Sawbridgeworth Angling Society Bylaws

These Bylaws are enacted in accordance with clause No.11 of the Constitution and as ratified at AGM 2017

1. Membership shall be restricted to persons meeting any one of the following qualification:-
   • Residence within the area of Sawbridgeworth, High Wych, Hatfield Heath, Spellbrook, Matching Tye, Allens Green, Sheering, Great & Little Hallingbury and Hatfield Broad Oak.
   • Persons residing outside these areas may, subject to the approval of the Committee, enjoy the privilege of membership (with the exception of voting rights and the right to retain the society’s trophies ) by purchasing and Associate Membership card.
   • That all members shall hold a current and valid Environment Agency Rod Licence.
2. Waters other than the Club Lake designated as “Day Ticket Waters” may be fished by non-members on purchase of a day Ticket and that the Byelaws of the Society are strictly observed. The price to be determined at the AGM.
3. Membership cards and Day Tickets must be shown on demand to Bailiffs, Officers and Members of the Society.
4. Annual subscription shall be as agreed at the AGM and be printed on the current membership cards.
5. With the ever increasing and varing uses of the towpaths, memebers are requested to act at all times in a courteous manner with other users and not to act in a manner liable to bring the Society into disrepute.
6. Banks and Towpaths are to be kept free of litter. No fires are to be lit or damge done to banks, towpaths and adjacent meadows etc. Gates are to be kept closed. Any meneber contravening this rule may be liable to sanctions or even prosecution.
7. No fish are to be taken away. No live fish are to be used as bait and no fish are to be kept in a keepnet for more than four hours except in designated club matches.
8. In any competition the following rules shall apply:-
   • Only one rod or pole, one line and one hook to be in use at any one time with the exception of mutli-hook tackle in use for the specific purpose of angling for pike.
   • Only barbless or microbarb hooks are allowed.
   • No dead fish shall be weighed in.
   • No pike, Sicklebacks or Game fish are to be weighed in.
   • Senior Citizens, Ladies and Juniors may request and recieve assitance in landing fish.
   • Individuals competing shall present their own catch for weighing-in and under no circumstances shall more than one competitor’s catch be placed in any one keepent.
   • Scales are to be taken to fish.
   • The surface of the water shall not be broken until the designated time of commencement (the whistle). Plummets, keepnets and the taking of water distance, but at no time must the line be left in the water whilst setting up for groundbait are exempt. A ledger weight may be cast to find depth & other tackle.
   • No bait shall be introduced with a pole cup or bait dropper attached to an extra rod or pole whilst continuing to fish.
   • No bloodworm or joker shall be used as bait or introduced into the society’s waters and no artificial ( Plastic ) baits used.
   • In all competitions other than those designated as “Open” only Members & Associate shall compete. Junior Members may fish in Senior matches.
   • In away matches the rules of the host fishery shall over-rule the byelaws of the Society.
9. The following additional rules shall apply to the Society’s Lake :-
   • Only Members and Associate Memebers shall be eligible to fish the Lakes. Maximum two rods per angler. Junior members shall only be allowed to fish if accompanied by a senior or Associate member who shall be responsible for such junior.
   • No night fishing. Fishing is allowed between sunrise and sunset but not earier than 6.00am and no later than 10.00pm.
   • No bait boats, drones or loose fed boilies are allowed.
   • Boilies as hook baits are allowed with a maximum of 10 freebies either using a string or PVA net or bag.
   • Members targetting Carp must carry an unhooking mat at all times and all members are urged to use Klinik on captured fish.
   • With the exception of matches arranged by the Society no Carp or Tench shall be held in keepnets. Nets must not be used during low oxygen levels. Always check the Notice boards.
   • In competitions a two net rule applies. One net for Carp and another for all other fish. All nets must be “Carp safe” or carry the “Lilly” logo. Nets must not exceed 70lbs of fish and if necessary further nets must be used.