Member Rules

Current Club Rules for 2023 / 2024.

RULES

1. No Angler may fish with more than two rods at any time with the following exceptions:-
Oulton Mill and Little Budworth where up to 3 Rods may be used only between 1st November and 1st March (please remember that to do this you will need an E.A licence to cover 3 rods, the bailiffs 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:

Farm Pool, Kelsall Pit, Little Budworth, Little Mill,
Oulton Mill, The Dell, and the Shropshire Union Canal from Bridge 107 (Beeston) to Bridge 120 (Christleton), Poplars Pool Hampton Springs Fishery, Llangollen canal Bridge 13 to 32 Wrenbury to Whitchurch.

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 Day Permits – Members need to show their membership card (with a fixed signed photo inside) to be able to purchase guest tickets which are only available from the Royal British Legion, Upton by Chester between 7.30pm and 8.30pm seven days a week.

Please remember that the member’s 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.

Member guest tickets are not available for the Shropshire Union Canal, Llangollen Canal or Poplars Pool at Hampton Springs fishery.

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 members wife / husband/ spouse.

9. Fishing on Club Waters is restricted to ONE HOUR before sunrise and
ONE HOUR after sunset except for the following waters:-

(a). Hampton Springs Fishery summer times 7am ~ 7pm, Winter Times 8am ~ 4pm

(b). Kelsall Pool – Sunrise to Sunset except for the period 1st May to
31st August – Sunrise to Midnight.

(c). 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.

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 Handbook 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 inside of 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 with no return to that water for 7 days.

20. Bait boats permitted on Little Mill, Oulton Mill and Little Budworth with TDAC bait boat licence.

21.  All Anglers, Visitors, Work Parties, etc. using Club Waters do so at their own risk. The Club will not be held responsible for any accident or injury howsoever caused. This also applies 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 of 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 Cotebrook (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 rules for Poplars Pool are those of Hampton Springs Fishery, it is the member’s responsibility to read and understand these rules.

Match Rules for 2023 / 2024.

RULES

  1. Plumbing the depth before the start of the match with unbaited tackle is allowed Groundbait and Loose Feeding are allowed on all Match Venues.
  2. All Fish to count at the Weigh In. The Match Secretary or Person responsible for weighing in may use his discretion and weigh in at the time of capture any large or specimen Fish during the Match
  3. Each Member to draw his own Peg number. Double drawing is not permitted.
  4. One Rod or Pole with one hook is allowed only (except in Pike Matches) Other Rods or Pole Top sections may be set up ready.
  5. No Pike tackle of any sort or Spinning is allowed (except in Pike Matches)
  6. Points for Matches will be 10 points for 1st place, 9 points for 2nd place and so on down to 1point for 10th
  7. Two keepnets must be used at all Matches. Carp are to be kept separate from all other fish.
  8. Pegging at Matches to be at the discretion of the Match Secretaries
  9. Inter Club Matches shall be 10 Anglers per Team. The Match Secretary is solely responsible for selecting the Team
  10. There are Match Trophies for the 8 Sunday four hour Points Matches and for the Points winners of both the Sunday four hour and Evening two hour Matches
  11. Pike Matches.  A maximum of Two Rods may be used. Spinning with one Rod is permitted.