Rules for Fishing

Current Club Rules for 2024 / 2025.

RULES

1. No Angler may fish with more than two rods at any time with the following exceptions.
(A) Oulton Mill and Little Budworth, where up to 3 Rods may be used only between 1st November and 1st March. This applies to the double peg on Little Budworth when used by a single angler. If two anglers are using this peg, then only 2 rods are allowed per angler throughout the year.
(B) Little Budworth, fishing from the stage in the reeds is now suspended until further notice.
(Please remember that you need to have an E.A licence and follow their guidance for 3 Rods bailiff’s will check for this).
2. Members are forbidden to leave papers, bottles and any rubbish lying about, and must generally conform to the wishes of the occupiers of the land, in particular re-fasten gates.
3. All fish must be returned to club waters at the point of capture. No fish must be moved from one water to another.
4. The Club Waters are: (In alphabetical order)
Farm Pool, Hampton Springs Fisheries – Poplars Pool (www.hamptonsprings.co.uk) Kelsall Pit, Little Budworth, Little Mill, Oulton Mill, Llangollen Canal from Wrensbury to Whitchurch, Bridges 13 to 32, The Dell, and the Shropshire Union Canal from Bridge 107 (Beeston) to Bridge 120 (Christleton), 
5. All Anglers fishing on Club Waters MUST be in possession of a valid Environment Agency (EA) Licence at all times. All relevant EA Bye Laws shall be observed on Club Waters.
Officers of the club / club bailiffs and all other Members (on production of their own Licence and Club Membership Handbook) are authorised to check the EA Licence and proof of identity of any angler fishing on Club Waters.
Failure to provide either could lead to expulsion from the Club. In addition, Officials of the Oulton Park Estate may ask Members fishing at Little Budworth Mill Pool or Oulton Mill Pool for their Club Membership Handbook and reserve the right to suspend and Member for 7 days who cannot produce their Club Membership Handbook.
6. It is strictly forbidden to use a gaff.
7. No Boats other than Club Boats may be used on Club Waters.
8. Members Guest Permits – Members need to show their membership card (with a fixed signed photo inside) to be able to purchase guest tickets. These are available from Brian Messham at the Royal British Legion, Upton by Chester between 7.30pm and 8.30pm seven days a week. Also Mr. Chris Butters and Mr. Nigel Ball. No guest tickets are available for the Shropshire Union Canal / LLangollen Canal or Hampton Springs Fisheries.
Please remember that the members are responsible for their guests, to the point that if the guest breaks any of our rules the member will face disciplinary action, and the guest banned from our waters.
 
The maximum number of guests a member can take fishing is two of their own children under the age of 16, two paying guests (with guest tickets), and the member’s wife / husband / spouse.
 
If children are fishing with the member, they are only allowed  1 rod each and must be capable of using the rod themselves. Children under 13 do not need a licence. However, you will need to a junior licence for children aged between 13 and 16. Junior licences are free.
9. Fishing on Club Waters is restricted to ONE HOUR before sunrise and ONE HOUR after sunset except for the following waters:-
(a). Kelsall Pool – Sunrise to Sunset except for the period 1st May to 31st August – Sunrise to Midnight.
(b). Little Mill (all of the Water) and the left-hand sides of both Oulton Mill and Little Budworth Mill Pools where Night Fishing is permitted.
(c). Hampton Springs Fisheries have their own Rules for Fishing (www.hamptonsprings.co.uk/general-rules)
10. No Fish may be retained in Keep Nets (also refers to Carp Nets or Sacks) except in bona fide Club Matches.
11. A Member may weigh a Specimen Fish in on his own Scales. One other witness must be present at the weighing of the Fish. It is the Member’s responsibility to then provide the Club with a certificate from a competent authority that the Scales used are accurate and on production of such a certificate and a photograph of the Fish it will be accepted into the Club Specimen Fish List.
12. No Rod and Line to be left unattended.
13. Members may not fish a match water one hour prior to a match or until one hour after the match has finished.
14. Live baiting is NOT permitted.
15. The Club Membership Card issued to a Member must be carried at all times when fishing on Club Waters. It is the responsibility of the Member to insert and securely fix a passport sized photograph on the front page and sign over it in the box provided before first going fishing. In the event of a member losing their membership card a charge of £10 will be made for a replacement card.
16. The consumption of or being in possession of alcohol or controlled drugs (not prescribed by a Doctor or another Clinician) is strictly forbidden on all club waters. 
17. Bivouacs are permitted on Club Waters but not Tents subject to the landowners restrictions.
18. No fires are permitted on any Club Waters, unless with the landowners permission, as well as the authorisation of an officer of the club.
19. A Member may fish a Club Water for a maximum of 48 hours at a time.  
Between 1st November and 1st March this will increase to 72 hours, with no return to that water for 7 days.
20. Bait boats permitted on Oulton Mill and Little Budworth only with TDAC bait boat licence.
21. All Anglers, Visitors, Work Parties, etc, using Cub Waters do to at their own risk.
The Club will not be held responsible for any accident or injury howsoever caused.
This also apples to the loss or damage to vehicles and possessions, i.e. fishing tackle, etc.
22. Members fishing for specimen or large fish of any species in Club Waters must use Unhooking Mats & Landing Nets appropriate to the size of their Intended quarry 
23. REMOVAL & DISPOSAL OF SOLID TOILET WASTE FROM THE CLUB’S WATERS.
All Members who Night Fish MUST make their own suitable arrangements or possess a portable or chemical toilet for solid toilet waste. All solid toilet waste MUST be removed from our Waters at the end if the night fishing session and disposed of in the correct manner.
The Club Management Committee reserve the right to restrict or ban without notice Night Fishing at Coatbrook (Little) Mill Pool, Oulton Mill Pool or Little Budworth Mill Pool where this rule is not strictly adhered too.
24. Metal bait tins (Luncheon meat, Sweetcorn etc.) are banned from all TDAC waters.
25. All Gates must be shut and locked with the combination padlocks provided at all times, even when you are fishing.
By doing this we are protecting the entry combination number and thus ensuring the security of all of our waters. Failure to do this may lead to disciplinary action against the member.
Instructions for opening and closing club padlocks.
1. Insert the numbers from the top (hasp) of the lock downwards.
2. Ensure the numbers are aligned in the centre of the window.
3. Press button or pull down metal bar at base to release the hasp.
4. Push hasp back into the body of the padlock and metal bar into padlock if fitted.
5. Rotate the numbers to ensure the lock cannot be opened again without entering the 5 digit code.
Gates to be kept closed and locked at all times.
26. Verbal Abuse. TDAC management committee are concerned regarding the amount of verbal abuse that officers and baliffs are receiving, either face to face on the bank or over the telephone. This rule is to ensure that the club can take immediate action against any member that breaks this rule. Anyone breaking this rule will be asked to attend a disciplinary meeting with the management disciplinary subcommittee. If they fail to attend the meeting the committee will rule in their absence.
27. No fishing off the wall at Oulton Mill.
28. . No swimming or use of watercraft on any club water.