General Rules

1. Any member (and guest) contravening any of the rules or byelaws of the Club or the conditions of any leases granted to the Club in respect of its waters or facilities, as shall have been advised to members, will be liable to forfeit their membership of the Club without compensation or recourse to the Club or Committee.
2. All members and guest ticket holders must observe all rules relating to angling as defined by the Environment Agency (or its successor) and which are fully endorsed by the Club and the Committee.
3. Members and guest ticket holders use the Club’s waters at their own risk.
4. Members and guest ticket holders are permitted to bring dogs providing they are always kept under control and all dog mess should be collected in a bag and disposed of in the normal way, off the premises.
5. A current Club Membership ID Card and a valid UK National Rod License must be carried by members when at the Club’s waters. Guest Ticket Holders must also have a UK National Rod License. These must be produced when requested to do so by an accredited Water Bailiff or Member.
6. Bailiffs shall not be obstructed in the course of their duties on behalf of the Club.
7. Parking of vehicles must be in the authorised car park, where provided. These are indicated on the maps in the club handbook.
8. Members must enter by authorised entrances only and are required to keep to the immediate vicinity of the water and not trespass on any adjoining lands.
9. No member or guest may release photographs, catch reports or information on Club Waters to the Press, Internet Web sites or non-Rookery Forums. Unless given written permission to do so from the committee, beforehand.
10. Junior members under 16 years of age, and guest ticket holders must be accompanied by an adult member who will be responsible for their supervision and safety at all times whilst at any Club water.
11. Contravention of the Rules or Bye Laws of the Club by a junior member or a guest ticket holder will automatically suspend their membership and that of the adult member to whom they are responsible.
12. No fish are to be removed at any time from Club waters except under a licence issued by the Environment Agency in accordance with Section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act (1975).

Club Byelaws

Litter, tins and reusable containers

1. Members and guest ticket holders will be deemed responsible for any litter found within their area, whether it was left there by a previous occupier(s) or not and must take it away from the water for disposal appropriately.
2. All particle and meat baits must be transferred into plastic bait containers (i.e. reusable containers) prior to the arrival at Club waters.
3. No tins or similar are allowed on any club premises.
4. All unwanted fishing line, hooks and other fishing tackle must be removed when leaving the club waters and disposed of safely
5. Where a hook is being disposed of the point(s) should be removed and all line should be cut into small lengths, for the protection of wildlife, before placing in your waste bin.

Hooks

1. When fishing any of the Club’s waters, all members and guest ticket holders must only use barbless hooks.
2. Where it is not practically possible to replace a barbed hook with a barbless hook on a proprietary item of terminal tackle, it is acceptable to file down the barb(s) (not crimping) on artificial lures and treble and other hooks attached to traces.
3. In all other instances, where hooks are used individually, they must be proprietary barbless hooks, including where artificial baits and lures are used.

Pike fishing

Pike are very vulnerable and great care should be taken to protect the pike from harm. PLEASE NOTE THE BARBLESS HOOKS RULE ABOVE.

1. Pike fishing only permitted between 1st October and 14th March inclusive.
2. A suitably large knotless landing net and unhooking mat are mandatory for pike fishing
3. Forceps at a minimum length of 12-inches are mandatory (18-inches are recommended) and a protective glove is highly recommended.
4. If you are unfamiliar with pike fishing it is recommended to fish with someone who is experienced.
5. A drop back indicator is recommended if ledgering or similar.
6. A minimum wire trace of 12 inches is required, but it is recommended to use at least 18 inches, to fish for pike.
7. Take all steps to avoid deep hooked pike. Strike early wherever possible to protect the fish.

Nets and unhooking mats

1. All members and guests must have a knotless landing net set up of a suitable size for the venue being fished.
2. We encourage all members to use an unhooking mat or similar for all fishing but use of these is mandatory if specifically fishing for pike, carp or other larger or specimen fish.
3. A net and landing mat must accompany an angler when moving swims.

General fishing

1. The use of fish as a live bait is strictly prohibited.
2. All fish must be returned to the water.
3. No fish from any source are to be introduced into Club Waters except with Club Committee Authority.
4. No fish may be taken away from club waters.
5. If any dead, diseased or distressed fish are observed please report this to the club secretary or if not available a member of the committee as soon as possible.
6. If any Club Water is closed for any reason whatsoever, it must not be fished by any member until officially reopened by the Club.
7. Members must use their discretion in the use of boilies, ground bait, pellets and all other loose feed and at no time use these to excess.
8. No boilies may be used at Ladycross Top Lake except for wafters and pop-ups. Under no circumstances may boilies be introduced as loose feed/ground bait.
9. At the end of your fishing session, you must not throw surplus baits into the water or leave the same on the bank, as this constitutes LITTER. This also includes bread or similar.
10. You must carry a fish first aid kit with you and use it to treat any damage or injury you see on a fish.
11. You can only fish from numbered pegs.
12. Bait boats are banned from all club waters.
13. No more than two rods per person to be used at any one time on all club waters.
14. No tackle to be left unattended in the water at any time.
15. Disabled access swims should be left available for disabled members where practical or given up if requested to do so by a disabled member.
16. Night fishing is allowed with prior notification and approval of the General Secretary and the use of a bivvies is allowed. You may only remain in a swim for a maximum of 24 hours.

Matches on Club waters.

1. The Club’s waters will be closed for the duration of matches to members and guest ticket holders, as determined by the Match Schedule, other than to participating members.
2. Only competitions organised by Match Secretary are permitted on the Club Waters.

Conduct of members

1. The possession and consumption of ALCOHOL AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IS BANNED on all Club Waters.
2. For the comfort and pleasure of your fellow anglers the use of MOBILE PHONES must be done in a considerate manner.
3. Members must conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner, and no cause for complaint must be given to the local residents or other anglers.

4. No lethal weapon, no camping (except the use of bivvies for overnight fishing), no fires under any circumstances, no radios or musical instruments, no interfering with trees, fences, or livestock, and no bad behaviour to be allowed on any water.
5. Any member exhibiting signs of gross misconduct, illegal activity, physical or verbal threat of any kind at or in the vicinity of club waters will be suspended pending an investigation by the committee.

Gates

All gates adjacent to or at the Club’s waters must always be closed unless otherwise instructed and the padlocks to be reattached and locked after closing the gate.