hunt on Tuesday 13th Feb and it will go round the lake.

All three lakes at Rook Hall and our Whitehouse Farm fishery are now re-open to members after their four month shut down for duck shooting.  As in previous years expect the water level at Rook Hall to be on the high side and the track at Whitehouse Farm to be slippery.

A wintry Whitehouse Farm.

Members are reminded that Rook Hall and Whitehouse Farm reservoir are now closed for the 4 month duck shooting season and will re-open on Thursday 1st Feb 2018.  There are also occasional duck shoots at Slough House West and Little London so please keep an eye out for signs at the entrance to these fisheries, especially on Fridays.

Night fishing at Bog Grove has now started and runs through until the 30th April 2018.

3 rods are now allowed on all venues for all standard night permit and Howells night permit holders as well as for members who have purchased the £30 winter 3 rod upgrade.  Regardless of which night permit you have you can use 3 rods on all venues including Howells.

The sun sets on another summer’s fishing at Rook Hall.

The owner of Whitehouse Farm has asked us to apply the following restrictions with immediate effect:

Junior members (aged under 16) can no longer fish the lake unless accompanied by an adult member aged 18+.

No fishing allowed after dusk (30 minutes after sunset).

An amount of litter has also been picked up at Whitehouse Farm, anybody caught littering will be banned for life.

These new restrictions were reviewed at the committee meeting on 1st March and it was agreed to keep them in place for the 2017-18 season.  As such they now appear in the new 2017 rulebook.  Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Following feedback from members that Whitehouse Farm was difficult to locate two new signs have been put up.

Thank you Greg.

I have been reminded (after a new member got stuck in the mud at New Hall) to resurrect this Mudwatch post:

Extreme caution (6) (unless you own a 4WD vehicle):

Brick Kiln Pond – the car park is churned up.  We will forgive you for parking outside the gate under these circumstances.
Little Park 1 & 2 – the track is good but in regular use by farm vehicles.  There is now a new key padlock on the white gates.  The grass car park can get very slippery.
New Hall – the access track is good but please do not drive beyond the water works entrance as the car park is extremely muddy and you will probably get stuck.
Slough House West – the car park in the farm yard is churned up and treacherous.
Whitehouse Farm – re-opened 1st Feb – Water level very high.  Pages Lane is firm but pot-holed (work in progress to repair).  The side track is muddy but the car park is OK if you can get that far.  Please do not try and drive beyond the car park as this is all churned up:

The banks at Whitehouse Farm are now slippery as well following extensive works to clear the undergrowth around the lake:

Good/Fair (11):

Beckingham Hall – fine if you park just inside the gate on the right but increasingly iffy the further up the slope you go.
Bog Grove – the track has now been repaired and the car park resurfaced so as long as you keep off the grassy bits all will be OK.  Bark chippings have been applied to some of the paths and swims but please proceed to your swim with extra caution as the sloping banks are made of clay and can be very slippery underfoot.
Heron Hall – firm track and car park but fairly tight for turning round.  The small layby opposite the gate is flooded again.
Little London – the access is firm but uphill, the car park has been resurfaced.  Turning round can be a bit tight.
Howells – the track is firm although the car park can get a bit churned up due to regular use.
Railway Pond – parking on the tarmac spur road.  Water level high.
River Blackwater (Station Road) – the entrance to the car park has been improved with hardcore and the car park is much firmer than it looks.  Under no circumstances park outside of the car park and especially not in front of the entrance to the horses field!
Rook Hall 1,2 & 3 – re-opened 1st Feb – solid car park just inside the gate on the right.  Please do not drive on the grass.  Water levels high.
Slough House Farm – the car park is sound but there is a large puddle just outside the gate.  Please do not drive up the side of the car park.  The padlock has been changed to a combination lock to hopefully make it easier to get in and out.
Totham Pit – well established hard standing, no problems here.