HADLEIGH & DISTRICT ANGLING SOCIETY
CLUB RULES
1. New members may be required to attend two working parties per season as requested on application form.
2. No fish to be introduced to club waters without committee authority.
3. All specimen fish weights will be taken from existing Club records not National records. Size limits for specimen fish to be as follows: Roach, Perch, Rudd and Crucian Carp 1lb and above. Tench, Bream, Carp, Chub, Eels and Hybrid Roach/Bream 2 lb and above. Dace 8ozs and above. Pike 6 lb and above. All fish to be returned alive to the water where caught.
4. Specimen fish to be weighed-in by committee members on club scales or scales that have been government stamped and must come from club waters. Annual prizes to be awarded.
5. Paid up club membership card to be shown upon request when fishing club waters. Identity card to be carried at all times.
6. No juveniles to fish Aldham Mill Pool unless accompanied by an adult.
7. Any matters arising from the rules shall be resolved by the committee.
8. Members shall not leave gates open, carry guns or take dogs on club waters. All types of audio equipment including electronic bite alarms are banned on club waters. Members will be responsible for any litter in the vicinity that they are fishing, whether or not they are the offenders. No bonfires allowed. All members to keep to footpaths or riverbanks.
9. In the interest of public hygiene please use discretion and cover when answering the call on any fisheries.
10. General Keep Net Rules: All fish may only be retained in keep nets. Keep nets to be a minimum of 6ft 6” or 2 metres. Maximum of 50lb in one keep net. No fish to be retained in keep nets for more than 6 hours. No carp sacks. All fish over 5lbs MUST be returned to the water and not kept in net (except for matches or weighing as a specimen). No common carp (includes mirror and leather carp) to be retained in keep nets except for matches or weighing as a specimen. Bullocky Fenn: Alverstoke: Two nets to be used, one for fish over 2lb and one for smaller fish. Two nets to be used, one for Carp (matches only) and Tench and one for other fish. Polstead Pond: Two nets to be used, one for Carp (matches only) and one for other fish. Pond Field Carp Lake: Two nets to be used, one for Carp (matches only) and one for other fish. Match Lake: Two nets to be used, one for fish over 2lb and one for smaller fish.
11. All nets to be dry before commencing fishing at any club water.
12. All anglers should have a landing net. The handle to be a minimum of 6ft (1.8m) long.
13. Will all club members seeing any sign of pollution in any water please telephone The Environment Agency, telephone number on current Rod License or contact any committee member.
14. Guests will be allowed to fish all club rivers at £3.00 per day with a club member.
15. Children under the age of 12 years may fish free of charge on the same peg as a parent Club Member.
16. Guest Tickets are available on Club still waters. The member applying for the ticket shall be over the age of 20 years and will be responsible for the guest. The price of the ticket will be:- Polstead Pond, Bullocky Fenn, Pond Field and Semer Pit £10. Tickets are available from Snowy’s Bait & Tackle, Long Bessels, Hadleigh. Tel: 07766 140624 There will be a maximum of 5 guest tickets per person per season.
17. The club has placed a ban on the following baits on all Club Waters: • All forms of Boilies (Including bandum’s, wafters, pop ups etc.). • All forms of nuts. • Pet food. • Bloodworm and Joker. • Pellets larger than 10mm in size. (Pellets up to and including 10mm in size can be used on all club waters). If in doubt do not use until you have asked a committee member. Do not take banned baits to club waters. All excess bait and containers and tackle should be taken home.
18. No night fishing on any club waters.
Membership and General rules continued:
19. Please take extreme care when fishing anywhere near overhead power cables. These are situated on club waters near Corks Lane (Cricket Meadow end), Calais Street and Aldham Mill.
20. Only one rod or pole, line and hook to be used. Multiple hooks may be used when using artificial lures or dead fish as bait. The use of a second rod or pole for feeding whilst fishing is also prohibited.
21. Any hook larger than a size 14 will be barbless on any club water. All hooks on Club still waters to be barbless. No nipped barbed hooks where barbless are the rule.
