NO CLOSE SEASON ON LAKES CLOSE SEASON FOR ALL RIVERS
All Coarse Fish between March 15th – June 15th (inclusive)
Government Legislation in respect of present and future Covid 19 Regulations
The following will be addendum to Rules of Club and may be updated to reflect any future changes to Government Laws and guidelines.
- Members should and will have deemed to have acquainted themselves with the current and any future COVID 19 regulations together with any guidelines appertaining to Angling.
- Members must use either gloves or wipe down gates and locks with sanitizer on entry and exit from waters.
- Only ONE angler per swim permitted unless Adult and Child member. If found breaching this rule you will be asked to leave and banned. Bailiffs cannot be expected to check and prove that all members are from same household or “bubble”.
- If asked to produce club book these should be passed to Bailiff in landing net or similar to maintain social distancing.
- You must take all your waste with you when leaving waters to include faeces, wipes, gloves etc.
Anybody found breaking the above rules will be instantly banned.
The safety of other Anglers, Bailiffs and public at large still has to be everyones top priority.
Members should visit Angling Trust website for further information on COVID guidance for angling.
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- The Club is to be called The Ampthill and District Angling and Fish Preservation Society.
- The objects of the Club shall be the protection and preservation of fish life, to protect (where possible) properties of those who entrust fishing rights to the Committee. The owners of the Fisheries, occupiers of the land adjoining are (de facto) Honorary Members of the Club with full privileges. The Club undertakes to care for re-stock as required such waters as the Club may control.
- The business of the Club shall be conducted by a Committee comprising of a maximum 18, inclusive of Officers. The Committee shall have the right to co-opt a member to itself, either to replace one who has retired or one whose presence on the Committee it considers to be in the interest of the Club. Such co-opted members shall have full voting rights at any Committee Meeting. All Officers and Committee Members shall retire on the day of the A.G.M. which shall be held as soon as convenient after March 14th each year. All retiring officers are eligible for re-election.
- The committee may, vary, and revoke Club rules consistent with the Club Standing Orders.
- The Committee shall meet at least once a month to arrange the affairs of the Club; Five Committee members shall form a Quorum. If a member of the Committee shall miss two consecutive Committee Meetings they must attend the third Meeting and be brought before the Meeting for an explanation of their absence (whether apologies for absence received or not). If this is not acceptable they could be expelled from the Committee. The Committee shall be empowered to sanction the payment of expenses that may be incurred by any Member on official business.
- The Secretary shall ensure all the monies due to the Club are collected and shall attend all Meetings and take the minutes of same. They shall conduct the Club’s correspondence. The Treasurer shall present the balance sheet at the end of each financial year. The Secretary and Treasurer are the Executive Officers of the Committee and are responsible only to that body. A Special General Meeting shall be convened only on receipt of a written application signed by seven adult members. Quorum at such meetings shall be fifteen.
- No fish to be taken or introduced into club waters except as part of an agreed fish management and restocking programme.
- The appointment of Official Club Water Bailiffs shall be at the discretion of the Committee, their duties to be patrolling of Club Waters, making sure all persons who are in possession of fishing tackle, on land (adjacent to water) from which the Committee lease the fishing rights, are members of Ampthill and District Angling and Fish Preservation Society. That all Club rules are observed also any parking facilities afforded the Club.
- Members will only have access to the following waters all year; Ampthill Reservoir, Westminster Pool, Brogborough Pit and Lagoon, Marston Pit and Millbrook Lake subject to E.A. Regulations. No member shall have access to other waters between March 15th and June 15th (inclusive), except for official work parties. Members are expected to acquaint themselves with the various stretches of water reserved for competitions. These stretches are out of bounds on the day of the match until the competition has ended. The only matches the Committee. In the event of flooding the Committee reserve the right to change a fixture to a still water fishery. The removal of match pegs will result in an endorsement in your Club card.
- Bailiffs and Members of the Club have the right to request anyone fishing in the Club’s waters to produce their Membership Certificate on request. Membership is for a period of twelve months expiring on June 15th each year. Members failing to observe the Club rules may be suspended or expelled.
