Latest News 4th January 2024

Hello Each,

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WEATHER: Its been wet and windy lately and there is still a yellow weather warning for the Watford area Thursday through Friday more rain!. So be careful! Temperatures are scheduled to be dropping over the next week. Remember, forecasts change frequently. Always check the local weather outlook before any planned fishing sessions so you are well prepared.

OUTLOOK: Wednesday, 10°/4°, showers, Thursday, 8°/3°, rain, Friday, 6°/3°, rain, Saturday, 6°/3°, cloudy, Sunday, 5°/1°, sunny intervals, Monday, 5°/-1°, cloudy, Tuesday, 5°/1°, sunny intervals, Wednesday, 6°/3°, cloudy.

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CATCH REPORT: December 2023

TOLPITS: December has been a very mild month and has seen some good catches. Several Carp in the upper double figures have been caught, including Baby Red Cheeks at 30lb 12oz. Plenty of Bream up to 7lb and many other silvers. Perch to 3lb 12oz and some Pike up to 8lb 7oz.

THURLOWS: Bream up to 6lb 6oz, many Carp up to 24lb 8oz.There have been several Pike captured on dead bait, with the biggest one being 14lb. Also, some nice Perch up to 2lb 3oz caught on worms and soft lures, and plenty other silvers

CASTLES: Has been fishing very well as always, with many Carp up to 11lb have been caught. Also, few Tench, Bream and some Crucian Carp.

STANLEYS: Also fishing very well with some good catches of Carp coming out up to 23lb. Many silvers, Bream to 6lb several small Perch and small Pike.

RIVER: There have been Catches of Roach, Bream, small chub and also a couple of Jack Pikes.

Please remember to forward me any pictures of your recent catches with weights and the lake caught on. These will be placed on our Watford Piscators Website every month on the link below.

‍https://www.watfordpiscators.co.uk/catch-reports ‍

Contact me for any questions or updates. Antonio on 07980 622678

‍headbaliff@watfordpiscators.co.uk

‍Thank you.

Head Water keeper

Stay safe.

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MATCH NEWS:

• Sunday 14th January 2024 - Stanleys - Winter League - 09:30 - 14:30. Please leave the Lake by mid-night Saturday 13th January. You can return to the lake Sunday after the match has completed. Do not walk the lake until those who have taken part in the match have packed up and left their swim.
• Sunday 28th January - Castles - Winter League - 09:30 - 14:30

CARP MATCH NEWS: Dates for your 2024 Diary:

Hi All, 48 hour carp match on Tolpits Friday 12th April to Sunday 14th April, meet in the main carpark at 10am on the Friday for the draw. Anyone intrested in taking part please send me a message with your name and membership number to reserve your place. Once your in, we will start a WhatsApp Group so any questions can be answered on the group. Spaces are limited to 21 people so if you sign up but, for any reason can't make it, please let me know as we can give your place to someone else. There will be a trophy for biggest overall weight of Carp. Its possible there will be a BBQ on the Friday but, will discuss this on the Group once we have the match places full.

Thanks, hope you all have a Great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Stay Safe and be Lucky ,BRIM 👍

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WINTER SAFETY: With rain and showers forecast, make sure you are safe on the Bank and watch out for slippery surfaces. STAY SAFE and DRY!

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RICKMANSWORTH FESTIVAL 2024: The future of the Rickmansworth Festival Representatives from the Rickmansworth Festival Team attended a meeting hosted by Three Rivers District Council just before Christmas regarding the recent implementation of an Asbestos Management Plan for the Aquadrome.The plan has designated the Aquadrome as a no dig zone and so nothing can penetrate the ground on the site. This includes digging, raking, staking or any activity which could erode or expose anything below the ground surface. It would preclude the use of stakes for fixing marquees or gazebos, and any vehicle movements on the grassed areas of the site would also be a concern. Any hirer of the ground would also need to pay for appropriate monitoring before and after the event at a cost of between £5000 and £8000 per day for two days of monitoring (a total of £10 – £16k).Whilst it is possible to fix structures in place with weights or large water barrels this is really suited for working on a hard site when lifting vehicles can be used and access is not compromised by soft ground. Our Festival site manager has confirmed that whilst anything is possible the costs and extra labour required would go up significantly if we considered this possible to do on the site. There may also be other requirements such as ensuring all contractors were trained. Therefore I am afraid Rickmansworth Waterways Trust has had no choice but to make the difficult decision to cancel the event for 2024 and no Festival will be possible with these requirements in place. TRDC stated that they were happy for the Festival to go ahead as long as the conditions of the management plan could be met. However the reality is that the management plan makes it impossible for a non commercial, volunteer led Festival to proceed with an event that uses the Aquadrome. This is a really sad day for our community and I feel for all the other charities, community organisations and small businesses that have lost an opportunity to promote themselves. Thank you for all your help over many years since our very first event in 1993 and for contributing towards a great event. It will be sadly missed.

David Montague

Chairman and Festival Director

Rickmansworth Waterways Trust

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GUEST PERMITS: Guest Permits, as well as from Harefield Tackle, Guest Permits can be purchased from Your Water Management Chairman, Ron Westwood, Mobile: 07445 975001. Please note as per Rule: 13.1 Day Tickets only are available at £10. Day tickets, 24 hour and 48 hour Tickets are available, from the 1st November - 14th March inclusive Each season. See Rule 13 to 13.3 in your Rule Book for full details.

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Whatever you decide to do this weekend and throughout next week, Stay Safe, Stay Well and Stay Warm and Dry. 🎣🐟🎏