Northwich Anglers Association

Rules & Disciplinary System

Please note that each water/venue may have a number additional rules specific to that water, please check the waters page which you intending to fish for details.

General Rules

1. A close season from 15th March to 15th June inclusive, shall apply on the following Association waters:
   1. River Weaver (including Marshall’s Arm, the Old River at Vale Royal and the pool on Hulse’s Island).
   2. River Dane.
   3. Wincham Brook (unless fishing for trout with artificial fly or worm only during this period).
   4. Big Billinge
2. A maximum of two rods may be used at any one time, except on Budworth Mere and Pickmere where three rods may be used.
3. The use of any line not connected to a rod is strictly forbidden.
4. Members without a night fishing permit are not allowed on Association waters any earlier than one hour before sunrise and no later than one hour after sunset.
5. Only senior and senior citizen members in possession of a night permit may night fish Association waters where night fishing is allowed. The only exceptions to this are:
   1. Petty Pool, where fishing is allowed from 05:00 hours to 22:00 throughout the year.
   2. Big Billinge and Eyres Pit, where junior members may night fish if accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Note:
      1. The parent / guardian must hold a night permit.
      2. Both must share the same peg and no more than two rods may be used.
6. No camping or sleeping in cars in Association car parks is allowed.
7. Unless mutually agreed, anglers must allow at least 12 metres between themselves and the next angler.
8. Members must cooperate, assist and comply with the requests of Bailiffs or Association Officials.
9. Members must, at all times, carry their membership card (complete with photograph and name and address), and their current Environment Agency rod licence, and must produce both when asked to do so. Failure to produce either will result in being ordered to leave the water.
10. Dogs are not allowed to accompany anglers.
11. Bloodworm may not be collected from, or used on any Association water.
12. Up to 6 small fish (6 inches or less) may be caught in a session and used as live or deadbait providing:
    1. They are caught, and used, at the same water.
    2. Any which remain unused are returned to the water at the end of the session.
    All other fish, including pike and eels, must be returned to the water at the point of capture. The use of game, sea or coarse fish for deadbait is permitted.
13. No carp or other specimen fish may be kept in keepnets, carp sacks or any other type of holding device
14. Keepnets must be made of an approved material and be at least 3 metres long. Keepnets must not be used on any Association water between March 15th and June 15th inclusive, except in bona fide matches on still waters and on the following venues, where they may be used throughout the year:
    1. Budworth Mere
    2. Trent & Mersey Canal
15. Members must not deposit litter of any kind. This includes toilet waste which must be disposed of safely, either by burial or removal. Members are required to assist the Association in keeping our waters tidy by removing any litter they encounter on the bank before starting to fish.
16. Members must not take metal food, drink or bait cans, or glass bottles, onto any Association water.
17. Fishing is not allowed within 30 metres of any overhead power cable.
18. Members wishing to play radios or other audio equipment may do so providing the volume is moderated so that it does not disturb others.
19. Where stages are provided members must fish from these and not from the bank.
20. Members fishing for carp, pike or other specimen fish must use unhooking mats. On no account must fish be placed on a hard surface, such as a landing stage.
21. Members must be in possession of a landing net of a size appropriate to their intended quarry.
22. Members must not leave rods with baited lines unattended.
23. Members may only pre-bait swims on the following waters:
    1. Budworth Mere
    2. River Weaver
    3. River Dane
    4. Pickmere Lake.
24. Members must not use excessive quantities of bait or feed. Any member considered to be doing so will be ordered to leave the water.
25. The use of boats, including bait boats, either for fishing or applying bait, is not permitted on Association waters.
26. Members may not posses or consume any alcoholic drink whilst on Association waters.
27. Members may use small petrol or gas fired stoves but the lighting of open fires and the use of portable barbecues is strictly forbidden.
28. Members must not carry weapons of any kind. Specifically members are forbidden from carrying or using any firearm (including air guns) unless authorised to do so in writing by the Management Committee.
29. Members are expected to ensure that those they are fishing with are also members of the Association. Non members fishing Association waters are committing a criminal offence and disciplinary action will be taken against any member aiding and abetting this offence.
30. The use of leadcore and fused or braided leaders is strictly prohibited.

