By-laws of the Boxmoor & District Angling Society Ltd

 1.   A card will be supplied to each member as a permit to fish and/or visit the Society’s waters and MUST be produced on demand.  It is not transferable.  Wives will be deemed honorary members and member’s children (under 16 years) may also fish the waters but only in the same swim as the member.  Non-members are not permitted on Society property.

 2.   Members shall be entitled to purchase one guest permit per day.  Guest permits are available from local tackle shops on production of a membership card.  Hours of fishing for guests will be between sunrise and sunset.  Guests are not permitted on the waters during the hours of darkness.

3.   Night fishing is available only to members holding a senior ticket, which is available from 16 years of age and a night fishing permit.  Junior Associates may not be on the waters at night nor fish at night unless accompanied by a parent or grandparent, who is a senior member, and must fish the same swim and hold a night fishing permit.  The maximum number of rods allowed in any swim is three.  Annual night fishing permits will be issued by the membership secretary at joining or renewal, at a price determined from time to time by the committee.  Occasional night permits are available from local tackle shops on production of your membership card.  Night permits are required between one hour after sunset and one hour before dawn or as indicated on the notice boards.

4.    Members must complete at least one official working party each year, unless exempted, by age or infirmity.

5.   If a bailiff asks a member or junior associate to leave the water for breaches of the rules of the club or angling etiquette then the member’s card and key will be retained by the bailiff, returned to the secretary, and will only be returned to the member concerned after a disciplinary meeting has been held according to Company rules.

6.   To qualify for trophies fish shall be weighed in the presence of two witnesses.  Applications for trophies are to be submitted to the secretary with witness’s names prior to March 1st each year.  Weighing scales to be produced upon request.  Claim forms are available from the secretary, bailiffs, on the club website at www.bdas.org and published once a year in the newsletter.

7.   Competitions will be subject to individual rules, determined by the match secretary, set out on the day of the competition and in compliance with Society bylaws.

8.   Hours of fishing will be determined by the committee and advised to members.

9.   Pike fishing will commence on 1st September each year until March 1st following, unless advised.

10.  The use of livebaits, under 6 inches in length, is permitted on all BDAS waters.  Livebaits must be caught on the day and at the water where they are to be used.

11.   No fish are to be introduced to or removed from Society waters without the approval of the water manager and the relevant EA approvals.

12.   The total amount of bait allowed per session is 1.5 kilos, to include all loose feed, hook baits and ground bait.  A session is deemed to be twelve hours.  Nuts or pulses, of any type, are not to be used as bait in any form.  Bait leftovers are not to be deposited in Society waters or on the banks.  Left over bait must be taken home at the end of the session.  (The amounts stated here are subject to change.  Please see the notice boards at individual waters for details)

13.   Boilies and pellets of 10 mm diameter or more may only be introduced on hooks/hairs, stringers or in PVA bags.

14.   Members shall not reserve a swim.  Tackle may be left, unattended, in a swim for a maximum of one hour in any twenty-four.  After that period it may be removed by any member.  Any damage to tackle so removed will be at the owner’s risk. Any loss of tackle will be at the owner’s risk.

15.   Fishing from boats is not allowed on Society waters, tackle should not be cast beyond half the width of the water.  No bait boats are allowed on BDAS waters.

16.      Lead core is banned from all BDAS waters

17.   Fixed lead bolt rigs are not permitted.

18.   Permanent bent hooks are not permitted. Any Official, Bailiff or Officer of the Society, on production of identity, may inspect any rig, bait or other equipment, including vehicles, brought onto Society waters by any member or guest.

19.   No fishing within 10 feet (3 metres) of the aeration upstands at Westbrook Mere.

20.   Keepnets, minimum size 250 cm long X 45 cm diameter, are allowed on all BDAS waters, throughout the year, with the following exceptions;

21.   No carp, pike or barbel are to be retained in keepnets.  Suitable sacks and tubes are to be used for these species but must only be used for the retention of fish for witnessing and weighing and in the case of pike and barbel also for a recovery period before release.

22.    Fish retained in keep nets, sacks or tubes are to be returned to the water with every care.

23.   Anglers must be in possession of an unhooking mat at all times when fishing.

24.   Only two rods shall be used for fishing at any one time, unless between 1^st October and 31^st March following when in possession of the relevant club permit for a third rod and a second EA rod licence.

25.   Baited rods must not be left unattended.  Baits must be removed from the water and the hook prior to your leaving your swim for any reason.

26.   A current EA licence is required to fish our waters and all relevant EA bylaws will be observed on Society waters.

27.   Litter is not to be left on Society premises.  All litter found adjacent to a swim will be deemed to belong to the member fishing that swim.   LEAVE LITTER – LEAVE THE CLUB

28.   No member of the Society is to remove, trim, lop, cut down, prune, pollard or in any way modify growing bankside plants, with the exception of the need to clear annual growth in acknowledged swims, unless instructed to do so by a member of the water management team or a member acting under their direction.

29.   Fires shall not be lit on Society property except by the direction of a water management sub-committee member or a member acting under their direction.

30.   Dogs (except official guide dogs and bailiff’s guard dogs) are not permitted on Society waters.

31.   Conventional sized fishing Bivvies, brollies, tents and other temporary shelters, with or without fixed groundsheets, may be used on Society waters throughout the year but individually or in conjunction with rods or other equipment, must not obstruct any access path around or near the waters.  Swims 20,21, 28, 30, 31 and 32 at Westbrook Mere are designated NON BIVVY swims. This means no bivvy, tent, brolly or other shelter is to be erected for the purpose of fishing overnight. An umbrella may be used during the day if conditions require it but this must not impede passage along bankside paths.

32.   Glass containers may be not taken on Society waters.

33.   Portable radios are permitted only if fitted and used with earpieces.  They must be turned off if another angler complains to you.  Portable TVs are not permitted.

34.   Permanent lights are not permitted.  Please limit your use of torches and headlights.

35.   All gates must be kept locked at all times, other than when entering or leaving Society premises.  Keys are not to be copied.

36.   Cars must not block access ways to Society waters, car parks or adjacent properties.

37.   Contravention of the Society’s rules or bylaws shall be dealt with by the Committee and penalties applied.  Ultimately rule breaking may lead to expulsion.

38.   Members paying their subscriptions are deemed to have accepted these bylaws and the Company rules.

 Revised : May 2004