CLUB BYLAWS

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15 Definitions and Amendments

15a.
The following bylaws are set out in the appendix to these rules. Any bylaws made under paragraph (b) of this rule shall be binding on members until repealed by The Committee or a resolution at the AGM or an EGM subject to any amendment made under paragraph (b) of this rule.

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15b.
The Committee shall from time to time make, repeal or amend all such bylaws as they deem expedient (provided that they shall not be inconsistent with these rules) to take effect unless set aside at an AGM or EGM.

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16 Using Club waters

All persons using The Clubs’ waters do so entirely at their own risk.

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17 Raising issues

Any member may attend a committee meeting. If they wish to raise an issue they must inform The Secretary in writing at least 10 days before the meeting. The Chairman may ask him to leave at any time during the meeting at his discretion.

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18 Membership bylaws

18a.
The Club season runs from 1st March until the last day in February each year, when The Clubs’ locks will be changed. Keys will be available to exchange at all work parties on production of new membership card and old key (see rule 18g). There may be additional venues where a committee member will be available to exchange keys.

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18b.
Membership renewals will be in January and February
each year. All members are required to produce a current passport type photograph with their renewal form each year which will be scanned and attached to the membership card. New members’ membership begins on the 1st June.

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18c.
All members will be provided with a membership card, a copy of the current rule book and a key to The Club gate padlocks, for which a deposit is included in their joining fee. The key and membership card must be carried at all times on club premises. A DBS must also be carried at all times when over Little Grange.

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18d.
Members must read the notice boards before fishing as bylaw amendments may be posted on them. The amended bylaws will remain in place until removed from the notice board. These rules may only apply to the lake where they are posted. 

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18e.
Any person found without a membership card and key, excepting authorised guests, will be told to leave. Any person found without a DBS whilst over Little Grange will be asked to leave. Members must produce their membership card and key to any other member or authorised person, without exception, when asked to do so.

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18f.
Any member who’s subscription has not been paid by the last day in February shall cease to be a member and must re-apply to become a member if spaces are available.

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18g.
All senior members must attend one work party per year. They may be asked to do such work as they are physically able to perform by the authorised organiser. Membership cards will be stamped when an official work party has been completed, and names recorded. Any member who has not attended a work party during The Club year will not be invited to renew their membership the following year. Exemptions will be considered in exceptional circumstances and will be decided upon by The Committee. The work party venue will be closed for fishing for the duration of the work party. 

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18h.
The Committee/Fishery Managers reserve the right to close any water immediately for any reason deemed necessary and will give members as much notice as possible.

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18i.
No unauthorised member shall enter any water (including car parks) while shooting is taking place. The authorised shooter shall lock the gate with his own padlock, and place a SHOOTING IN PROGRESS sign on the gate. Authorised shooters shall have a letter of authority from The Club.

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18j.
Any member who loses their membership card will be required to pay a further subscription or fine unless there is a valid reason for the loss. Members who lose their key will be liable to pay for a new key.

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18k.
Keys remain the property of The Club and must be exchanged every year when renewing membership. The deposit will be returned if a member leaves The Club.

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18l.
Members must hold a current UK fishing licence (or a three rod licence if using three rods).

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18m.
Swims and adjacent areas must be kept free of litter at all times. Any litter in an angler’s swim or adjacent area is the responsibility of that angler. No litter shall be left at club waters or adjacent areas and must be taken home. Remember: Leave litter: leave the club.

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18n.
Digging is forbidden at all club waters, swims must not be enlarged, reeds, trees or bankside vegetation must not be cut back (authorised work parties excluded). Dragging of swims is permitted, provided it does not interfere with other members, but water plants must not be disturbed.

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18o.
Junior members are only allowed alone on club waters between the hours of daylight. They may fish at night if accompanied by a parent or guardian, who is also a member, and must occupy the same swim.

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18p.
All members are allowed to take a maximum of two children under 12 years of age with them (who are not members) during daylight hours, but they must fish the same swim and only use one rod each. Adult members are allowed to take one child under 12 years of age with them (who are not members) overnight, but they are not allowed to fish between dusk and dawn. The responsibility of each child lies entirely with the parent or legal guardian and they must be strictly supervised at all times. All members and children use The Club waters entirely at their own risk. 

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18q.
Swims that are accessible to blue badge holders must be vacated in their favour if requested and with minimal delay.

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18r.
No entry to any club water is permitted except through the main gate. All gates must be locked after entering and when leaving club waters. At Little Grange, there is a strict 10mph speed limit on the approach road and dipped head lights must be used during the hours of darkness. As a condition of our licence, no entry or departure is permitted from the lake between 10:30pm and 6:00am, except in an emergency.

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18s.
Fishing from any island on any of The Club’s lakes is prohibited.

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18t.
No member shall fish with more than two rods at any lake with the exception of Little Grange, where three rods may be used from 1st October to 31st May and Warwick Lane where three rods may be used from 1st October until 31st March.

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18u.
Rods with terminal tackle attached and in the water must not be left unattended at any time.

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18v.
Swims with members’ angling equipment must not be left unattended for more than three hours.

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18w.
Members’ spouses or partners are allowed to fish free of charge when accompanied by the member and provided
they hold a current rod licence and occupy the same swim (except matches).

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19 prohibited activities 

Members must not:

19a. Use nut baits.

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19b. Carry firearms.

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19c. Use catapults for any purpose other than baiting their own swim.

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19d. Light open fires.

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19e. Play radios or other noisy instruments.

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19f. Use any device for the automatic striking of fish.

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19g. Interfere with or trespass on any adjoining land.

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19h. Take a dog on any club water.

