Club Rules and Byelaws

Anyone fishing our waters must read and comply with the following rules and bylaws. The purchase of a ticket assumes you have read them. Any person breaking them will be reported to the General Purposes Committee for further action which could result in rescinding of permits or time bans.

1.   COMMITTEE:  The General Purposes Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer, Match Secretary and those persons elected to the General Purposes Committee at the Club's AGM. 

2. The General Purposes Committee may form Sub-Committees for such purposes or to deal with such matters as they think appropriate.

3. All Sub-Committee members are directly responsible to the General Purposes Committee and as such are eligible to fish for the Committee Cup.

4. ACCESS:  No member should approach or enter a farmyard, house or buildings on land adjacent to waters controlled by the Club unless requested to do so by the owner or authorised person.
Use recognised access points only.

5. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: This shall be determined on an annual basis at the AGM.  Classifications of members will be Adults, Juniors, Senior Citizens and Disabled; the interpretation of Junior being 13 years old or over and under 18 years old on the 1st June in the current season. A Senior Citizen must be 65 or over.

6. LITTER:  It is the responsibility of all anglers to remove any litter already present on a swim before fishing commences. All litter must be removed from pegs and subsequently taken from the River or Pits. Do not throw rubbish into undergrowth – messy areas encourage rats. Any angler found fishing or leaving a swim with litter on the bank or in the swim will be expelled from the Club and banned from fishing Club waters for 12 months. Anyone caught dumping bags of rubbish on Club controlled premises or adjacent land will be banned for life. Two witnesses shall be enough proof for such action.
Please Take Your Litter Home.

7. Persons found removing or transferring fish (including eels) from waters controlled by the Club, other than those movements authorised by the GPC, shall be banned for life.

8. A MATCH BOOKING FEE  must be paid to Club funds for all competitions or bookings fished on Club Waters, with the exception of Club Matches and Junior events only. The Match fee to be paid in addition to membership fees.

9.  KEEPNETS (where allowed) must not be below the Environment Agency legal limit. Carp are NOT to be retained in sacks, except for short periods to allow for weighing and photographing.

10. UNHOOKING MATS must be used by all anglers. When landed, fish are to be laid on adequate sized unhooking mats and returned to the water as soon as possible (i.e. after photos). This is for the fish's protection.

11. FISH CARE:  All Anglers to carry and use carp/fish antiseptic. All anglers to ensure that all nets and unhooking mats etc are dry before commencing to fish

12. LEAD SHOT AND LEDGERS are banned except for shot No.8 or smaller, and ledgers of 1oz or more.

13. BAIT:  Jokers, Bloodworms, Peanuts and Trout Pellets are banned from use on all Club Controlled Waters as bait or groundbait. All particle baits i.e. seeds, beans, nuts etc. are to be properly prepared and cooked with the exception of sweetcorn.

14. PIKE FISHING OCEAN AND No1 Pits: Pike fishing allowed from 1st October until 31st March. No live bait allowed. No lure fishing from 1st April until 1st October.

15. A BAIT LIMIT of 2kg per angler in any 24 hour period is imposed for all Pits, except the Ocean Pit. The maximum amount of groundbait that can be used is 1 kg. 

16. PRE-BAITING is prohibited.

17. LEAD CORE LINES  are banned, Lead Free Leaders of a minimum length of .7 of a metre are allowed. Braided main lines to be used only when covered by tubing of a minimum length of one metre, except for marker rods only.

18. No swims are to be reserved for anglers who are not present.

19. Rods are NOT to be left unattended whilst fishing. Being any distance further than adjacent swims will not be tolerated. If you intend visiting anglers further away, then rods are to be brought in.

20. CAMPING RULE: Bivouacs only. No other tents are allowed. Bivvies must not obstruct footpaths unless the swim is flooded. Please maintain emergency access at all times.

21. OPENING:  The season for Club controlled waters is from 00.01 am on 1st June and ends at midnight on 31st March. In addition the lakes may be open in April and May at the discretion of the GPC but fishing in this period requires a separate ticket. Stretches of the River Waveney controlled by the Club will be open from 16th June until 14th March the following year.

