About Us

In the Spring of 1947, six local fishermen met, more or less by chance, in the former Cup Inn, Sutton Coldfield, and the idea of forming a fishing club began.  Eventually, the first major step was taken, and an advertisement in the Sutton Coldfield News called a meeting at the Station Hotel at which the first Officers were elected and the Sutton Coldfield Angling Society was formally brought into in being.

Work began to draw up a suitable Constitution, to establish guide lines for the running and future progress of the Society and to attempt to obtain leases, or other entitlements, to enable members to fish their own private waters.

There are no members of that original founding Committee still serving the Society today, but the longest survivor passed away only in 2011 as its President, after many years in various other Offices of the organisation. This type of continuity, with liberal helpings of shorter term commitment, is one of the strengths of the modern day Society

The first SCAS Members only water was Fox Hill Pool on the north eastern edge of the town. This was kept for many happy years until a change in ownership resulting in the water being lost to fishing. A stretch of the Avon at Brandon in Coventry was rented and the growing Society began to flex itself in other directions. The Society decided it would operate from a broad base, not being solely a Contest based club, but specialist forms of both coarse and trout angling would also be accommodated. Generally the interests of all anglers would be catered for within the Societies portfolio, for no more than the price of half a pint of bitter per week, both situations which remains to this day.

Membership grew steadily and in 1956 it was able to conclude an agreement with the then Birmingham City Council, for the lease to fish in two pools of 7 acres and 3/4acre respectively on the Canwell Estate. These remained the premier fisheries in the portfolio for forty years, providing pleasure, match and specimen anglers with top class sport, for both large pike, bream and carp

ther waters, rivers, canals and pools, occasionally became available to the Society, and provided they were suitable for the membership, the Committee always pursued these opportunities.

This policy has resulted in a varied portfolio of waters, which have been changed over the years to suit the needs, and pockets, of the Society. Some of these waters, such as the Mease and the Anker have been enjoyed for many years, but others such as the Severn at Seckley Wood, for a relatively short time. Others such as further stretches of the Mease, the Lugg, the R. Trent , various canal sections, Lakes at the Belfry etc have come and gone

In 1970, around 1 mile of the River Blithe near to Hamstall Ridware was purchased outright, together with more than 5 acres of adjoining land and this has always been used as a general fishery but was stocked with trout on an annual basis for many years. The Society took expert advice from the Wild Trout Trust in order to further develop and improve this valuable asset and also received a Grant to carry out fencing, tree reduction and gravel cleaning to make the gravel runs better for spawning redds. This water remains an asset for the Society, although it is currently underused.

Following Local Government reorganisation in 1995 the entire Canwell Estate was sold off for a seven figure sum ( SCAS bid for the lake & access only being rejected )  and the new owner tried to build a Golf course.  This subsequently failed and the land was sold again. After a few years the SCAS Lease was up and the second owner wanted the pools for his private use only, so the pools were lost to us

With this unavoidable loss, the Society lost many members because they were left without a major still water venue and more particularly, the specimen carp fishery that had been enjoyed for so long. To change this and begin to grow the membership again, an agreement was entered into with the owner of Fisherwick Lakes near Lichfield, giving members rights over the whole of their site.  For a small extra daily fee, this also includes the specimen and trout pools.

The Society also tried to buy an undeveloped portion of the Fisherwick site in order to purpose build a pool. These negotiations were unsuccessful but the owner did agree to dig a pool for rent, devoid of fish. The project started with a five year rolling lease, in mid -1999, to a SCAS design, within the confines of local geography, was filled over winter, planted up and fishing platforms built in the early spring and the first silver fish stocked in late spring.    The pool subsequently matured beautifully, more fish including tench, were stocked and the existing stock spawned successfully each year so members enjoyed excellent sport, both in matches and individually.

This happy situation continued for over ten years when through no fault of SCAS, the owner gave us 5 years notice of end of lease so SCAS was on the hunt for a new water again!

During this period many lake situations were examined but most were beyond our means. Much time and effort was put in to one particular complex but it was ultimately scuppered by Local Planning considerations.

At the end of the Fisherwick lease a mature lake of 9.5 acres was offered and, after much careful negotiation and water quality checks, was accepted and the hard work began There were very few fish left in the lake so it was stocked by SCAS with carp up to 17lbs, thousands of roach, tench, and a few perch. Some swims already existed and more were cut.

At the beginning of our tenure it was very difficult to catch, especially the silver fish, and as a result, the Society sought help from the Environment Agency and had a great deal of general management advice, prolonged water quality monitoring, provision of two floating islands to help reduce the weed, supply of water lilies and a full survey of the depth and profile of the lake, for which we are extremely grateful.

Over the ensuing years, despite various measures to keep them away, Cormorants have ravaged the silverfish and they now are very difficult to find and catch during the day, although we know some are still there together with the stocked tench

A decision has now been taken to concentrate on carp, and the introduction of Night Tickets to the water was commenced. There have been two further substantial stockings of fish up to 24lbs and the fish have been fed every spring with up to a tonne of low oil pellets all over the lake for the last two years. As a result there is now more life generally in the lake and the carp are growing with confirmed catches up to 26lbs and known 12lb fish from the first stocking now reaching 24lbs

From the outset, the Society insisted on the highest standards of behaviour from its members and demand respect for fish, the surrounding environment, water owners and their fellow members.   Regrettably, on a small number of occasions, it has been necessary to take severe disciplinary action against transgressors.

The Society waters are maintained by the members, through regular Work Parties, under the direction of Fishery Managers who have considerable experience and scientific knowledge in their field and are members of appropriate national institutions. There is also close involvement with local and national staff of the Environment Agency and some Committee members also sit on advisory and Consultative groups to ensure greater knowledge of, and involvement with, both the politics and organisation of Angling, both locally and nationally.

The Constitution and Rules of the Society have been deliberately formulated to ensure that members get strong representation on an Executive Committee with adequate powers to run affairs smoothly. Present procedures have been refined over the years to reflect changing circumstances and practices but still hold true to the initial principles.  Within the main committee, various sub committees have been formed, when required, to take care of the details involved in such items as financial management, water management, finding new waters, organising social events

As direct result of the way the Society runs its business, it has been able to maintain an excellent relationship with its current owners and considers many of them as old friends.

It may be justifiably claimed that Sutton Coldfield Angling Society was formed with aims and objectives that have ensured its continual appeal to considerate and aware anglers even in these difficult days.   The committee have frequently re-stated their intention of maintaining the broad base it initially set out with and they see no reason for it to be changed radically now.