- No Member shall do or permit any damage to fences, mowing grass or any other crops, livestock or be accompanied by a dog, gun or radio. The taking of fish by any other means than rod and line is strictly prohibited. Keep-nets must be of minimum size 8ft x 15ins & contain a maximum of 60lb of fish. The lighting of fires is strictly prohibited unless supervised by a Committee Member. No nightlines to be used. Members shall leave no litter. Any litter found in the vicinity of such Member’s swim is the responsibility of said Member.
- a) Camping on Club property is not permitted with the exception of two man bivvies /brollies erected for the sole purpose of angling. The use of any vehicle for purpose of camping/sleeping whilst fishing also prohibited. 12b) The use of BBQs or fires of any description is strictly prohibited at Ampthill Reservoir, Marston Pit, Westminster Pool, Brogborough Lagoon and Millbrook Lake. A Member may use a maximum of two rods at any one time with the exception of Marston Pit and Brogborough No 1 pit where, providing no other angler is inconvenienced, 3 rods are permitted providing any such Member is in possession of sufficient E.A. rod licences.c) No rods to be left unattended with the exception of night fishing when bite alarms must be fitted with the angler in close proximity at all times d) The use of Bivvies and Brolly Tents is prohibited at Ampthill Reservoir & Westminster Pool to comply with Park Bye-laws. e) The use of keep nets at Ampthill Reservoir and Westminster Pool is prohibited, with the exception of official Club Matches where carp fishery approved nets only are to be used. To be reviewed annually by the Committee. f) Baitboats of any kind are prohibited on all waters except Brogborough main lake. g) Barbless or micro barb hooks only to be used on all waters.
- Any Member being a witness to the infringement of the rules or the rights and liberties of the Club shall inform the Secretary immediately. Members fishing in other Club waters must respect rules of same.
- Any member obtaining publicity for fish caught in Club waters must ensure that the name of Ampthill and District Angling Club is used in any said publicity.
- Any complaints must be sent in writing to the Secretary. Interpretation of the Club rules shall be referred to the Committee whose decision shall be final.
- The Club or its Officials will not be held responsible for any loss, damage or accident sustained by any Member whilst having access to Club water or whilst fishing.
- The Club shall not be dissolved whilst twenty Members remain, but should there be at any time less paid up members on the books, the assets of the Club shall be realised by the Secretary and disposed of to other non-profit making bodies with the objective of the preservation and furtherance of angling interests, as decided by a majority vote of the Members. Such action shall be advertised in the local press.
- Specimen fish are only eligible for entry for awards if witnessed by a Bailiff, Committee Member or two Club Members and if the Secretary is notified in writing within seven days of the date of capture. Scales used to weigh such fish must be checked against Club scales which are kept by the Club Secretary. Specimen fish entries will be accepted no later than February 28th. Entries in respect of fish caught after that date will be carried forward to the following year.
- All trophies offered for competition remain the property of the Club. Any member winning a cup for three times in succession or four times in all, shall be awarded a miniature replica. Winners of trophies shall be responsible for the safe custody of them. All trophies must be returned to the Club by the beginning of January. No minimum qualifying weights.
- All proposals, nominations etc. to be in writing to the Secretary seven days before any General Meeting.
- a) No glass bottles allowed to be taken on Club waters by any Members.b) No Alcohol of any kind No Illegal drugs are to be brought onto, consumed or used on any of the Clubs waters.
- Discount of 10% shall be paid to appointed District Representatives on the sale of Club Cards.
- No Member is permitted to kill fish, including Pike, for any reason.
- Swimming is strictly prohibited on all waters. No boats of any description shall be used on Club waters except on Official Work Parties No Drones.
- The Committee reserves the right to temporarily close any water without prior notice for reasons of work parties, litter problems, netting etc.
- a) Fishing at Brogborough No.1 Pit shall be from dawn to dusk. All members must vacate the water during the hours of darkness UNLESS holding a Night Syndicate Permit (details from Bob Jones (07710) 185270).b) Fishing at Marston Pit shall be from dawn to dusk. All members must vacate the water during the hours of darkness UNLESS holding a Night Permit (obtainable from Bailiffs or committee members).
