Byelaws

Members on joining must abide by these Rules and in particular with respect to any damage caused or suffered while fishing Club Waters or at any other Club Meeting.

Members agree to indemnify the Committee and Members against all claims for damage caused and that neither the Committee nor the Members nor Riparian Owners shall be held responsible for any damage suffered.

The Club will not be responsible for any accident or loss of property that may occur to any angler using the Clubs Waters.

Dogs are permitted on club waters but must be kept under control on a lead & out of the water.

Members have an obligation to report fish deaths to the Committee. To report a pollution incident or fish in distress please contact the EA on 0800 807060.

The National Angling Alliance Code of Conduct must be adopted by all members and applied on Club Waters.

Fish welfare is top priority and members will agree to rig and gear checks as required by members of the committee, please do not be offended.

Members are not permitted to alter swims or cut down trees without express consent from the committee.

Roche Angling Club Executive Committee reserve the right to amend any of the following rules at no notice and a level of common sense and best practice is assumed.

There are no exceptions: all rules are designed with the welfare of the fish and the water quality in mind, and we want to keep the fishery and its surroundings at its best, so please stick to them. If you are found breaking these rules you may be asked to leave the fishery.

Drugs are illegal, any member consuming or in possession of illegal substances will receive a lifetime ban from Roche Angling Club and will be escorted off the premises with immediate effect and potentially reported to the Police

Any aggressive or anti-social behavior towards members/bailiffs/committee members or the public will not be tolerated on club waters. In the event of this happening the said person(s) will be subject to disciplinary and potentially banned from the club for life and reported to the police.

Roche Angling Club aim to provide a safe and enjoyable fishing experience and your assistance is appreciated

GENERAL RULES

1. No Member shall catch fish by any other means than rod and line and all fish to be returned alive to the water.
2. A maximum of three rods to be used. An EA Rod Licence covering all rods must be obtained before fishing Club Waters.
3. All members must have a suitable unhooking mat with them when fishing Club waters.
4. No unauthorised person shall take or introduce any freshwater fish to, from or between Club Waters. To do so will be reported to the EA and may give rise to a civil or criminal prosecution under Schedule 1 section 2 of the Theft Act.
5. Members must upon request, produce evidence of Membership to any Club Member/Bailiff.
6. All gates must be shut, locked and securely fastened after being opened.
7. No swimming in Club Waters.
8. That on no account will persons on Club waters be allowed to carry Firearms, air guns or weapons without Committee and landowner consent. Anyone failing to comply with this rule will be permanently dismissed from the Club.
9. No boats of any kind (including bait boats) are permitted on Club Waters other than for organised work parties and emergency fish rescues. A committee member must be in attendance at all times when the boat is being used (or notified regarding a fish rescue).
10.  Any person fishing in an area containing litter shall be held responsible for the same.
11.  All hooks larger than a size 12 must be micro barbed.
12. Fixed leads, fixed bolt rigs or snag leaders are prohibited.
13. Peanuts are prohibited from use in Club Waters.
14. Members must not leave any unattended tackle etc. in any swim for more than 60 minutes.
15. All hook baits must be removed when not fishing to protect wildlife.
16. No fishing from any area which is marked as Out of Bounds.
17. The Club requires all members to show consideration for other lake users. No casting into areas that are likely to affect or interfere with other anglers. You may only fish from one swim at a time.
18. The use of Boga Grips or any other fish grip devices (handheld or not) are prohibited on Roche AC waters.
19. Anglers must always carry antiseptic treatment such as ‘Propolis’ and administer when damage to any fish is observed
20. It is not permitted to retain carp of any size in keepnets whilst pleasure fishing
21. The feeding of wildfowl, birds or any wild animal is strictly prohibited
22. Defecating on any part of land owned or operated by Roche Angling Club is strictly forbidden and anglers must carry their own bucket or device to facilitate their own toilet needs. Any member found breaking this rule will be expelled from the club without warning
23. Leaving human faeces or used toilet paper on any part of Roche Angling Club Land is strictly forbidden. Any member found breaking this rule will be expelled from the club without warning.
24. A member fishing one RAC venue for 6 days continuously will then have to vacate 3 days off that venue and have an maximum continually stay for 10 days.
25. A member fishing RAC is permitted to stay in a single swim for a maximum of 72 hours thereafter shall vacate the swim for 72 hours
26. Members are not permitted to leave unattended vehicles in car parks or, swims or any part of club land whilst not fishing or attending fishing related activities.
27. Members are not allowed to sleep in vehicles or camp in any part of club land for an duration or use club facilities whilst not fishing or attending club related activities
28. An angler can leave gear unattended for up to 60 minutes in a swim and beyond 60 minutes all gear must be removed from club land
29. Drugs are illegal, any member consuming or in possession of illegal substances will receive a lifetime ban from Roche Angling Club and will be escorted off the premises with immediate effect and potentially reported to the Police                                            