22. BOATS: A. Bait boats are Permitted on Ocean Pit Only when a Bait boat ticket is purchased. 

 B. The Bait boat is to be used by and for the bait boat ticket holder only and must not be used for or by other anglers without bait boat tickets. 

C. Bait boat tickets are only available when a full membership ticket has been purchased.

D. The Bait boat must only be used within your peg boundaries. 

E Bait boats are only to be used as they are intended for, baiting and positioning rigs

F. Dredger bay is out of bounds for fishing and the use of boats

G. Stay clear of the sailing clubs marked out areas and be courteous of other water users

H. The Club will take no responsibility for loss or damage of any bait boat or other equipment.

I. Boats and Bait boats are only to be used on Ocean Pit. Bait boat tickets must be purchased prior to use, and Boats are to be used only when a special boat permit has been issued. The use of inflated dinghies (i.e. Lilo’s) and swimming to bait up is prohibited.

Not adhering to the rules will result in your Bait boat ticket being revoked.

23. NIGHT FISHING is restricted to Members only. No keep nets allowed on Club controlled waters between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise. An exception may be made for specimen fish to facilitate weighing and photography (i.e. 1 fish per species only).

24.  JUNIOR NIGHT FISHING:  No junior may fish Club controlled waters between sunset and sunrise unless accompanied by a parent or responsible adult who must 18 years old or over and who sits at the same or adjacent peg. Proof of age may be required.

25. E.A.LICENCE:  All anglers fishing Club controlled waters must hold an Environment Agency Licence for the relevant number 2. The use of a marker rod is permitted for baiting up only. To be removed when actually fishing.

26. DISABLED PEGS:  Pegs nominated as Disabled are for disabled anglers only up until 1st October each year. After that date priority is given to disabled anglers.

 27. CLUB & MIDDLE PIT RESTRICTIONS:  Barbless hooks must be used on the Club Pit and Middle Pit. On the Club and Middle Pits the maximum line breaking strain is 10lb and the maximum hook size is 10. No keepnets are allowed in the Club Pit and Middle Pit, with the exception of Matches, until 1st October. Carp Sacks are banned from use at all times

28. RADIOS: All radios must be kept low in volume.

29. DOGS:  No dogs shall be allowed on banks controlled by the Club except for those of official bailiffs or committee members carrying a Bailiff ID Card. All dogs must be kept on a lead.

30. NO ALCOHOL is permitted anywhere on Club controlled premises.

31. SPEED LIMIT: There is a speed limit of 10 mph for all vehicles on all tracks and roadways on Club controlled premises.

32. OPEN FIRES:  No open fires are allowed anywhere on Club controlled premises, unless part of a properly constituted working party.

33. BARBECUES:  No single use barbecues may be used anywhere on Club controlled waters.

34. MEMBERS ADDRESSES:  It is a condition of membership that members notify the secretary if they change their address and/or telephone number during the season.

35. Anyone who has been prosecuted by the Police or the Environment Agency for theft of fish or for illegal fish movement and who is subsequently convicted shall be banned from the Club for life.

36. VISITORS:  If Members, or any anglers holding Day/Weekly tickets, have visitors at the lakes then the ticke holder is responsible for their behaviour, including any litter they may leave behind. All visitors must leave by 10pm unless staying overnight

37. ALL PITS: Maximum stay in any pit is 7 days.

38. KINGFISHER PIT RESTRICTIONS: Barbless hooks only. Maximum hook size is 12 and maximum line breaking strain is 8lb.  Keepnets are permitted but keeping barbel in a keepnet is prohibited. No carp sacks at any time. No night fishing. Maximum amount of ground bait or pellet 1kg. No boilies, Cat or dog meat.

Please respect other anglers and the water you are fishing

 

1. All competitors shall hold a current E.A. Licence and be bound by the conditions.

 

2. For closed Club Matches on home waters competitors must book in at point of draw with Match Organisers 60 minutes before fishing commences. Late comers may leave their entry to be put in by prior arrangement and their number drawn when it is assumed that the pools will be entered. Disabled members will be allowed to draw from numbers conveniently situated.

