CROWLAND ANGLING CLUB
Updated 15th June 2025.
Crowland Angling Club Constitution:
1. The
club shall be called the Crowland Angling Club.
The club shall never be dissolved so long as 10 members remain on the books,
and then only by a majority of a special meeting called for that purpose who
can decide the fate of the club. Any
funds remaining after all debts have been paid shall be divided among local
charities.
2. The
business and affairs of the club shall be conducted by a committee of
management consisting of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary / Treasurer and
up to 12 other members. At least 8
committee members shall reside within the boundary of the club headquarters.
No more than 4
members who live outside of boundary of Crowland on the committee at any
time. 5 members must be
present to form a quorum.
The committee of
management shall be elected at the AGM on the following basis:
The Chairman and
Vice Chairman shall be elected for 3 years.
Committee members
shall be elected annually to serve for 1 year, with a 6 month probation period.
If any of the above
elected fail to attend three consecutive meetings without giving good reason to
the committee then the management committee shall have the right to remove that
member from the committee. They can then
call in a member who had the next highest number of votes at the AGM to succeed
them.
3. The
financial year of the club shall terminate on March 31st each year.
Memberships will not be issued after 31st
March until renewals.
Members must have
their application to renew their membership no later than 1st of June.
The membership fees
shall be decided before the AGM.
All club tickets
and day tickets must be purchased before commencement of fishing.
Any person who
purchases a day ticket shall be deemed a member for the period of that ticket.
4.
A) The committee shall have the power to grant permission to fish in club
waters in the case of matches
organised by or under the supervision of the club.
B) Any
member wilfully disobeying any rules of the club or deemed guilty of conduct
prejudicial to the interest of the club may be suspended or expelled there from
at any meeting of the committee by a majority vote of the members present and
so deciding, providing that at least 7 days’ notice has been given to the
offender, and to every committee member, that the conduct of the member would
be discussed at such meeting.
C) The
Committee has the power to refuse membership and is not obliged to provide
reasons for such actions.
5. All
membership tickets shall be personal and not transferable. When fishing in club waters every member must
have their membership details and a current National Rod License and must
produce them both when requested.
Every member shall
be a water bailiff and has the authority of the club to demand to see the
membership and rod licence of any person fishing in club waters. If a person refuses to show either then they
must be reported to the committee and they shall take whatever action is deemed
necessary.
6. The
committee shall have the power to prosecute any person(s) caught taking fish
from the club waters in any manner other than fair angling, i.e. by rod and
line and landing net when applicable.
The following are all deemed illegal:
Bank lines, trimmers,
cross lines, shooting, spearing, snaring, snatching, trawling, dragging and
netting.
7. The
use of guns and dogs for the taking of game and wild fowl on or around club
waters is strictly prohibited.
Friendly, well
behaved dogs are allowed onto club grounds but MUST be kept on a lead and with their owner at all times,
dog litter MUST be picked up
and taken home.
8. The
management committee shall decide and arrange the place, date and duration of
all matches.
9. All
cups and trophies remain the property of the club and must be returned to any
committee member before the annual presentation ceremony. Members failing to return trophies will be
barred from all future matches and are liable to face expulsion from the club
and summonsed for theft.
10. An extraordinary meeting may only be
called by the committee by a majority vote, or by a petition to the chairman
signed by no less than 20 members, stating the subject(s) of such meeting. The chairman must then call an extraordinary
meeting within 21 days at which only the subject raised shall be
discussed.
11. No
additional or alteration to these rules shall be permitted except at the Annual
General Meeting and then only after a written notice giving full details to the
secretary at least 7 days prior to the AGM.
12. 15 members are classed as life vice-presidents as
they have bought a life share in the club. A life vice-president cannot sell
their share in the club to a third party. If an
attempt is made to sell a share then that share will become null and void
to the club.
On the death of a life vice-president the share will be handed down to the next of kin. If there is no one to inherit the share it can be willed to a third party providing that person is considered acceptable by the management committee. Life vice presidents can transfer their share before death but this request must be put in writing to the club secretary with their reason of transfer and must be accepted by the management committee.
13. In the event of issue relating to spawning/Low DO Levels/predation/disease/flooding
and maintenance management committee reserve the right to shut the effected
water(s) with immediate effect.
14. All property (including vehicles) are brought onto site at your own
risk. Crowland Angling Club takes no responsibility for injury, loss or damage
of property whilst on site.
15. It is our aim to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health
and safety of third parties who may be affected by our activities. Every person
has a legal responsibility, a duty of care to look after their own and others
health and safety.
16. It is mandatory for members to attend at least two work parties each
season. Alternatively, you can pay the £35 opt out fee. (It’s not mandatory for
Junior or Senior Citizen members to attend or pay the opt out fee).
17. Crowland Angling Club would like to use any images / videos that are
posted or provided by members for our Social Media pages.
Please notify us If you don’t give permission for us to
use your images.
Anything not specifically detailed within the Constitution / Rules will be at the discretion of the management committee.
General Etiquette:
1. Keep within the
boundaries of your swim. Rods fished outside boundaries must be wound in when
challenged.
2. Swims can only be
reserved temporarily by anglers on the venue. An item of tackle must be placed
in the swim you wish to set up in or move into and this must be confirmed with
the angler currently in the swim (if it is occupied). Tackle cannot be placed
in more than one swim.
3. Bivvying up behind
occupied swims is not allowed. Only an item of tackle should be placed there
and no pressure should be applied in an attempt to make a member leave early.
4. Daytime stalking and
floater fishing is allowed without removing your session tackle from your
current swim but your session rods must be wound in. If other members arrive or
wish to move, you will have to decide which swim you wish to fish.
5. Every care should be
taken when setting up / casting, making sure you are not disturbing fishing for
any other angler.
