Club Rules
Fishing Rules – Ruxley and Laddingford
(Rules ADDITIONAL to these for Penshurst and RFA waters are shown below.)
Members MUST :
1) Abide by the Rules of the club at all times, you have agreed to do so in your membership application. The Rules of the Association apply to all people (Members and Guests) present on any ODAA water and must be strictly observed at all times.
Any person suspected or known to be in breach of any Rule will be told of which Rule is judged to have been broken and will then be asked to leave by an ODAA Officer (including a Bailiff) upon production of his or her Badge of Office. The Membership permit and key must be immediately given to the Officer or Bailiff who will report the matter to the Committee as soon as possible.
The Committee will then consider the matter and take appropriate action which may include terminating the Membership of the person judged by the Committee to have broken the Rule or Rules without refund of any monies. The decision of the Committee shall be final and not subject to appeal.
2) Have a current Environment Agency rod licence. Club Officials and Bailiffs may check rod licences.
3) Carry their membership cards when visiting our waters and keep about their person at all times not left in vehicles, without your membership card you will be asked to leave.
4) Not exceed 5mph when driving.
5) Park in designated parking areas only. Access to the Laddingford lake side is only permitted at the Committee’s or official’s discretion when ground conditions allow. Move no barriers or park anywhere that restricts access to others.
6) Use unhooking mats or cradles at all times when specimen fishing which is of adequate size and suitable to protect larger fish (fish safety always comes first and regular safety checks are carried out)
7) Use a minimum of a 42″Landing net when specimen fishing, and make sure that all nets, slings, matts and like are completely dry before using.
8) Have scales, weigh slings, cameras ready for use before removing fish from the water and please keep the fish out of the water for the most minimal time possible.
9) Return all fish to the same water as soon as possible (no sacking / retaining of fish allowed other than recovery sacks for a maximum of 30 minutes, and use of keepnets for silver fish only, keepnets to be no less than 10 feet long, 18” diameter, and positioned to ensure free flow of water / oxygen.)
10) Carry a ‘Carp Care’ kit at all times when carp fishing and use where appropriate
11) Only fish your swim and the water in front of you
12) Use a minimum of 15lb breaking strain line when specimen fishing and use a leader or rig tubing to prevent harming the fish Use Barbed or Micro barbed hooks only
13) Not use more than 3 rods on the Big Lake.
13a) Not use more than 2 rods between 1st March & 31st October, & 3 rods at all other times on The New Barge Lake.
14) Not use more than 2 rods on all other waters
15) Take all litter home and dispose of it responsibly. No litter is to be left in or around swims, all litter must be taken home. All litter in or around our swim is your responsibility even if not yours! This includes outside the gates and the verges on the roads.
16) At all times keep toilets and facilities clean after being used, please use disinfectant and toilet brushes if available.
17) Lock gates after entry and exit at all times.
The following are NOT permitted:
18) Fish removal or introduction to any water on any fishery.
19) Non-paying guests except authorised members partners / carers whom either have their own ticket or are named on yours.
20) Rods to be left unattended. No lines to be in the water unless the angler is present.
21) Fixed rigs. Rigs may be inspected by the Bailiff at any time (regular checks do take place and you will be required to reel in if required to do so)
22) Junior members are not allowed to fish the Big Lake unless in close proximity to a responsible adult member.
23) Dogs, fires, loud music, excessive alcohol, boats, drug taking, swimming, wading or any anti social or threatening behaviour at all (any member guilty of the above risks an instant ban) No bullying, racist behaviour or intimidation of others whatsoever.
24) Live baiting.
25) Use of nuts of any kind as bait or in ground bait and spod mixes (this does include Tiger nuts)
26) Use of braided mainline except when lure fishing (marker and spod set ups are fine for braid)
27) Leaving a swim vacant for more than 2 hours either on or off the premises.
28) Use of bait boats.
29) Drones or other similar intrusive / noisy devices that may annoy other members
30) Kebabs’ or any similar fishing method which involves putting buoyant materials inside bait (for example dead baits when fishing for predators.) again regular checks will be carried out.
31) No guns, firearms or other similar items allowed on any of our club waters
GUEST TICKETS AND FISHING / NON-FISHING SPOUSES:
32) Members are responsible for their guests should guest tickets be issued and that shall be at the Committee’s discretion.
33) Members are allowed a maximum of one guest ticket per session.
34) Guest tickets must be purchased before fishing online,or from the Original Cobbler (Cotmandene), or Danson Angling (Blackfen),or Fish On (Five Oak Green). Details also on website. No money will be taken on the bank so please don’t ask
35) Guests must be accompanied by their host member at all times.
36) Guests are not allowed to fish the Big Lake at Ruxley.
37) No guest tickets allowed in the month of April. (this may be extended without consultation and notice depending on the membership and demand of the lakes)
38) Guests / fishing spouses / carers, may fish with the same number of rods as the Member is permitted. Fishing spouses must prove they have the same address as the full member and provide a photograph for their card and must be accompanied by the member at all times. Non-fishing spouses/carers may not fish and must be named on the members ticket or have a ticket of their own.