 

3. All anglers taking part in matches shall be expected to take turns as Scales Stewards.

 

4. The allocated length (not less than 10 yards) shall be staked out and numbered prior to fishing with No 1 being upstream. Each competitor drawing his number shall submit to a search if called upon by the Match Organiser and shall proceed to the corresponding number on the bank and sit at the peg and in no circumstances be allowed to move it. A competitor finding the site occupied shall inform the Organiser before starting and may be entitled to draw again.

 

5. Pools will be as agreed at a previous A.G.M.

 

6. Under no circumstances shall the water be broken before the signal to start is given except for wetting of groundbait, positioning keep-net and plumbing.

 

7. Competitors may have more than one rod joined at the same time, but they must only use one at a time and shall not use more than two hooks at the same time. Competitors must bait own hook, cast own line, strike and land fish but assistance may be sought in netting pike. Adults may assist Juniors and disabled in landing fish by using a landing net only, the Junior or Disabled holding the rod at all times. Should the adult handle the rod, the fish will be disqualified and should be released on landing.

 

8. Baiting with live fish and spinning are banned except in Pike Matches. Pike are barred from all matches unless otherwise stated.

 

9. Each competitor must keep their fish alive and in a keepnet with all fish being returned alive to the water after weighing.

 

10. Any competitor playing a fish at the finishing signal shall be allowed to land such fish or fishes after the signal.

 

11. Every competitor intending to weigh-in must remain at their peg until the weighing-in stewards arrive. Competitors wishing to leave before the match finishes may have their fish weighed-in by the stewards.

 

12. Where prizes and pools are drawn for following a match where no catches are made, anglers not present at their pegs at the weigh-in shall forfeit their right to participate in the draw for prizes and pools. Those remaining should ensure that the scale steward has noted their presence.

 

13. Any suspicious or weighted fish shall be taken charge of by the scale stewards and laid as soon as possible before the G.P.C. If condemned by them the competitor shall be disqualified and liable for expulsion from the Club.

 

14. Any complaints during the competition shall be reported to the scale stewards in charge before the weighing of the catch. No complaint will be accepted after the weighing-in has taken place.

 

15. The Club accepts no responsibility for accident or injury however caused nor for the loss of property.

 

16. All matches to be fished as stated in the fixture list. Any match not fished on stipulated day to be abandoned. Venue may be changed if the organiser considers it necessary on the day. BAILIFFS MUST BE NOTIFIED OF CHANGE. Such matches must be fished on Club controlled waters. River matches, if fishable, will be fished at the venue stated on the fixture list with the draw being held at the stated place.

 

17. Each round of the Club knock-out competition to be fished on the day stipulated during a Club Match. In the case of a draw tie to be decided on the toss of a coin. Failure to attend means disqualification.

 

18. The G.P.C. have power to alter or modify any of the foregoing rules should they think fit to so do in the interest of the Club generally. Ratification to be obtained at the next A.G.M.

 

19. DISABLED ANGLERS have priority at pegs so marked.

 

20. ANY COMPETITOR LEAVING THEIR PEG with a baited hook still in the water will be disqualified.

 

21. The Weight Limit in keepnets at Matches is 60lb per keepnet and Silver Fish are to be kept in separate keepnets.

 

22. Floating baits are prohibited in all matches.

 

 

1. NAME & HEADQUARTERS
The club shall be named the Harleston, Wortwell & District Angling Club and the Headquarters shall be in Harleston, Norfolk

 

2. OBJECTS
The General object of the Club shall be to promote, protect and provide facilities for the sport of Angling and to promote good fellowship and co-operation between the membership of the club and other clubs and bodies having the same objects.

The business of the Club shall be conducted by a General Purposes Committee (hereafter called GPC) of nine and a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon Treasurer & General Secretary (one post), Hon Match Secretary who shall be ex-officio members of the GPC. A representative of the Juvenile membership may also sit on the GPC but will hold no voting power. The President, Hon Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon Treasurer & General Secretary, Hon Match Secretary, GPC, Juvenile representa¬tive and Hon Auditor shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting, to be held at the Headquarters of the Club on the last Friday of April each year (as far as is conveniently possible) commencing at 7.30 pm. Resolutions for the AGM to be submitted to the Hon Gen Sec four weeks prior to that date. A two-thirds majority of adult paid up members present at the AGM (EGM) shall decide the activities of the Club, (members only may attend).

