Rules & Constitution

ABBREVIATED CONSTITUTION AND RULES

 

1. The association shall be known as the Yeovil and Sherborne Angling Association.

2. The purpose of the association is :-

a) To provide freshwater angling for trout and coarse fish within the local area. To obtain fishing rights where possible in local rivers and still waters and where it is not possible to obtain leases for such fishing to negotiate for rented or other permission for members to fish.

b) It shall be the purpose of the Association wherever possible to maintain existing fish stocks, or subject to the land owners consent and Environment Agency (EA) byelaws, to improve them by restocking.

3. Membership

a) Membership of the Association shall be open to members of the public and shall be secured by payment of an annual subscription.

b) The rates of subscription shall be decided at the AGM on the recommendation of the committee.

c) Membership of the Association does not confer the right to fish in Sherborne Lake, for which membership of the Lake Section is necessary.

d) All members must hold the appropriate EA Rod Licence subject to EA byelaws.

e) Life Membership maybe conferred upon members by the Annual General Meeting on recommendation by the Committee, where it is considered that a particular member has performed an exceptional service to, or on behalf of the Association. The number of life members shall not exceed 10 at any one time.

f) There shall be no restriction on members belonging to other angling bodies.

g) Junior membership to be available to those under the age of 16 years.

h) The Committee reserves the right to refuse membership.

i) Where a member is in breach of the Association Rules the matter shall be considered by the Committee who shall decide whether or not disciplinary action should be taken. The defaulting member shall be invited to attend any disciplinary hearing and may be represented. Where a member fails to appear before the Committee any decision shall be communicated to the member within 7 days of the hearing.

j) Members shall have the right to appeal to the AGM, notice of appeal to be lodged three weeks prior to the date of the AGM.

k) Any member or visitor who, whilst fishing or going to or from the river, leaves the gates open or wilfully damages growing crops or woods shall pay for the damage thereby incurred and be liable to lose their membership.

l) Members will not enter any field adjoining the river which is laid up for hay from 15 May until the grass is cut.

m) No dogs are permitted.

n) Guns are prohibited.

o) Trout Fishing from 1st April to 30th September.

p) Trout under 12 inches to be returned to the water. No more than two Trout to be retained in any one day.

q) All coarse fish to be returned to the water.

r) Bailiffs and the Committee have the right to search.

s) Members must produce licence on request by owners and their representatives.

t) NO NIGHT FISHING ON ANY ASSOCIATED WATERS.

u) The use of the OMC “Magic Twig” is Banned by the YSAA and not to be used on any Waters.

v) No fixed rigs to be used, be mindful, If the rig was to snap, what would the fish be trailing.

w) All Signal Crayfish to be Destroyed: Firstly, if you inadvertently catch one, perhaps while innocently fishing, and are a 100% confident of its identity then you can responsibly remove and dispose of it. For further info please see: https://linesonthewater.anglingtrust.net/2022/07/04/signal-crayfish-and-the-law-what-anglers-need-to-know/

x) The only Elasticated feeder allowed is the Guru X-Safe Range:

The Guru X-Safe Quick Change Elasticated stem offers anglers one of the biggest edges in modern match angling. The X-Safe is the only safe elasticated system on the market, with the whole elasticated section easily pulling through the stem so any fish lost due to a main line breakage or picking up a cracked-off rig will be able to easily lose the feeder or lead. 

Developed by top match anglers Steve Ringer and Adam Rooney the X-Safe Speed Stems allow for ultra-quick re-casts all you need to do is unclip the whole feeder or lead from the main line and attach a new ready-to-go rig.

Using this system, the Guru team have won countless matches since its release with the Speed Stems allowing anglers to have multiple feeders or leads set up and ready to recast within seconds of a fish or bringing a rig in, saving valuable minutes over the course of a match or pleasure session when speed is the key.

Also incorporated into the Quick Change version is a Speed Bead, which allows hook lengths to be changed in seconds via a small quick-change swivel which pulls back into the bead to secure it to the rig. The stems fit Gurus existing method, pellet and Hybrid feeders and the inline lead range, easily slotting into the existing holes to make an instant quick change, elasticated feeder or lead set-up. Just tie a small loop onto the main line, secure it to the stem via the streamlined crook and small tail rubber, and its ready to go.