22. A Close Season from March 15 to June 15 inclusive will apply to all club rivers.
23. No live baiting is permitted.
24. Fixed rigs, bolt rigs and elasticated feeders are banned on all Club waters. When fishing a feeder with a pole there must be no obstruction between the feeder and the pole connector.
25. All anglers must have an unhooking mat.
26. No juniors under the age of 14 to fish unless accompanied by a responsible adult aged 21 years or over.
All children visiting the Club waters without adult supervision, do so at their own risk
MATCH RULES
1. Eleven Points matches to be fished, spread throughout the year, will be open to all paid-up club members. The best 10 results to count for the points trophy.
2. Pegs will be staked out to suit conditions and competitors may fish 2 yards up stream and within 2 yards downstream of the next competitor.
3. One rod and hook only to be used at any one time, others may be made up un-baited.
4. All Points Matches to be of 5 hours’ duration. January, February, March Points Matches – if weather conditions are unsuitable a two-thirds majority vote on the day may change the match duration time of 5 hours to 4 hours.
5. Each competitor will receive 5 attendance points. Winner to receive a total of 55 points, 2nd 54 points, 3rd 53 points etc. except for tied place.
6. No wading other than to position keep nets.
7. No breaking the water surface before starting signal, but for mixing ground bait, placing keep nets and plumbing depth.
8. Any complaint of any other competitor in match must be brought to the Match Secretary's notice on the day of the match.
9. No disturbing other competitors.
10. Competitors to play and land their own fish. They will be allowed 15 minutes after finishing signal to land a fish caught before finishing signal.
11. Pike and game fish do not count. Zander and Eels to count in match weights.
12. Everyone wishing to participate to be at the draw at the time stated in the fixture list. Those who know they will be late, to pay their entrance fee in advance to the Match Secretary and his peg will be drawn by another at the correct time. Any person arriving late may only draw a peg should any be available.
13. Those taking part in a scheduled match have preference over other club members fishing that particular venue on the day concerned. No fishing on the match venue until completion of the match.
14. All competitors will be responsible for all litter around their pegs and will not be allowed to weigh-in until cleared, and they must be present at their peg for weighing in unless previously agreed with the Match Secretary or Organiser.
15. If conditions are unsuitable, committee members present will determine if the match should be rescheduled or moved to an alternative venue.
16. Trophies to be fished for where donators specify. Committee has the authority to change venues under exceptional circumstances.
17. All Trophies to be returned to Match Secretary by March 14th.
18. Sweepstakes can be authorised by match secretary's a minimum of £1 peg fee to be charged on day. There will be no limit as to the number taking part. Match to be pegged around pleasure anglers.
19. All pegs to be brought back to starting point.
20. If a finalist has to withdraw from the Ainger Cup, the next qualifying weight from that particular heat to qualify to fish.
21. No lines to be left in the water unattended at any time.
22. Match Secretary's decision is final.
23. Any member fishing wrong peg in matches to be disqualified.
24. J. Scarff K.O. Cup- if no fish caught in the first or second attempt the Match Secretary to toss a coin.
25. All tackle must be removed from the water on the final whistle.
26. The Match Secretary automatically qualifies for inter-club matches. He is also excused from weighing catches. Teams for Inter Club matches to be selected based on placings from the previous season.
27. The Pike Match will be held on club waters only.
28. Members found bringing fish to matches for the purpose of weighing in will be banned from the Society for life.
29. If due to adverse conditions, and matches have been running for 2 hours or more. The result will stand.
30. All fish to be returned to the water (subject to other rules) after weighing in at matches.
31. Any person not turning up for team matches without informing the match secretary beforehand will fish no further team matches that season.
32. Any member booking a place at a match and then not turning up without informing the match secretary beforehand will be liable for the pegging fee.
33. If the Match Secretary will not be present for the duration of the match (draw to presentation), he will nominate a committee member to assume responsibility in his absence.
34. Anglers who vacate their peg during a match must leave the match stretch.
35. Names for matches must be given by the Member his/her self.
36. Junior match fees to be set out by match organiser.
37. No surface baits.
38. Fish to be weighed in using scales provided by the match organiser and witnessed by another competitor or match official.
39. Match organiser to determine allocation of prize money. Any prize money not won will be distributed by drawing peg numbers.
