Club Rules & Regulations

Club Rules

1. Membership of the club shall be open to persons aged twelve years and over.
   The annual subscription shall be £45 A student rate of £15 will apply to those aged 12 to 18 years whose 19th birthday falls after 1st June. For the purposes of Club management, only persons duly elected to the committee and those resident within eight miles of Saffron Walden shall have a right of vote at the AGM. Members must show evidence of club membership when attending the AGM.
2. Membership is strictly non- transferable. Membership subscriptions are non-refundable.
3. A committee consisting of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Match Secretary plus seven ordinary members shall manage the affairs of the club. The officials shall be elected annually at the AGM. Ordinary members shall be elected at the AGM and serve for two years. The committee may co-opt members for a specific purpose. Committee members claim reasonable expenses incurred on club business.
4. The Committee may make, alter or revoke such regulations as they consider necessary for the management of the Club provided that they are in accordance with club rules.
5. The Committee may, at its discretion, cancel suspend or limit the membership of members not complying with club rules.
6. The Committee may appoint up to twelve persons as bailiffs, who shall be appointed annually for one season. Bailiffs will be issued with a card and shall have authority to suspend the club membership of any member infringing club rules or regulations. Bailiffs shall be answerable to the committee at all times. Committee members shall be ex-officio bailiffs.
7. Members must be in possession of evidence of club membership and EA rod licence at all times at club fisheries. EA by-laws to be observed as club rules.
8. Proof of Membership and Environment Agency rod licence must be produced on demand if requested by a club bailiff or any other member on production of their own licence and permit. This is to verify the EA licence and proof of identity. Failure to provide either will lead to expulsion from the fishery. By becoming a club member, (includes day ticket holders) you agree to be bound by the club rules and regulations as per this document. It is the member’s responsibility to read and comply in full.
9. Members shall at all times remain within club water boundaries and show the utmost respect for landowners’ property. Any persons found causing damage to any buildings, gates, fences, shrubs and trees, etc. shall be liable to immediate expulsion and withdrawal of membership.
10. Dogs, guns, radios and fires (except as part of an official working party) are prohibited on all club fisheries.
11. Night fishing at Whittlesford and Bordeaux is only available to members of the Night Fishing Group, or any member holding a one-night Permit authorised by the Night Fishing Manager [Rule 15]. No other members may be on the fishery before dawn or later than dusk.
12. All the fish caught on club fisheries are to be returned unharmed.
13. No person shall leave any rubbish of any description. All members will be held responsible for any rubbish in or adjacent to any swim thy may choose to fish.
14. Members are required to report to the committee any persons seen causing damage, leaving rubbish or infringing any club rules or regulations.
15. Day tickets for members’ guests are available at the rate of one per member per day at £10/day (for still waters), £5/day (for rivers). Members must accompany their guests and are responsible for them at all times. The Club is empowered to sell day tickets to casual visitors on the bank at Little Thetford or on the Old West. Day tickets are not available on the bank at any other club fishery.
    Standard members may obtain two One-night permits per season, Monday to Thursday nights at £25 per night for a maximum of 18 hours, on application to the Night Fishing Manager.
16. Standard Membership permits two children under the age of twelve to fish with the member.
17. No alteration shall be made to any Club Rule except by a majority vote of senior members at the AGM. Notice of proposed alterations must be lodged with the Secretary at least fourteen days before the AGM.
18. Members undertaking any unlawful activity at any of the club waters, including, but not limited to, removal of fish, illegal stocking of fish or theft of fishing rights may be banned (and/or have their membership revoked with no refund) by the committee. Where appropriate offenders shall be reported to the relevant authorities.
19. If a committee member resigns or is absent for three consecutive meetings without the consent of the committee, his seat shall be declared vacant. In the case of an official, the vacancy shall be filled by a committee member, in the case of an ordinary member the vacancy shall be filled by co-option.
20. The Committee shall have the power to limit total membership according to fisheries available at any particular time.
21. Trustees:
    (a) Appointed trustees of the Club are Messrs N. Roberts, D Gowlett and P Mottram. Subsequent appointment of trustees shall be by Committee.
    (b) Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by a resolution of the committee.
    (c) All property of the Club shall be vested in the trustees to be dealt with by them as the committee by resolution so direct.
    (d) The trustees shall be indemnified out of the assets of the club against any risk and expenses incurred by them in pursuance of their office.
22. All Club rules, by- laws and regulations heretofore in force are hereby revoked.

Updated: November 2025

Regulations

1.Members must use the notified entrances and parking areas at club fisheries and keep to the water’s edge and must not trespass on adjoining land. Any person seen trespassing or leaving litter will be banned from the club.

2. Fish must be weighed where caught and not carried along the bank.
3. Up to 1 Kg of ground bait may be used at both Bordeaux and Whittlesford. Loose feed and particles are allowed in moderation.
4. The use of dog and cat meat is strictly forbidden, as are whole nuts of any kind.
5. Keepnets must be at least 2.0 metres long by 0.5 metres diameter, and of knot-less mesh.
6. At Bordeaux Pit no fish exceeding 5lb. to be retained in keep nets or sacks. At Whittlesford Pit no fish exceeding 10lb. to be retained in keep nets or sacks. Any fish larger must be immediately returned.
7. No rods to be left unattended; anglers must be within 10 metres. No more than two rods to be used. Night syndicate members may use three rods during the hours of darkness only, between 1^st October and 31^st March
8. Members and their guests are expected to show consideration to others at all times and avoid unnecessary noise and disturbance.
9. Seven days’ notice of the closure of a water will normally be given where possible.
10. Pike fishing is banned at Bordeaux Pit. [Note: pike fishing season is (1 Oct-31 Mar) at Whittlesford Pit]
11. All applications for matches on club venues shall be directed to both the Secretary and Match Secretary for approval by the latter before committee confirmation. Members may not hold unofficial competitions on club waters without the consent of the Committee.
12. All hooks larger than and inclusive of size 14, must be barbless on all club still water fisheries.
13. ALL members MUST have an unhooking mat and landing net. For those targeting Carp and Pike [Whittlesford and the Ouse stretches only for Pike] the net and mat MUST be of an adequate size. For ALL anglers, the MINIMUM size of landing net is 18 inches. All nets, mats and slings MUST be dry before use.
14. Gates at Bordeaux and Whittlesford must be kept closed and locked at all times. Failure to ensure security may result in termination of membership.
15. Fishing is only permitted from designated swims.  Choice of any swim to fish from does not give the right to fish across to opposite or adjacent swims to preclude other members from fishing those areas. 
16. All club competitions will take place in the spirit of the published Angling Trust rules.
    Rules for club competitions are contained and updated on the club website. To protect fish stocks at Bordeaux any carp taken in a match of over 2lb will be witnessed and returned immediately. The captor awarded 2lb in weight. At Whittlesford any fish over 10lb will be witnessed and returned immediately. The captor awarded 10lb in weight.
17. Uncoated braided mainlines are now banned from all club still-waters.
18. The use of bait boats is not permitted at any club water.
19. The Committee recommends that all members aged 12-16 years should be accompanied by a responsible adult whilst on club waters.

Updated November 2025