The Long X-Safe stem is particularly effective when fishing method/Hybrid feeders at distance. The Long X-Safe stem significantly aids both distance and accuracy which is vital on big open water venues. The Long stem also contains more elastic which is crucial for avoiding hook pulls when playing big fish. 

Available in Short, Long and Mini – Heavy or Light elastic.

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SHERBORNE CASTLE  LAKE RULES

1.  Members must not enter the castle grounds before the stated entry time and must leave before the stated exit time (Entrance gates will be locked). Entry/Exit times are published on our website and should be checked prior to fishing as they are subject to change. In addition, the entry and exit times for fishing the Shallows, Lawns and Pegs 42 to 74 are also published on our website.

2.  The “EAST LAWN” and all the Main Castle Grounds that are open to visitors are STRICTLY OUT OF BOUNDS to Anglers with the exception of the 5 permanent “Lawn Pegs” and access to Pegs 42 – 74. See Map or Click on “Maps” Tab. Shallows can only be fished when closed to visitors. See website for Dates.

3. For Entry, Exit and Parking see Sherborne Lake Parking Map. Park by the cattle grid. Front of Vehicle must face the road. Vehicles must NOT cross the cattle grid.

4.  The access to all areas is by walking. CARS WILL NOT BE USED FOR TAKING TACKLE TO FISHING PEGS OR THE FAR END OF THE LAKE.

5.  Members will receive a new car disc each year with their licence. This is to be CLEARLY DISPLAYED in the windscreen. Any Angler failing to display their disc clearly could forfeit their days fishing.

6.  Members will not take families or dogs when fishing. One non-fishing guest may be taken when fishing the “End of Woods to End of Lake” area (Pegs 1-41). Member and guest will not walk about. Juniors must be accompanied by an adult member and must fish in the adjacent Peg.

7.  Members must leave their peg clean and tidy and take all litter home.

8.  Pegs may not be reserved.

9.  Parking & Fishing areas are shown on the maps. Fishing Times published on our website.

10. The use of the permit is not a pass to walk the castle grounds

11. Do Not enter Castle Grounds if you are not Fishing.

12. Anglers are not permitted to go beyond pages 1 and 74 to gain access to the other side.

13. Fishing from permanent pegs only. No fresh swims will be cut by anglers in any area.

14. The Shallows must not be fished when in flood.

15. Members are forbidden to sell fish or eels caught from Association waters.

16. Any member lending or refusing to show their permit or violating any existing Acts of Parliament for the preservation of fish or birds or any infringement of these rules, will forfeit their membership.

17. ANY MEMBER BREAKING THE RULES WILL BE BANNED FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE YEARS.

18. Particle baits, e.g. Sweet Corn, Hemp, Tares, Boilies, Pellets etc may be used. ALL NUT BAITS are BANNED.

19. All Fish to be returned to the lake.

20. No fish in spawn to be put in keepnets.

21. The Committee reserves the right to impose a keepnet restriction at their discretion. Details will be posted on our website, the lake notice board at the end of woods car park and the entrance gate to the shallows and lawns.

22. Match and pleasure anglers, please note that two keepnets, one for Bream and one for silver fish, must be used at all times.

23. A Maximum of three rods may be used for fishing from the same peg and within the confines of the swim providing the necessary EA licences are held.

24. The use of  Bait Boats is prohibited.

25. The Pike season is from 1st October to the 14th March.

26. Fishing for Pike, you can either Lure Fish or use Dead Baits. Coarse fish or Trout must not be used as bait. Strictly NO LIVE BAITS.

27. When fishing for Pike semi barbless hooks, wire traces, minimum of 12lb breaking strain line (15lb recommended), minimum of 36inch landing nets (triangular) or 30″ rubber meshed spoon. No gags allowed. For more info visit the Pike Anglers Club website (pacgb.com)

28. Pike anglers must use unhooking mats on the platforms.

29. When lure fishing for Perch, a wire trace or equivalent must be used. If Drop Shotting or using Jig Heads for Perch a single barbless hook must be used (Max size 4). The use of a wire trace or equivalent is optional but advised.

