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1. The starting and finishing times for the match must be prominently displayed at match headquarters and on all literature relating to the match.
2. The match must be a pegged down competition. All pegs used under normal conditions must be of a state to give competitors a practicable and reasonable chance to fish his or her swim.
3. All officials participating in the organisation of the match must wear some kind of insignia, ie an armband, as clear evidence of their authority.
4. Each competitor on drawing his/her number shall proceed to the corresponding number on the bank and this will be considered his/her fishing ground where he/she will fish. The peg must remain in position until the weigh-in is completed.
5. Every competitor must fish from within one metre either side of his/her designated peg. On still water, he/she may fish as far as half the distance between his/her peg and the pegs on either side. If the swim to either side is empty he/she may fish to the peg but no further. Where competitors are drawn on opposite banks, the limit of the swim is the line midway between each bank.
The competitor will restrict their activities completely to these boundaries; neither his/her person, his/her tackle, his/her hookbaits nor groundbaits may intrude into his/her neighbours swim.
In an extreme situation eg snagged tackle of a snagged fish, an angler must seek permission from his/her neighbour/s before moving from his/her designated peg to try and remedy the situation.
A competitor must not cause annoyance to, or seek to interfere with another competitor or use mobile phones during the course of the competition.
6. No competitor may move his/her peg or exchange his/her peg or draw card with another without the organiser’s official consent.
7. No competitor shall buy more than one entry ticket for himself/herself from which it follows that all competitors must be strictly restricted to one draw.
8. Competitors must retain all fish in relevant keep nets (i.e. all fish under 4lb in one net and any fish being between 4lb and 10lb in another to a maximum of 100lb any fish deemed above 10lb should be weighed by an official then returned unharmed to the water.) that comply with the relevant EA Byelaws. Competitors must take every practicable step to keep their fish alive and, after weighing them, must ensure their careful return to the water. If, for any reason fish are seen to be in distress, a competitor or match official has the right to demand that they be weighed immediately and returned to the water during the course of the match.
9. A competitor shall have in use one rod or pole, one line and one single barbless hook at one time, but may have other rods or poles and tackle assembled for use in position behind him/her, if possible, providing that no such other tackles are baited. Unless otherwise stated in match program
10. Any bait, subject to local rules, can be used except live or dead fish, frogs spinning baits, artificial lures or any artificial bait.
11. No competitor shall have live or dead fish in his/her possession before a match. All competitors must submit to a search if requested by a contest official.
12. Before the starting signal no competitor must on any account groundbait or loose feed the swim but will be allowed to wet a line, plumb the depth and test the float, mix and wt groundbait, clear his/her ground of weed or obstructions and position his/her equipment. On no account must a feeder be used before the starting signal.
13. During the match no competitor may loose feed floating baits into his or her swim, the only floating bait allowed is hook bait.
14. Competitors may receive assistance to or from their peg, or both, for themselves or their tackle, or both. With the exception of disabled anglers who can have as much help that is required before during and after the match.
15. A competitor must strike, play and land his own fish. Unless he/she is disabled then they can have as much assistance as necessary.
16. All ground bait may be thrown in by hand, or by use of one or two handed catapults, throwing sticks, swim feeders, bait droppers and bait cups, but no other mechanical means of projecting ground bait is allowed
17. Any competitor who abandons his/her peg having decided to cease taking part in the match but who decides to continue fishing must do so outside the confines of the length being used for the match. .
18. No competitor shall leave his/her peg at any time during the course of the match other than to answer the call of nature and then he/she must not leave his/her baited hook in the water. At the end of the match, a competitor must remain at his/her peg until his/her catch has been weighed unless he/she has been detailed for weighing duties. Any competitor so detailed must have a witness to the weighing of his/her own catch.
19. A competitor must cease fishing at the finishing signal. Should he/she still be playing a fish hooked before the signal is given, he/she will be permitted no more than fifteen minutes after time has been called to land the fish.
20. All fish caught are eligible for weighing with the exception of game fish and crustaceans. It will be the responsibility of the scalesman to return all live fish to the water after weighing. Dead fish, handed to the competitor by the scalesman, must be returned after the match, to the headquarters by the competitor concerned and placed in the receptacle provided.
Any fish suspected of being weighted or any fish considered suspicious by the weighers must be laid before the match organisers and the angler’s weight be not confirmed until a ruling has been obtained.
If stewards recommended the disqualification of a competitor they will weigh his/her fish in case the ruling is not upheld.
21. All catches will be weighed to the nearest ounce.
22. Each competitor will be responsible for ensuring the correct weight of their catch is recorded by the Steward and sign the sheet to that effect. In any dispute the decision of the weighers and the organisers will be final.
23. All fish must be weighed at the competitor’s peg. Unless the bankside terrain renders impossible, no catch shall be carried more than ten yards to the scales.
24. Competitors are responsible for ensuring that their pegs are clear of litter and no competitor may have his/her catch weighed in who has litter lying on the banks of his/her swim.
25. Any objection to an angler’s conduct, for whatever reason, must be lodged in writing with a match official or weigher within one hour of the end of the match. In all cases the objector shall inform the offender of his/her intentions at the time in order that he/she may speak in his/her own defence. Should an offender after receiving such a warning leave the match scene, the objection shall be deemed to have been sustained and the match organisers must inform him/her of their findings and punishment (if any) within seven days.
26. All the foregoing rules are subject to the byelaws of the Environment Agency.
27. Any angler proved to have been in contravention of these rules would be disqualified.
proviso above liable to subject to change.
THANK YOU
Failure to abide by these rules, bailiff has the right to confiscate any of the banned baits and repossess your membership cards if rules are broken.