Please note: No guest tickets are available until further notice.
39) Children aged 12 and under (up to 13th birthday) must fish the same swim as parents and not be left to run around, we encourage you to bring children and even give them their own ticket but they must be with you to fish or spectate. only one rod per child at any time unless they are fully competent and able to cast and land fish themselves (or with assistance to land specimen fish) ,all children must be capable of using the
equipment they are using, of course they need to learn but for example a 4 year old with a12 ft carp set up is unacceptable as is Dad with 3 children and 8 carp rods all on top of each other, all adults must be responsible, common sense must apply.
40) Junior members (age under 14) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times (who are either members or named on the Junior members ticket) Junior members are not allowed guest tickets or may allow any other person other than those named on the membership to attend the waters. Young Persons (Age 14-16) may fish from dawn to dusk without a responsible adult being present but should they wish to fish at night there must be a responsible adult (family member / carer) present at all times.
SOCIAL MEDIA
41) The ODAA Facebook and Instagram pages are there for announcements, information, capture pictures, advice and gentle banter and constructive criticism they serve the club well and keep the majority of members informed. Please use them for the reasons above. Bullying, continued bad language, threatening behaviour or anything that brings the ODAA into disrepute/makes any slanderous allegations on any other site will be considered a breach of these Rules. Constructive criticism is acceptable and helpful but must be respectful.
BAILIFF AND COMMITTEE DECISIONS
42) The Bailiff’s word on the bank is final. Please have your membership cards ready for inspection and ask for any advice or help you require.
43) Members may appeal a Bailiff’s decision by writing to the Committee.
44) ODAA reserves the right to withdraw or suspend any member at our discretion should they break any of the above rules. No refund of any monies shall be paid. All decisions made by the committee are final and are not subject to appeal. Please remember Ruxley Lakes is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest); we are answerable to the Environment Agency our landlord & English Nature.
45) Should you wish to leave your membership part way through the season no refund will be made unless there are exceptional circumstances.
46) All keys and tickets remain the property of the ODAA and if your membership is terminated should be returned in the stamped addressed envelope you will be sent. Anyone caught on the land / lakes who is not a member will be reported as trespassing.
47) The committee may without any notice close venues for the sake of the fish or land, also rules may be amended (subject to approval at the subsequent AGM) again for the sake of the stock, the members or the environment.
48) EA Byelaws: In addition to the Rules shown here, all ODAA anglers are subject to EA byelaws for the South East Region and for the avoidance of any doubt the link is shown here. The EA Byelaws are laws that govern all angling irrespective of any additional club Rules.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295631/South_East_Byelaws.pdf
49) The ODAA or any of its officials will not be held liable for loss of life, equipment or vehicle damage, theft or loss. Anything any person brings onto an ODAA water is their responsibility and at their own risk. All rubbish must be taken home, any rubbish left will lead to an instant ban as will any person leaving any gate open for any reason. The last 2 points are repeated above but are of utmost importance.
50) Under reasonable and exceptional circumstances, the ODAA Committee or Association Officials may suspend or change any Rules to suit the needs of the waters and / or the Association
Additional Penshurst AS Rules
1) If you are requested to vacate any area to allow a Penshurst Estate shooting party, you must immediately do so.
2) Family picnics or similar are prohibited and any non-fishing persons must sit in close proximity to appropriate member.
3) NO fishing after dark
4) NO dogs allowed
5) Keepnets are permitted for silver fish only
6) Persons must not walk through or fish in any woodland, thicket, or pheasant covert adjoining the river
7) Fishing all year round on The Backwater. (On the rivers the close season still applies)
8) To identify you as an angler to the keepers, always leave a beermat on the car dashboard.
Additional RFA Rules
1) Maximum two rods.
2) No livebaiting.
3) No night fishing
4) The ‘Country Code’ must be observed at all times, and in particular:
a) No gates to be left open or unfastened;
b) Livestock not to be harassed or otherwise interfered with;
c) No bait to be dug for in adjoining fields or banks;
d) No damage to be caused to any fence, hedge, noticeboard, bank or other structure;
e) No fire to be lit;
f) No dog to be brought onto RFA waters and properties;
g) No firearm, trap or other snare to be carried or used;
h) No game to be interfered with or otherwise damaged;
i) No tent, camp, ‘bivvy’ or similar structure to be pitched;
j) No vehicle to be parked on or driven onto any bank or adjoining field, or in any way which might cause an obstruction;
k) No litter or rubbish to be left;
l) No radio, tape recorder or other similar noisy appliance to be used;
m) No gaff to be used.
n) The EA Close Season applies to all RFA waters.
o) No commitment of any act which might in any way prejudice any rights held by the RFA, or which might bring disrepute upon the RFA.
Click Here to Download Rules