A balance sheet shall be prepared by the Hon Treasurer, verified by the Hon Auditor and presented to the AGM.

 

3. TRUSTEES
(a)  There shall not be less than two and no more than four Trustees of the Club, save that a Corporate Body may be the sole Trustee.

(b)  Trustees shall hold until death or resignation, or until removed from office by resolution of the General Committee.

(c)  All property of the Club (except cash, which shall be under the control of the Hon Treasurer) including fishing leases, shall be rested in the Trustees to be dealt with by them as the Committee shall from time to time by resolution direct.

(d)  The Trustees shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Club against any risk and expense incurred by them in pursuance of their office.

 

4. MEMBERSHIP
The Club shall consist of the following class of members:
(i)    Ordinary members, Juvenile members (8-18 years) , Senior members (over 65 years) & Registered Disabled Members
(ii)   Temporary members
(iii)   Honorary members

 

5. ORDINARY MEMBERS
Will be accepted on receipt of Annual Subscription (SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GPC). It is accepted that all Juvenile members shall have parent or guardian's full consent to join the Club.

Each member shall be issued with a receipt, a full set of Club Rules, fixture list and Car Sticker. The use of Car Stickers is a condition of membership for those using cars at Club controlled waters.

 

6. TEMPORARY & HONORARY MEMBERS
The Committee shall have power to elect Temporary & Honorary Members on such terms as they may determine.

 

7. SUBSCRIPTION
The Annual Subscription payable by ordinary members shall be such as the members shall determine from time to time in General Meeting. It shall be payable in advance of joining by ordinary Members and thereafter, annually on the first day of June and shall come up for annual review.

 

8. RESIGNATIONS
A member may resign membership at any time by notice in writing to the Hon Gen Sec, but a member who resigns after his subscription for the current year has been paid, shall forfeit that subscription.

 

9. EXPULSION
(a)  The General Committee shall expel from the club any Member, for conduct, which, in their opinion, is injurious or tends to be injurious, to the interests of the Club, or its objects or its members or angling. BUT before expelling a member, the GPC shall enquire into the members conduct and give such member a reasonable opportunity to defend or justify themselves, either in writing or by appearance before the GPC as they shall elect and the GPC's power shall be on a majority vote of those present at the enquiry.

(b)  An expelled member shall forfeit all rights and privileges of membership, but shall remain liable for
any dues as debts to the Club which became payable or were incurred before the date of expulsion.

 

10. MANAGEMENT
The Management and business of the Club shall be vested in the General Purposes Committee (here-after called the GPC, except as otherwise stated by the rules.

 

11. OFFICERS
A Chairman, Vice Chairman, Hon Match Secretary, Hon Treasurer & General Secretary shall be elected tri-annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Club, after being proposed and seconded, and indi-cating their consent, and shall be ex-officio members of the GPC. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS will be that Officers negotiating any specialised business of the Club at the time of the Annual Review shall continue in any such negotiation in co-operation with the newly elected Officer until such time as the negotiation has been satisfactorily concluded, at such time the outgoing Officer shall then step down in favour of the newly elected officer.

Officers of this Club shall, for their first term of office, be elected for the following terms:- President, Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman - 3 years, Match Sec, Hon. Treasurer & Gen Sec - 1 year Hon. Auditor – 2 years, and that when each of those posts comes up for re-election, these Officers may then stand for a period of 3 years.

 

12. THE GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE
The GPC shall consist of the aforesaid Club Officers and nine ordinary members of the Club who shall be elected at the AGM, and of whom not more than three shall live outside a ten mile radius of Harleston, and five of whom shall form a quorum.

The General Purposes Committee, as each reach the end of their term of office, will stand for re-election (against any new candidates) and will serve for a period of three years.

