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. O.A.P’s with five consecutive year’s membership shall be granted Association membership free on application to the treasurer.

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) No fishing for Trout until 1st April.

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.

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SHERBORNE CASTLE  LAKE RULES

1 Members must NOT enter the castle grounds BEFORE 6am. Anglers can only fish the ‘END OF WOOD TO END OF LAKE’ area. Other areas cannot be approached until 8am. Members must leave the grounds within half an hour of sunset.

2 See back of licence for parking arrangements. Cars and all other means of transport must be left at the bottom end of the car park. They will be parked with their radiators facing the centre road with the CAR DISC CLEARLY DISPLAYED.

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

4 Members will receive a new car disc each year with their licence. This is to be displayed on the dashboard of the car.

5 Particle baits, e.g. nuts may not be used with the exception of sweet corn (not in tins), hemp seed, tares and boilies.

6 Pike fishing is allowed, either spinning or dead baits, coarse fish or Trout will not be used as bait.

7 Pike anglers must use unhooking mats on the platforms.

8 When fishing for Pike semi barbless hooks, minimum of 10lb breaking strain line, minimum of 30inch landing nets. No gags allowed.

9 All Pike to be returned to the lake.

10 Members will not take families or dogs when fishing. One non-fishing guest may be taken when fishing area ‘END OF WOOD TO END OF LAKE’. Member and guest will not walk about. Juniors must be accompanied by an adult member and must fish in the adjacent swim.

11 Adult members are allowed to take 2 guests only per duration of this licence.

12 Members will not leave their tackle and walk about.

13 Members will leave their swims clean and tidy.

14 Not more than two rods may be used at any one time.

15 Swims may not be reserved.

16 The fishing area is shown on the map at the rear of this licence.

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

18 The ‘EAST LAWN’ to the right of the house is STRICTLY OUT OF BOUNDS.

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

20 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.

21 ANY MEMBERS FORFEITING THEIR MEMBERSHIP WILL BE BANNED FOR THREE YEARS.

22 Fishing from permanent pegs only, but from 1st November to the end of the season, the non-pegged section from ‘RALEIGH’S GATE’ to ‘THE WATERFALL’ may be fished. No fresh swims will be cut by anglers in any area.

23 No fish in spawn to be put in keepnets. See rule 26.

24 Pike season from 1st October to the 14th March.

25 Three rods may be used from the same peg providing the necessary EA licence is held. Between 1st October and the 14th March only.

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

27 The use of keepnets may be suspended at the committee’s recommendation.

28 Shallows not to be fished when in flood.

29 No publicity on any Association waters without prior Committee consent.

IMPORTANT NOTES

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

· Strictly no tackle to be dropped off at swims.

· 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

· Guest tickets cost £6.00 and are available from Yeovil District Angling Centre. The licence must be signed on the back cover by the tackle shop. Guest tickets and licences can be validated and paid for at the tackle shop prior to the day of fishing. MEMBERS MUST FISH ON THE ADJACENT PEG TO THEIR GUEST. Guest tickets are only available between 16th June and 14th March