CANTERBURY & DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION BYELAWS
1. Fishing Seasons
Game fishing:
Migratory Trout and Salmon – 1st May to 29th October.
Brown Trout – 3rd April to 31st October.
Rainbow Trout - All year
Coarse fishing: Littlebourne, Minster, Stonar and Grove Lakes, all year fishing.
Pike – Lakes and River, 1st October to 14th March.
Fordwich Lakes, 8pm 15th June to 8pm 14th March.
River, 16th June to 14th March.
All dates are inclusive.
2. Limitations
No fish are to be removed from or introduced to Association waters or moved between without the prior consent of the Committee. To do so is an offence and will result in loss of membership.
3. Waters
a) a) Waters reserved for the exclusive use of the Fly Fishing Section: River Stour, White Mill Pool to Fordwich Bridge and Black Mill Pool to Fordwich Bridge. Subject also to Fly Section byelaws.
b) Waters reserved for general fly fishing for Association members and which may only be fished with an artificial fly from 3rd April to 30th June inclusive: River Stour downstream from Fordwich Bridge, north bank until Fordwich Lake car park, then both banks to the site of the Bailey bridge. This section is also open for coarse fishing from 1st July to the 14th March following. Members may also fish for salmonoids with artificial fly from the 3rd April to 31st October, both banks River Stour downstream from site of the Bailey bridge to Plucks Gutter.
Limitation: Trout - 2 daily, 6 per weekc) The Trout Pool is stocked with Trout and fishing is by artificial fly only. Fishing is available to all members by purchasing in advance a permit, the price of such permit to be fixed by the Committee. Byelaws governing the water are available on request from Headquarters and issued with each permit.
Limitation – The number of trout that can be taken is shown on the ticket.
Waters available for coarse fishing: River Stour downstream from Fordwich Bridge, north bank until Fordwich Lake car park, then both banks to the site of the old Bailey bridge (see note in byelaw 3b above). River Stour, both banks, from the site of the Bailey bridge downstream to Plucks Gutter. Little Stour, north bank between Blue Bridge and Plucks Gutter. Fordwich Lake. Trenley Lake. Stour Lake. Stonar Lake. Minster Lakes (Jade and Brook Lakes). Littlebourne Lakes (Birch, Pump House and Bramble Lakes) and Grove Lake. Fishing in Fordwich Lake is restricted to ordinary members only.
4. Visiting groups and clubs.
Visitor tickets are available to outside groups or clubs wishing to fish matches on the River Stour. Such visitors can only fish designated sections of water and cannot displace members fishing when they arrive. Pre-booking only with deposit through Headquarters.
Guest Tickets.
Adult members can purchase up to 4 Guest Tickets per season, not more than 2 per day, at a cost of £8 per adult and £4 per junior under 10 years free. The member must purchase these 7 days in advance. Guests must live outside the local postal code area (CT1-CT21 incl. ME13 and TN25), fish next to the member who will be responsible for the guest conforming to the bye –laws.
Guest tickets are not available for Fordwich Lake or the Fly Section.
Guest tickets are available for the trout pool on payment of the additional fee.
5. Competitions are arranged at the discretion of the Committee.
6. Only specifically designed green angler’s bivvies may be used. No tents may be erected on any of the Fisheries.
7. No fires are allowed on any Fisheries.
8. Carp fishing
a) All carp must be returned to the water as soon as possible after weighing and witnessing and may only be retained in a carp sack for these purposes for a maximum period of thirty minutes. No keepnets are to be used for carp in any circumstances.
b) Bent hook rigs are not permitted.