   TROPHIES / COMPETITIONS:

1. Trophies are awarded on the basis of the membership year. All Club trophies must be handed back to the Cups Custodian no later than 28 days prior to the AGM.
2. All persons representing the Club in any competitions must be fully paid-up members.
3. On competition days the relevant section of lake will be closed for the period 1 hour before the draw, for the duration of the competition.

GUEST MEMBERSHIP

1. Guest Members must be always accompanied by a full member and not be provided with gate codes and may only be on the lake during the period 1hr before sunrise and 1hr after sunset.
2. The Guest Member may only fish with, or in adjacent swims to, a full member who is responsible for the Guest Member and will be held responsible for any infringement of Club Rules by the guest member.
   JUNIOR MEMBERS
3.  A Junior Member below the age of 14 years must be accompanied by a fee-paying Member over the age of 18 years when fishing Club Waters during daylight hours.
4. No Junior under the age of 12 is entitled to fish at night on any Club water, but may accompany a full member, providing that he/she accepts, and confirms, responsibility in writing to the committee.
5. Junior Members aged 12 – 14 may not fish Club Waters during the hours of darkness unless accompanied by their parent or guardian, who must also be a Member.
6. Juniors over the age of 14 years may only fish Club Waters during the hours of darkness (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise) subject to being accompanied by a Member (fishing together, or in an adjacent swim) over the age of 18 years and that a parent or guardian has given permission in writing to the Club allowing that Junior for whom they are responsible, to fish at night.

ADDITIONAL RULES APPLICABLE TO CARP ANGLERS

1. A minimum of a 36inch landing net must be used.
2. A minimum of 12lb breaking strain main line to be used.
3. To protect fish welfare when fishing on the bottom, the use of a minimum of 18 inches rig tubing or a lead- core / free leader is recommended.
4. Barbed and barbless hooks are prohibited, hooks larger than size 12 must be micro barbed.
5. A large size thick, preferably walled or cradle style unhooking mat is always required.
6. Carp sacks are prohibited.
7. The use of floating retaining slings is permitted.
8. Carp are not be left unattended on the bank whilst in an hooking mat for any duration.
9. When Carp are returned to the water the angler must release using their floatation sling and observe when the fish is re-oxygenated and strong enough to swim off under their own effort before releasing the fish.
10. Please be considerate using buzzers / alarms and keep volume tones to a minimum.

ADDITIONAL RULES APPLICABLE TO PIKE ANGLERS

1. Bait fishing for pike is prohibited on any club water between 1 April and 30 September (inclusive) unless at an official Pike open day.
2. All pike anglers must carry minimum 36-inch landing net, floatation sling, unhooking mat, 12-inch adequate forceps / needle nose pliers, side cutters and antiseptic treatment at all times.
3. Wire traces must be minimum 12-inches and the coated variety, not bare wire.
4. Bait fishing is only permitted using one single barbless hook, trebles and stingers are prohibited.
5. Treble hooks are permitted for use with lures / spinners and plugs.
6. Barbless hooks must always be used on all spinners / lures.
7. Pike must be unhooked on a mat and the fish must be unhooked and returned to the water within the shortest time frame possible, the benchmark is 2-3 minutes.
8. When Pike are returned to the water the angler must release using their floatation sling and observe when the fish is re-oxygenated and strong enough to swim off under their own effort before releasing the fish.
9. Pike handling is of upmost importance Pike are very fragile and delicate creatures, and despite their predatory looks and images, they require extra care and attention. Any angler who appears to be lacking the necessary knowledge and experience in fishing for and handling pike may be asked to stop fishing and an educational session will be provided.