Mytchett Lake Fishing Association

1. That the club shall be called "The Mytchett Lake Fishing Association" and its objects shall be:

    a) Generally to provide facilities for Local and Military anglers.

    b) To rent and manage association waters.

    c) Promote fair angling and a spirit of sportsmanship.

    d) Arrange for fishing in other waters against other clubs and in competitions etc.

   2. The associations business shall be conducted by an Executive Committee comprising Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Match Captain. Four members may form a Quorum. The President shall be an ex-officio member of the committee. Three Trustees shall represent the Association insofar as such Trustee's duties are required, and shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Association against any risk and expense incurred by them in pursuit of their office. The Committee shall have the power to act on behalf of the Association and their decisions shall be final unless reversed by a decision of a meeting as in Paragraph 6 or 7.

   3. All Officials shall retire annually but are eligible for re-election.

   4. The Committee shall meet regularly to discuss matters to the benefit of the Association.

   5. Any Vice-President, Life Member or officially appointed Water Bailiff May attend any meeting of the Committee but shall have no power to vote.

   6. The Associations financial year shall end in 31st of March annually and the Annual General Meeting shall be held around the first week of May. All members to be notified in time to allow for the submission of any business to be put on the Agenda. Any member having business to be brought before the Annual General Meeting shall submit any proposal - properly seconded - in writing at least seven days prior to such A.GM. And both proposer and seconded must attend to explain their proposal unless prevented by sickness when they must submit such explanation in writing. At any A.G.M, twelve members shall be a Quorum and all propositions will be decided on a simple majority of those present and voting. In the case of equal vote the Chairman shall have an extra and casting vote.

   7. A Special General Meeting may be held at any time that the Committee shall decide. The Committee shall call a Special General Meeting upon requisition in writing of any Thirty senior members for a purpose stated in such a requisition. Any such meeting shall be called within one month of receipt of the requisition and every effort made to notify all members in writing.

   8. At any Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting only members in possession of the previous year's permit, and who are over the age of 16, have the right to vote.

   9. The Association shall be dissolved by a majority of 75% of Adult members voting after a postal referendum has been circulated to all members explaining the reason for the proposed dissolution.

  10. In the event of the Association being dissolved, all assets shall be shared equally among all paid up members based on their proven length of membership of the Association after all the Associations obligations have been met.

11. a) Membership shall be at the discretion of the Committee, who may refuse any application without stating a reason.

      b) Any applicant becoming a member shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by rules and By-laws of the Association.

      c) The Association shall have the power to accept temporary members on such terms as may be determined by the Committee.

      d) The Committee shall expel or refuse to renew the membership of any member whose conduct tends in their opinion to be injurious to the interests of the Association, its objects, its members, or angling. Before taking such action they shall enquirer fully into said members conduct, and the member given the opportunity to defend and justify the said conduct, either in writing or in person before the Committee. Any decision by the Committee shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting.

      e) An expelled member shall forfeit all rights and privileges of membership but shall remain liable for any dues or debts to the Association which became payable or were incurred before the date of expulsion.

      f) From 16th June 2019, the Committee has implemented a 72hrs on / 72hrs off rule. This will be monitored and enforced by the bailiffs.

      g) Every member on the lake is responsible for themselves, their family members, friends & pets whilst fishing; disturbances will not be tolerated.

12. Any existing member May after fifteen years consecutive membership and upon reaching the age of 65 years, continue as a member free of payment of the Annual subscription.

14. The close season will be strictly observed - 15th March to 15th June.

15. Members may fish THREE rods at one time in the Association's waters provided they hold a current EA license of the appropriate category and, in doing so, must not interfere with, or restrict, the pleasure of any other angler.

Note: Any Marker Floats must not be placed so that they restrict other anglers and must be removed at the end of each session.

16. Fishing is with rod and line only. All nets to conform to current EA standards.

   Landing nets: To be of a suitable size ( see Carp & Pike rules) and undamaged.

   Keepnets: To be of a suitable size and undamaged.

   Floating Retainers: To be of a suitable size and any fish must be released if requested by a bailiff.

   Keepsacks: Not allowed under any circumstances.

17. Micro and barbless hooks only to be used on club waters. The exception to this being Pike fishing where semi-barbless trebles and snap tackles may be used. 

18. The playing of radios or any other musical appliance is prohibited.

19. Alcohol and non-prescribe drugs are not permitted for any member whilst at Mytchett Lake.

20. In the interests of the fish life and as required by the lease, all members are required to return all fish to the water with as little harm and delay as possible. Exceptions to the foregoing are the retention of 6-fish (Max.) caught on the day from the lake for use as livebait.

21.In the interest of the Association all members are required to avoid any action whatsoever that could cause offence to riparian owners, the general public or fellow members, and particularly to avoid leaving litter of any description.

  Parking Members using vehicles must make every effort to avoid causing an obstruction by not parking in front of the barrier, or along the track.

      NO FIRES or BARBECUES TO BE LIT AT ANY TIME.