Care of fish.
a) Only knotless keep nets and knotless landing nets may be used for fishing on Association waters. Keepnets must be a minimum of 3m in length and a minimum of 45cm x 35cm in cross section if rectangular, or a minimum of 45cm in diameter if circular. Only keepnets with “fish safe bottom” sections are acceptable.
b) All nets whether keepnets (where allowed), sacks, landing nets or unhooking mats must be dry before using on any CDAA fishery.
c) Unhooking mats must be visible on the bank ready to use , these mats must be specialist unhooking mats of a suitable size and must be used when any fish is held out of the water.
d) Landing nets must be used to assist the landing of fish over 6”/150mm.
e) Any method of fishing that is likely to damage or endanger the fish is unacceptable. (Warnings will be given by bailiffs who will advise on unacceptable tackle).
10. Retention of fish:
a) Fish with the exception of those listed in 10b below may only be kept in keepnets for a maximum of 12 hours
b) Carp, pike, barbel and grayling must not be retained in keep nets.
11. Pike Fishing Tackle:
a) Suitable tackle for pike Rod minimum 2lb test curve, line minimum15lbs BS, trace minimum 18” length and minimum 20lbs BS. (traces should be inspected for damage) Treble hooks, barbless or partially de-barbed maximum size 4.
b) Suitable size landing net 35” across the arms (triangular), 20” diameter (circular), large and small artery forceps and wire cutters.
c) Audio/visual bite detection capable of showing runs or drop back bites immediately the pike picks up the bait.
d) Live baits not more than 6” in length may me used, lip hooked using one hook only. Live bait must be caught from the water in which they are to be used and must be returned at the end of the days fishing having been retained for no more than 12 hours.
k) Night fishing for pike on the river is not permitted.
e) A large weigh sling must be used when weighing pike.
12. The Committee reserves the right to close sections of the river or lakes to members.
13. It is the responsibility of members to see that there is no litter in the swim in which they are fishing. Members found with litter in their swim are liable to have their membership withdrawn.
14. Audio/visual equipment must not be played to the disturbance of others.
15. Vehicle access.
Vehicles must be left in designated car parks with stickers displayed.
Members using Association car parks do so at their own risk.
Bicycles must not be ridden on any part of the Fordwich Lake complex.
Vehicles must not exceed 5mph on access roads.
16. Access to the Lakes/River on the south bank at Fordwich is via Fordwich Lake car park only.
17. All firearms, weapons or instruments used for discharging missiles with the exception of bait throwers and catapults are prohibited on all Association Waters unless authorised by the Committee. Boilee launchers using compression and bait boats are forbidden.
18. Fishery restrictions:
Fishing is allowed only at the numbered swims between the boats on the north bank at Grove Ferry and adjacent to “Riverscroft” on the south bank and only from 1st October to 14th March.
b) Junior members must be under the supervision of an adult member (a person over 18 years old), when fishing at night. The person supervising must be in the same or adjacent swim. Student members age 16 or over may night fish on their own. The hours to determine night fishing are sunset to sunrise.
Juniors are restricted to the use of 2 rods.
c) Members may not occupy swims on Association Waters more than 5 hours before the start of the season, with the exception of members who have attended at least four working parties during the preceding close season, who may move into swims 12 hours before the commencement of the season.
d) Boat moorings. Members must not fish from or over moored boats nor must they move boats nor interfere with mooring lines other than with their own boats
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO BYELAWS COVERING C&DAA LAKES
The following are for easy reference for members for specific waters. General by laws apply to all.
LITTLEBOURNE
Bye-Law
PUMPHOUSE, BIRCH, BRAMBLE
8b Bent hook rigs are not permitted
9d Landing nets must be used to assist the landing of fish over 6”/150mm.
10d Keepnets are not allowed. All fish must be returned to the water as soon after capture as possible.
14a Vehicles must be left in recognised car parks or designated areas around Pump House Lake with sticker displayed.
18d No boilies, nuts, pop ups trout pellets or halibut pellets to be used. Including soft and hard pellets for bait or loose feeding
18e Ground bait is only allowed in a feeder or “potting–in” via a pole cup
18f Barbless or flattened barb hooks only to be used.
18k Anglers are restricted to a maximum of 48 hours continuous fishing in any 72 hour period.