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19i. Cause a nuisance to other members.

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19j. Ride bicycles, motorcycles or drive vehicles around the banks of any club water.

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19k. Remove fish.

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19l. Use live baits not caught at the water where they will be used.

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19m. Use a sack to retain fish.

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20 Fish care

20a.
No member is permitted to take any fish care equipment (i.e. landing nets, unhooking mats, weigh slings or buckets) to any of The Club’s lakes as all fish care equipment is now provided. Members will however need to take a landing net pole with a screw thread over Dunton as these have not been provided. Any member caught using their own fish care equipment will face instant dismissal from The Club.

 

20b.
No barbel or carp (except crucian carp) may be kept in keepnets.

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20c.
The use of bent hooks is prohibited.

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20d.
No fixed leads may be used.

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21 Fishing before matches
Fishing is not allowed after midnight at a water where a scheduled match is due to take place the following morning. For afternoon and evening matches, no fishing is allowed after 6:00am.

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22 Guest tickets
Guest tickets are available to allow members to bring guests to club waters. Members are ultimately responsible for the conduct of their guests, and must accompany them to the waters. Permits MUST be purchased before guests are taken to club waters, except matches where the Match Secretary will issue them on the bank. Guest tickets will be sold by appointed persons whose contact details will be on the membership card. Guest tickets are limited to one per member. No tickets will be issued on bank holidays or bank holiday weekends. Guest tickets are a privilege, not a right, and may be refused for breaches of these rules. Guest tickets may be suspended by The Committee when they deem appropriate. Members must have one year’s membership before applying for a guest ticket.

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23 Guests fishing during matches
No guest, other than those fishing the match, may fish on any water between the start and finish time of the match. If you obtain a guest ticket for a venue where a match is taking place, it is assumed you have read the membership card and know there is a match taking and will be fishing after the finish time. 

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24 Publishing catches
If a member wants to publish any aspect of their catch on social media, The Club or venue must not be named, instead, the term: “Essex Lake” must be used. No photos of any fish caught from any club water are to be published in any magazine, newspaper or other printed material.

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25 Drug and alcohol usage
The Club adopts a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on the use of recreational drugs at any club water and no alcohol is to be consumed at Little Grange.

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26 USING boats
26a.
Bait boats are not allowed at Little Grange or Dunton. They are allowed at Warwick Lane, provided the user has purchased a permit to use one.

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26b.
Row boats are not allowed on any club lake unless; 

i) Prior permission has been given by the fishery team.

ii) There is more than one other person present on the lake.

iii) The correct safety equipment is worn (e.g. life jacket).

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27 Match rules 

27a.
All club matches are under the jurisdiction of the Match Secretary or his appointed representative. Any query regarding matches must be directed to the Match Secretary whose name appears on the membership card.

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27b.
One keepnet is to be used when fishing club matches. An unhooking mat must be used for large fish. The total weight of fish in the keepnet shall not be greater than 35lbs, anything over 35lbs will NOT be recorded. If in doubt, weigh the fish. 

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27c.
You do not need to book a place at a match unless stated on the card (please inform the Match Secretary if you wish to fish the Mixed Doubles or Fur & Feather matches).

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27d.
All pools during matches are voluntary.

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27e.
Matches are open to all members. Members may bring a guest who will pay a guest ticket fee on the day. In the event of more competitors turning up than swims available, members (and guests that have been notified to the Match Secretary in advance), will have priority on the day. 

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27f.
The boundary of the chosen swim will be an imaginary line half way between swims and the middle of the lake.

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27g.
The date, time and venue of each match is printed on your membership card, please refer to the notice boards at the match venue for any changes.

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27h.
Competitors are not allowed to change swims during pegged matches. Changing swims is allowed on walk-off matches, but any fish they catch in the swim before they moved will not count towards their final weight. Competitors may not share a swim except for the Mixed Doubles match. 

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27i.
Matches will be fished with one rod (or pole) and line and one hook (unless stated at the beginning of the match). Any number of rods (or top sections of a pole) may be made up but not baited, and must stored away from the water’s edge. Competitors may not feed their swim with a pole cupping kit or spod rod while a baited line is in the water. 

 

27j.
The water must not be disturbed before the start of the match except for weed dragging, plumbing the depth, clipping up, positioning keep nets or wetting baits.

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27k.
All carp, barbel and large bream must be weighed immediately after capture on the nearest set of scales and their weight recorded on the match sheets provided. The fish must then be returned safely to the lake.

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27l.
For the benefit of fish safety, fellow anglers may assist other anglers in the landing of large fish.

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27m.
No floating or surface baits may be used and all hookbaits must be fished a minimum of twelve inches under the surface of the water.

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27n.
The Match Secretary will nominate the winner of the match. The winners are awarded perpetual trophies at the following AGM. These must be returned by the following November. The winner can nominate between a keepsake trophy or a small discount on the following years membership. A keepsake trophy shall be awarded to the mixed doubles match.

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27o.
The Club Member who has accrued the most points at the end of the year will be deemed the Individual Champion and will receive free membership for the following year, as will the highest placed Junior Member. The Club Member who finishes second in the Individual Championship will receive half-price membership the following year.

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27p.
Members who are not involved in the match may fish on a lake during a match if there is sufficient space, providing:

i. They do not start fishing until at least two hours of the match has elapsed.

ii. They do not fish within fifteen metres of a competitor.

iii. They do not cast to where a competitor is casting or
has baited.

iv. Guests who are not taking part in the match, are not allowed to fish (see bylaw 23).

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27q.
No weight will be recorded to a competitor in a match where litter is found in their swim, and the offender will be liable to expulsion from The Club.