- a) All specimen anglers must use an unhooking mat, weigh sling and be in possession of a carp/fish care kit, only one fish to be kept in one sack at any time. b) Minimum size of keep-nets to be 8ft x 15ins and a maximum of 60lb of fish to be kept in net. c) All anglers to be in possession of a suitable landing net. For carp fishing this must be minimum 42 inches.
- All pike anglers to use semi barbed or non-barbed hooks, minimum of 15lb. Line.
- a) Junior anglers will have to be accompanied by an Adult Member aged 18 or over. The Junior Membership books will only be issued to a Parent or Guardian. Juniors under 10 years fish for free. b) Juniors aged 14 or 15 will be able to fish unaccompanied if a consent form is obtained and signed by a Parent or Guardian. The consent form can only be obtained and signed for at Ampthill Town Council Offices.c) Ampthill Angling Club adopts the ADB Child Protection Policy and Procedures. All persons who are likely to be in contact with young people as part of club activities are deemed to have read, understood and assented to the ADB Code of Conduct and Ethics (“Code”) and as such recognize and adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in the Code. The Child Protection Policy will be incorporated in the Club Constitution.
- Use of braided main line is prohibited at Ampthill Reservoir & Westminster Pool Brogborough Lagoon Marston Pit and Millbrook Lake. self triggering devices are banned on all of our waters ie the Magic Twig.
- No Night Fishing allowed at Ampthill Reservoir, Westminster Pool, Millbrook Lake, or River Ivel, (Back Meadows). Any member fishing these waters is deemed to be night fishing if they are present at a club water between the times stated in the Club Book whether actively fishing or not.
- Abusive, intimidating or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated by Ampthill Angling Club. The Committee will ban for life any person(s) either directly or indirectly found to be contravening this rule in any way.
- a)Members may only fish a water for a maximum of 5 consecutive 24 hour periods after which they must vacate the water for a minimum of 3 days before fishing that water again. 33.b)any member who leaves the water for any longer than one hour for any reason with their tackle/equipment left in the swim will have their club card endorsed.
- Members should ensure when night fishing that they have adequate toilet facilities and equipment to remove waste from fisheries. This will be checked by Bailiffs and member asked to leave if not in compliance.
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The taking off and landing of drones within the confines of land leased by the club and any flying of Drones over our water is strictly prohibited. Membership will be cancelled immediately if found contravening this rule.
SPECIMEN FISH ANGLERS
YOU MUST USE AN UNHOOKING MAT AND WEIGH SLING.
ONLY ONE FISH TO BE KEPT IN A SACK AT ANY TIME.
PIKE ANGLERS
ALL PIKE ANGLERS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS OF TACKLE:
WEIGH SLING
FORCEPS
UNHOOKING MAT
LARGE LANDING NET 42 inch
SEMI-BARBED OR NON-BARBED HOOKS
WIRE TRACE & Min.151b LINE
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE ABOVE TACKLE, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CLUBS WATERS.
JUNIORS
JUNIORS CANNOT BUY MEMBERSHIP BOOKS.
THEY MUST BE PURCHASED FOR THEM BY THEIR
PARENTS OR GUARDIANS.
JUNIORS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
UNLESS THEY ARE AGED 14 OR 15 AND HAVE A
CURRENT, SIGNED CONSENT FORM.
RULES THAT APPLY TO ALL WATERS
DO NOT DAMAGE FENCES, MOWING GRASS, CROPS OR LIVESTOCK.
YOU MAY NOT BE ACCOMPANIED BY A DOG, OR BE IN POSSESSION OF A GUN OR RADIO.
NO FIRES.
NO NIGHTLINES.
NO LITTER.
NO CAMPING.
DO NOT KILL FISH.
NO BOATS No Drones.
NO ILLEGAL DRUGS No Alcohol.
YOU MUST BE IN POSSESSION OF A LANDING NET.
NO GLASS BOTTLES.
No Braided Main Line
Have you thought about your personal safety?