18 l Only 2 rods can be used.
18q Tackle used when fishing the lakes must be lightweight and well balanced outfits – no heavy rods or line that allow the fish to be dragged to the bank. The bailiff will advise on acceptable tackle
PUMPHOUSE LAKE
18g Maximum ledger weight of ½oz.
BRAMBLE LAKE
18h Float fishing only. NO NIGHT FISHING, night defined as one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
18i The lake is closed for fishing between daybreak and 3pm on Sundays.
MINSTER
8b Bent hook rigs are not permitted
9d Landing nets must be used to assist the landing of fish over 6”/150mm.
10d Keepnets are not allowed, all fish must be returned to the water as soon after capture as possible.
18d No boilies, nuts, pop ups trout or halibut pellets may be used. Including soft and hard pellets for bait or for loose feeding
18e Groundbait is only allowed in a feeder or ”potting in” via a pole cup.
18f Barbless or flattened barb hooks only to be used.
18g Maximum ledger weight of ½oz.
18k Anglers are restricted to a maximum of 48 hours continuous fishing in any 72 hour period.
18 l Only 2 rods can be used.
18q Tackle used when fishing the lakes must be lightweight and well balanced outfits – no heavy rods or line that allow the fish to be dragged to the bank.
STOUR & TRENLEY
8b Bent hook rigs are not permitted
18c Carp fishing is only permitted from indicated swims from 15th August to 14th March the following year.
18d No boilies, nuts, pop ups trout pellets or halibut pellets may be used. Including soft and hard pellets for bait or for loose feeding.
18l For coarse fishing a maximum of 2 rods may be used providing they are both within arms- reach of the angler. Unattended rods must be withdrawn from the water. A third rod is allowed for an additional charge of 50% of the full membership rate.. A marker rod counts as one of the rods being used.
FORDWICH
8b Bent hook rigs are not permitted
18d No trout or halibut pellets may be used. Including soft and hard pellets for bait or for loose feeding.
18J Anglers are restricted to a maximum of 7 days fishing in any 10 days.
18l For coarse fishing a maximum of 2 rods may be used providing they are both within arms reach of the angler. Unattended rods must be withdrawn from the water. A third rod is allowed for an additional charge of 50% of the full membership rate. A marker rod counts as one of the rods being used.
STONAR
8b Bent hook rigs are not permitted.
10a Vehicles must be left in the recognised car park or designated areas with sticker displayed.
18d No trout or halibut pellets may be used; including soft and hard pellets for bait or for loose feeding.
18l For coarse fishing a maximum of 2 rods may be used providing they are both within arms reach of the angler. Unattended rods must be withdrawn from the water. A third rod ism allowed for an additional charge of 50% of the full membership rate. A marker rod counts as one of the rods being used.
GROVE
8b Bent hook rigs not permitted
9d Landing nets must be used to assist the landing of fish over 6”/150mm.
10d Keepnets are not allowed, all fish must be returned to the water as soon after capture as possible
18d No boilies, nuts, pop ups trout pellets or halibut pellets may be used; including soft and hard pellets for bait or for loose feeding.
18e Groundbait is only allowed using a ”potting in” via a pole cup.
18f Barbless hooks only to be used.
18 l Only 2 rods can be used.
18q Tackle used when fishing the lakes must be lightweight and well balanced outfits – no heavy rods or line that allow the fish to be dragged to the bank. The bailiff will advise on acceptable tackle
19a All members must hold a verbally confirmed booking before visiting the lake
19b The Central Access Road can only be used - this is indicated on the map.
19c Cars must be parked in the two designated areas.
19d The toilet supplied must be used and kept in an acceptable condition.
19e If a member decides that they will not take up their booking they must let the office know, thus allowing other members to fish that day.
19f Fishing is only permitted from the indicated swims.
19g Anglers may only access or fish the lake between dawn and dusk NIGHT FISHING IS NOT PERMITTED.
19j Only float fishing is permitted.