A representative of the Juvenile Membership may also sit on the GPC but will hold no voting power.

The GPC (which shall meet regularly) should have the power to co-opt membership should the necessity arise and form working and organisational Sub-Committees. All GPC members must be prepared to serve on such Sub-Committees, which will be responsible directly to the GPC from whom they shall receive their terms of reference. All members serving on Club Sub-Committees are bound by the same disciplines as the GPC.

A GPC member missing three consecutive meetings, without good reason shall forfeit their place on the GPC.

An Emergency GPC shall consist of three officers and three members of the GPC and shall have the power to make decisions on urgent matters only. Ratification to be obtained at the next GPC meeting.
Any Member wishing to address the GPC during a meeting should give seven days notice to the Hon Gen Sec, stating clearly their reasons for such a request.

No monies from any fund of the Club shall be spent without the consent of the GPC and three estimates must be obtained where necessary before any major item of expenditure is involved.

 

13. BYELAWS (or RULES)
(a)  The Byelaws set out in the current rules/Byelaw sheets of the Club and any Byelaws made under
paragraph (b) of this Rule, shall be binding upon the Members until repealed by the GPC or by
resolution of the Annual General Meeting, subject to any amendment made under paragraph
(b) of this rule.

(b)  The GPC shall from time to time make, repeal or amend such byelaws as they deem expedient in
the immediate interest of the Club (provided that they shall not be inconsistent with the Rules) to
take effect immediately unless set aside at an Annual General Meeting. Such modifications must
be notified at the next Annual General Meeting.

 

14. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The AGM of the Club shall be held at the Headquarters of the Club on the last Friday of April each year (as far as conveniently possible) commencing at 7.30 pm; to receive and consider the audited accounts and annual balance sheet prepared by the Hon Treasurer.

 

15. EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
An Extraordinary General Meeting shall only be convened upon requisition of nine members of the GPC or twenty members of the Club. Notice of such meeting to be sent to the Hon Gen Secretary at least 14 days prior to the proposed date thereof. The Hon Gen Sec will then notify members as stated.

 

16. NOTICE OF AN (ANNUAL) GENERAL MEETING AND RESOLUTIONS
(a)  Resolutions for the AGM shall be submitted to the Hon Gen Sec four weeks prior to the AGM each year, in writing, and signed by the proposer and seconder. Any such resolutions, unless withdrawn, shall be included the business of the Meeting and be placed on the Agenda.

(b)  AGENDA of the AGM (or EGM) can be obtained from the Officers of the Club upon request, or at said AGM (or EGM)

(c)  Notice of the AGM or EGM shall be adequately displayed.

 

17. PROCEEDINGS AT (ANNUAL) GENERAL MEETINGS
(a)  Five members (not including temporary members) shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.

(b)  At every General Meeting, the Chairman or in his absence the Vice Chairman, or, in the absence
of both, a member elected by members present, shall take the Chair. The Chairman and all
ordinary and honorary adult members present, shall be entitled to vote and in the event of an
equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote.

(c)  Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, a majority of the Ordinary and Honorary adult
Members present and voting, shall carry any motion or resolution, save that no rule or Bye-Law of
the Club may be made, repealed or amended with less than a two-thirds majority of votes cast.

(d)  Only items on the Agenda may be dealt with at General Meetings.

 

18. DISSOLUTION
The Club shall not be dissolved so long as ten ordinary Members belong to it and then only provided that the majority agree thereto. In the event of its' dissolution, the Club's property and assets, after sat¬isfying all liability, shall be frozen for five years, after which times to be disposed of at the Trustees discretion.

 

19. BAILIFFS
The Club will make every effort to ensure that the Club controlled waters are adequately bailiffed.

 

20. INTERPRETATION
(a)  The GPC shall be the sole authority for the interpretation of the club Rules and Bye-laws and the
decision of the GPC upon any question of interpretation or any matter affecting the Club, not
provided for by the Rules or Bye-laws, shall be final and binding upon the members.

(b)  In the Club Rules and Bye-laws, where the context permits, words importing the masculine shall
include the feminine and words importing the singular shall include the plural and visa-versa.