The Night Permit

Night permits are only issued to senior and senior citizen members of the Association upon payment of the appropriate fee. Night permit holders may fish for a maximum of 48 hours (two consecutive nights) and must then vacate the fishery for a period of 24 hours.

Night permit holders are entitled to fish the following waters at night:

River Weaver

At the following locations only:

1. The main River:
   1. From the point level with the tip of Hulse's Island, downstream to the railway viaduct on the Dredger length at Vale Royal.
   2. The Dredger length; from the railway viaduct at Vale Royal, downstream to the Blue Bridge at Hartford.
   3. The Oak Tree length; from the Blue Bridge at Hartford, downstream to the entrance to Marshall's Arm (Night fishing is only permitted from the Arm bank into the main river, not into the Arm itself).
   4. Pimlott's to Hunt's Lock (no fishing on the mown area around the locks or from the island where the lock keeper's cottage is situated.
   5. The town centre stretch.
   6. From the Red Lion at Barnton, downstream to Salersford Locks.
2. The Old River at Vale Royal:
   1. From Hulse's Island only.

Canal Pit

Only on those pegs at the North Western end of the pool. No night fishing is permitted from the T&M Canal towpath.

Budworth Mere

Night fishing is permitted from all Northwich Anglers Association pegs.

Pickmere Lake

Night fishing is permitted from all Northwich Anglers Association pegs.

Trent & Mersey Canal

At the following locations only:

1. Saltersford Wide.
2. Billinge and Whatcroft Wides (from the towpath side only).
3. Swan Pit at Croxton Lane, Middlewich.

When night fishing from these locations care must be taken not to obstruct the towpath or prevent navigation on the canal.

Big Billinge

Only from the stages designated for night fishing, please refer to general Rule 5 for conditions which enable junior members to fish at night.

Eyres Pit

Please refer to general Rule 5 for conditions which enable junior members to fish at night.

Match Rules

1. Peg fees are as follows:

   Match	Members	Non Members
   Outside clubs	£3.50	£3.50
   Saturday opens	£1.00	£2.00
   Charity matches	£1.50	£2.50

2. A minimum of 15 Pegs must be booked and paid for.
3. Matches which are entered in the current match list have priority on the pegs nominated. Members not engaged in the match must move two pegs (24 metres) from the match if requested to do so.
4. Matches which are not entered in the current match list do not have priority and members not engaged in the match are not required to move. However a notice will be placed on the length to be used.
5. Matches must not exceed 5 hours in duration.
6. All fish must be retained in keepnets (except carp which must be weighed in immediately) and returned to the water at the point of weighing.
7. Competitors may plumb the depth before the start of any Association Match.
8. In all Association matches the rules set by Angling’s Governing Body shall apply except:
   1. No sticklebacks will be weighed in
   2. Pegs will be not less than 12 metres apart
   3. Two hooks may be used
9. In open matches anglers may only draw one ticket.
10. Any objection to or infringement of any match rule during a contest must be reported to the match organiser verbally or in writing before the results are announced.
11. No matches are allowed on the following lengths of the River Weaver:
    1. Marshall’s Arm.
    2. The Old River at Vale Royal (Sundays only).
12. The Management Committee reserves the right to take all lengths of the River Weaver for special matches.
13. Match bookings will only be accepted if arranged and paid for before February 1st, unless other arrangements have been made with the Match Secretary.

Please see the matches page for more information and bookings.

Disciplinary System

Any member found breaking the Rules of the Association shall be liable to disciplinary action.

The Association operates a simple system whereby a red or a yellow card is issued, similar to the system used by referees in a game of football. Yellow cards are awarded for minor offences and result in a written warning. However, a second yellow card within any 12 month period results in the award of a red card. Red cards are issued for more serious offences and result in either a temporary suspension of membership, or in a longer term ban.

Red card offences immediately result in the temporary suspension of membership pending investigation by the Disciplinary Sub Committee (DSC). Members are given the opportunity to appear in person before the DSC, or to provide written details of any mitigating circumstances. The DSC then decides upon the most appropriate course of action and determines the length of any suspension or ban.

Members are entitled to appeal against any disciplinary action taken against them. Appeals are heard by the Association’s Management Committee which is independent of the DSC and may overrule the original decision.

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