Lure size max 100 mm in length again single hook max size 4 to be used.

IMPORTANT NOTES

· The parking arrangements must be adhered to at all times.

· Strictly no tackle to be dropped off at swims.

. Anglers must not contact the estate directly with any angling/estate issues but to contact Y&SAA in the first instance.

· Any member living outside a 15 miles radius of Yeovil and Sherborne shall be deemed to be an associate member and thus cannot vote at the AGM.

· The licence must be carried at all times when fishing club waters.

.  Please see on our Website Page for the Sherborne Castle Estate Risk Assessment.

. In the Event of High Winds (40mph+) Sherborne Lake will be Closed to All Anglers. Do Not Fish that Day if High Winds are Forecast.

· Guest ticket cost and purchase details are on the Website. Guest tickets must be paid for in advance to the day of fishing. THE GUEST MUST FISH ON THE ADJACENT PEG TO THE MEMBER.

IMPORTANT NOTICES & WARNINGS

To Safe guard our fish stock and reduce the risk of transferring disease from one water to another, the most effective way of counteracting  this is to ensure all nets, weigh slings, unhooking mats, Boots and Clothing etc are completely dry before use. All anglers fishing our waters must comply with this so that we can keep the spread of disease to a minimum.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF

Blue-Green Algae.

Ticks in Grass can carry

Lyme Disease.

Fishing Banks and Water can carry Weil’s Disease.

Discarded Line Kills Wildlife and can result in fishing rights being revoked.

YSAA Matches are competitive but Friendly, open for both Experienced Match Anglers and new Anglers alike. We are proud of our Attendance and would like it to stay that way.

• Carp net limit – 60lb, over 70lb = disqualification.
• Silverfish net limit – 50lb, over 50lb = zero for that net.
• Bream to go into separate net-50lb limit, over 60lb disqualification.
• Fish are not to be moved out of the keepnet once they have gone in.
• All keepnets and landing nets to be spread out on the bank to dry if wet and not introduced to the water until 15 minutes before the start of the match.
• You can fish no further than halfway to the next angler.
• All leads and feeders must be free running, no fixed rigs, no elasticated feeders, Guru X-Safe are allowed.
• On the final whistle 10 mins to land fish
• No baits on the surface but you can pop baits up.
• No Standing while holding fish, photos to be taken with fish as near to the ground as possible.
• The match winner will not pick up the section win.
• Fish must be returned safely after weighing in, not dropped into water from height.
• Plumbing the depth and casting an empty feeder is allowed before the whistle has blown.
• Note on X-Safe:

  The Guru X-Safe Quick Change Elasticated stem offers anglers one of the biggest edges in modern match angling. The X-Safe is the only safe elasticated system on the market, with the whole elasticated section easily pulling through the stem so any fish lost due to a main line breakage or picking up a cracked-off rig will be able to easily lose the feeder or lead. 

  Developed by top match anglers Steve Ringer and Adam Rooney the X-Safe Speed Stems allow for ultra-quick re-casts all you need to do is unclip the whole feeder or lead from the main line and attach a new ready-to-go rig.

  Using this system, the Guru team have won countless matches since its release with the Speed Stems allowing anglers to have multiple feeders or leads set up and ready to recast within seconds of a fish or bringing a rig in, saving valuable minutes over the course of a match or pleasure session when speed is the key.

  Also incorporated into the Quick Change version is a Speed Bead, which allows hook lengths to be changed in seconds via a small quick-change swivel which pulls back into the bead to secure it to the rig. The stems fit Gurus existing method, pellet and Hybrid feeders and the inline lead range, easily slotting into the existing holes to make an instant quick change, elasticated feeder or lead set-up. Just tie a small loop onto the main line, secure it to the stem via the streamlined crook and small tail rubber, and its ready to go.

  The Long X-Safe stem is particularly effective when fishing method/Hybrid feeders at distance. The Long X-Safe stem significantly aids both distance and accuracy which is vital on big open water venues. The Long stem also contains more elastic which is crucial for avoiding hook pulls when playing big fish. 

  Available in Short, Long and Mini – Heavy or Light elastic.