40. All matches to be fished in accordance with fishery rules.
41. Keep nets to be put out to dry until 15 minutes before the start of the match
It is hoped that members will show their appreciation of the committee to provide legitimate sport, by reporting at once to the secretary any infringement of the Society’s rules that may come under their notice. It is essential that they should carry with them their club cards of membership to enable them to satisfy any enquiries that may be made when using the fishery.
RULES FOR BULLOCKY FEN
1. Fishing from permanent pegs only.
2. Members to keep to the footpath.
3. Please use car park provided.
4. Gate to be locked at all times. Combination number to be found in current Members Handbook
5. Entry to be Bullocky Fen is by the main entrance (Ayletts) only.
6. Two nets to be used at Bullocky Fen, one for fish over 2lb and one for smaller fish
7. All other Club Rules apply.
RULES FOR ALVERSTOKE
1. No access down the driveway before 7.00 am. Please drive carefully.
2. All persons must leave half-hour before dusk.
3. Six persons daily.
4. Fishing allowed from permanent pegs only.
5. No parking on riverside.
6. Two nets to be used one for large Carp(match only) and large Tench the other one for small fish.
7. Juniors must be accompanied by an adult over 20 yrs of age.
8. No fishing from the jetty.
9. All other Club Rules apply.
RULES FOR SEMER PIT
1. At any time no more than 6 people may fish at the Pit with the exception of match days.
2. There must be no more than four match days per year. Matches must not take place without the permission of the partners or farm manager.
3. At no time may fishing take place at night. After 1st September fishing must cease at least one hour before dusk. The Pit must only be fished on its north and east sides.
4. Any work which involves the alteration of banks, cutting of trees or use of chemicals must not be carried out without the farm manager's permission.
5. Gates must be left shut.
6. Cars can be left on the car park opposite Dairy Farm office.
7. No junior to fish the pit unless accompanied by fully paid up member over 20 yrs of age.
8. All other Club Rules apply.
RULES FOR FISHING POLSTEAD POND
1. A maximum of eleven people daily.
2. The Club has authority to turn off anybody fishing the pond that has not got written permission of Mr. Engleheart or is not a member of the H.A.D.A.S.
3. Members will not cause trouble to Mr. Englehart's neighbours or the parish generally.
4. No cars to be parked in the driveway to the farm or on the farm side.
5. No fish will be removed from the water under any circumstances; this is at the direct request of the owner. If members wish to weigh specimen fish, they must contact the Match secretary who will weigh in the fish at the pond.
6. All carp weighing over 5lbs. MUST be returned to water and not kept in net (except for matches or weighing as specimen).
7. The wood on roadside must not be used as a toilet by members. Toilet facilities are provided on farm side.
8. Two nets to be used one for Carp and one for other fish.
9. No fishing from bridge. No fishing directly in the weed beds. All anglers litter to be taken away and not placed in the litter bins at the pond.
11. All other Club Rules apply.
RULES FOR BRIDGE FARM, CHELSWORTH
1. At any time no more than eight people may fish on Bridge Farm with the exception of Match days. .
2. There must be no more than four match days per year. Matches must not take place without the permission of the partners or farm manager
3 At no time must fishing take place at night. After 1st September fishing must cease at least 1hour before dusk.
4. Any work which involves the alteration of banks, cutting of trees or use of chemicals must not be carried out without the farm manager's permission.
5. Gates must be left shut.
6. No juniors to fish river unless accompanied by fully paid up member over 20 yrs of age.
7. No parking in farmyard. Foot dip must be used.
8. All other Club Rules apply.
RULES FOR POND FIELD
1. Fishing from platforms only.
2 .No fish or plants to be placed in wildlife pond
3. All common carp caught in match lake to be moved to carp lake.
4. Crucian carp and all other fish to be returned at peg where caught.
5. Gate to be locked at all times. Combination number to be found in current Members Handbook
6. Ground bait to be used in moderation only
7. All persons entering the site do so at their own risk
8 Maximum 50lb weight of fish per keep net
9. Two nets to be used, one for fish over 2lb and one for smaller fish.
10. All other Club Rules apply
12. Pellets may be used at Pondfield.