Angling Rules:
Applies to ALL waters.
1. No person shall take or
remove any fish from the area of the club waters at any time.
2. Retaining Fish: Members
can ONLY retain fishing during match
fishing, you may do so in a keep net that must conform to Environment Agency Standards.
At the termination of a fishing period ALL fish must be returned to the water
that they were caught in a careful and proper manner.
However, keep nets are not allowed between 15th March and 15th
June each year.
3. When pleasure fishing
all fish caught are to be returned to the water immediately, irrelevant of
their size.
4. Barbless hooks MUST be used at all times. No hook is allowed with any barb or micro-barb at any time.
5. Only one hook per rod.
6. Live baits are not
allowed at any time.
7. Dead baits must be shop brought.
8. No artificial / plastic
baits.
9. Unhooking mats must be used at all times.
10. Members must make every
effort to ensure that all club waters are free of litter, even if it’s not
yours. Any member found leaving litter will be reported to the management
committee and is liable to be suspended as a member. Any member found leaving
litter after a match will not be allowed to weigh until all litter is cleared.
11. Strictly no wading or swimming.
12. No excessive drinking.
13. Disease control: To prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like KHV, all fish handling equipment should be thoroughly dried in direct sunlight prior to fishing our waters.
14. Report any lost fish that are towing tackle to the management committee or club secretary as soon as possible. This includes fish that are snagged up.
15. No excessive baiting.
16. Under 5’s can fish for free but must be accompanied by a paying adult – Membership still required for insurance purposes.
17. Under 13’s should be accompanied by an adult member at all times.
18. Anyone caught vandalising clubs property will be expelled or possibly banned from the club for life.
19. Eel
netting is allowed only with the written authority of the management committee.
Specific Venue Rules:
Breach pits –– Applies to both Small & Large Pit: Maximum 150 members.
Members only –– Anyone that is not a member should not be on site unless authorised.
1. Access
to the Breach Pits, North bank, Crowland is ONLY allowed along the line of the north bank itself from its
junction with North Street using only the lower bank level. Members gaining
access to the pit across fields from Cloot Drove will be suspended and possibly
expelled from the club.
2. Under
no circumstances should the gate code for the Breach Pits be given out, any
member caught will be suspended and possibly expelled from the club.
3. ALL
GATES MUST BE CLOSED, LOCKED AND ELECTRIC HOOKS REPLACED PROPERLY. If you are
caught not following this rule you will be banned immediately – no excuses
accepted.
4. DO
NOT jump / climb over the fence / gates or pass any items of tackle/equipment
over the fences. Please DO NOT lean items of tackle /
equipment against the otter fence.
5. You must always ask
permission to take a guest before you arrive at the fishery. Each adult member
shall be allowed to bring a maximum of two guests on a day ticket when fishing. (Does not apply to junior members)
6. Members are responsible
for their guests fishing, making sure they are conforming to club rules i.e.
Barbless hooks, day ticket payment (Guest tickets should be paid for before
fishing commences).
7. Please respect toilet
facilities. This is a self-composting toilet, it needs minimal maintenance.
Please follow the guidelines to ensure it works correctly and ensure its left
clean and tidy after every use.
8. When fishing for the
day members to arrive after 7am and leave before dusk. Consideration to nearby residents must be paramount at all times.
NB:
Please be aware of weather conditions, it is the responsibility of the owner to
retrieve their vehicle if it becomes stuck in the mud.
Small Pit –– Coarse Lake:
1. Maximum 1 rod limit. If there are less than 4 anglers fishing you can use maximum 2 rods.
2. No Bivvies.
3. Fish from designated swims only.
4. No keep nets to be used - Unless you are taking part in a club fishing match. However, keep nets are not allowed between 15th March and 15thJune each year.
Large Pit –– Carp Lake:
1. Maximum 2 rod limit (Per swim).
2. Sided (padded) unhooking mats or cradles must be used at all times.
3. When removing fish to weigh / take photos, avoid carrying fish in your landing net (use your sling to carry landing net and fish to your unhooking mat).
4. Minimum size net 36”
5. Minimum 12lb line strength. No braided mainline on fishing rods.
6. Minimum hook size 10, maximum size 4.
7. Minimum 30cm of tubing.
8. No leaders.
9. Night fishing is permitted, providing the relevant membership is purchased.
Under 18’s (Junior) must be accompanied by adult member or non-fishing member (NFM 18+).
Members must arrive before dusk and leave after 7am. Consideration to nearby residents must be paramount at all times.
10. Must have a carp care kit at all times – We would recommend Propolis.
11. No spinning.
12. No Twig rigs (old or
new).
The Lake (Gravel Causeway)
1. Maximum 1 rod limit.
2. Fish from the road side ONLY.
3. Night fishing not permitted.
4. No keep nets to be used - Unless you are taking part in a club fishing match. However, keep nets are not allowed between 15th March and 15th June each year.
The Highland Drain and Basin (Low Road) ‘Close Season’ water
No fishing between 15th March and 15th June.
1. Maximum 2 rod limit.
2. Night fishing not permitted.
3. No keep nets to be used - Unless you are taking part in a club fishing match.
Life Vice
Presidents: Last updated 2021.
M. McCormick R. young S. Lee
S. Fowler J. Smith K.
Igoe
S. Hutson P. Stowe D. Anderson
J. Allen A. Pratt S. Sharpe
T. Green M. Foulkes B. Wortley
Committee: Last updated March 2025.
Chairman: L.
Cousins
Vice Chairman: N. Mcilroy (Nick is also our Welfare Officer)
Treasurer: L.Cousins & S.Cousins
Secretary:
S. Cousins
G.
Evison E.
Knox
P. Davis D. Ebbage. J. Chamberlain
P. Mitchell K. Bailey-Eager