  Wildlife Any member found disturbing or injuring the wildlife on or around the lake is liable to be explled from the Association and face possible prosecution.

  Visitors Any member who has visitors in & around their swims whilst fishing is responsible for their conduct at all times.

  Dogs All dogs must be kept under control at all times and ideally on a lead.

22. Boat permits are available at an additional cost to all members of age 18 and over and all users reminded of the following:

   a) For security reasons, no boat or angler is to be within 25m of the Keogh Barracks banks.

   b) The wearing of lifejackets is mandatory while out on the Association waters.

        MLFA accept no responsibilty for anglers failing to comply with this rule.

   c) No fuel powered motors to be fitted to boats.

22. a) The Commanding Officer of Keogh Barracks reserves the right to close all or part of the lake for Military use.

      b) No liability can be accepted by the Commanding Officer of Keogh Barracks, MOD - Defence Estates or Mytchett Lake Fishing Association for any Accident.

23. That on match days the lake will be CLOSED for pleasure fishing 3-hrs prior to the start of an Official match.

24. No member may leave unattended tackle in a swim if he or she is not actually fishing..

25. Members must be in posession of their Current Permits and Rod Licence(s) when fishing Association waters.

26. The organising and rules appertaining to all matches will be the responsibility of the Match Committe.

27. All persons fishing to remove all litter from their swims before & after fishing. Failure to comply will result in suspension / expulsion at the Committe's discretion.

28. All excess bits to be taken away at the end of a session and not discharged into the lake or surrounding area.

29. As a condition of membership, all adult mermbers (excluding senior citizens and disabled anglers) MUST attend at least one working party session per season. Failure to do so will result in additional charges being imposed at the time of permit renewal.

30. The land surrounding the lake is subject to Aldershot Military Bylaws and these will be enforced by non-Association personnel.

31. Due to security concerns, junior members are not permitted to night fish Mytchett Lake unless accompanied by an adult member.

Notes

1. A maximum of 2xjuniors per adult member.

2. No junior, even if accompanied by an adult member may night fish 'The Box' (Swim 25/26).

1. Anglers fishing for Pike should use a minimum of 12lbs breaking strain line, except when lure fishing where a minimum breaking strain of 8lbs can be used.
2. A wire trace with a minimum breaking strain of 20lbs shall be used at all times. A minimum length of 18 inches should be used when dead baiting, and a minimum of 12 inches when lure fishing or spinning.
3. No rig consisting of more than two treble hooks shall be used.
4. All treble hooks are to be barbless or semi barbed, a semi barbed treble has only one barbed hook designed for holding a dead bait, the other two hooks are barbless.
5. No rig consisting of more than two single hooks shall be used.
6. All single hooks to be barbless or micro barbed.
7. All treble hook on lures are to be barbless, micro barbed or have barbs crushed.
8. Anglers  must be in possession of a suitably sized unhooking mat, a landing net of at least 42 inches, and unhooking pliers or forceps of at least 12 inches in length.
9. All pike must be weighed in a suitable sling and immediately returned to the water in the sling.
10. a maximum of 6 fish may be taken from the lake on the day for the purpose of live baiting only, these are to be only Roach, Rudd or Perch and must not be more than 4in in length.
11. Live bait should only be lip hooked using barbless or micro barbed hooks.

                                         IF IN DOUBT ASK A BAILIFF

1. Anglers fishing for Carp should use a minimum of 12lbs breaking strain line.
2. No fixed lead rigs are to be used, only quick release clip, drop off line, or running lead rigs are permitted.
3. All hooks are to be barbless or micro barbed.
4. Anglers must be in possession of a suitably sized unhooking mat, and a landing net of at least 42 inches.
5. All carp must be weighed in a suitable sling and returned to the water using the sling.
6. A floating retainer maybe used to retain fish for up to 1-hour after capture to enable safe recuperation and handling of fish before returnin. Any fish must be released if requested by a bailiff.
7. No sacking of fish at any time - See General Fishery Rule 16.

                                      IF IN DOUBT ASK A BAILIFF

1. All competitions to be arranged by the Match Captain.
2. Matches in club waters to be fished by MLFA members only, unless agreed by the Match Captain.
3. The draw for all matches will be 30 minutes before the start of the match.
4. The water may only be broken to plumb the depth, to place a keepnet and mix ground bait before the start of the match.
5. One rod, line and hook to be used at any one time.
6. Hooks are to be micro-barb and preferably barbless.
7. The only exception being Pike matches where two rods, semi-barbless trebles and snap tackles may be used.
8. Competitors must play and land their own fish.
9. All fish caught are weighable, no PIKE method fishing will be allowed except in PIKE matches.
10. No roving.
11. All tackle to be removed from the water at the final whistle. Fish being played at the time may be landed within 15 minutes.
12. Each competitors catch to be weighed at their own peg or under arrangements made in the day.
13. Each competitors catch to be recorded.
14. All protests to be made within 30 minutes of the weigh-in.
15. Landing nets must be of a suitable size and undamaged.
16. No live bait to be transferred in from other waters.
17. The Match Captain's decision is final.