Ockley Angling Society Constitution & Rules for Season 2023/2024

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1. The association is to be called the OCKLEY ANGLING SOCIETY.

 

2. The object of the Society is to be the preservation of the waters and the fish therein and the environment within the Society’s control for the purpose of angling for sport only.

 

3. The Society shall consist of any number of members whose names and details will be recorded on paper file by the Membership secreatry, No information will be passed to any third party without written consent of the individual member. Email addresses are only stored on the society email address with no other information.

4. The business of the Society shall be conducted by the elected Committee, consisting of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Match Secretary and 5 working members to be elected at each years AGM. To be elected the Committee member must have been a fully paid to the Society for 2 years

 

5. The Committee and its officers shall be elected annually at the AGM and will meet at least 4 times a year to examine the accounts, and to arrange the affairs of the Society. Minutes will be taken at every Committee meeting.

 

6. The Committee may declare vacant the position of any committee member who is absent from three consecutive meetings without reasonable excuse. An officer elected onto the Committee may resign at any time. Such a resignation to be made in writing to the Chairman or Secretary. The Committee may appoint any qualified member to fill such a vacancy for the remainder of that year.

 

7. The Committee shall be empowered to promote and organise angling competitions for its members.

 

8. The annual subscriptions shall be determined annually at the AGM and shall be payable to the Membership Secretary by the 31 May. Members who fail to renew by this date, but before 15 June will be required to pay an extra £5.00. Renewals after the 15 June will have to reapply for membership and pay the full joining fee.

 

10. Membership for juniors is up to the age of 17. Junior members will become senior members at the start of the season if their eighteenth birthday is before 1st June. Junior members under 12 to pay membership fee, but joining fee is wavered.

Junior members from age 12 to 17 to pay £27.50 membership fee in addition to joining fee of £15. Junior members previously members before age 12 are waivered joining fee.

Membership for students in full time education, is from age 18 to 21, copy of student card must be provided on application or renewal of membership. Working parties attended during close season will entitle Adult members to 100% discount on the work party levy fee on that year.

This rule does not apply to Disabled, OAP or Junior memberships.

A guest that has brought two guest tickets who want to join after the 2 visits will earn the single guest ticket fee deducted from the membership fee.

 

11. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

12. All members of the Society shall observe the Society’s coarse fishing close season, which is from 1st April - 31st May, both dates inclusive. (1st day 1st June last day 31st March)

 

13. No member shall leave any gate unfastened, or permit any damage to any fences, trees, crops or wild life of any description. Nor fish in any manner, so as to cause danger or menace to any other person.

 

14. All fish caught in or out of competitions shall be returned unharmed to the water. No fish are to be removed, transferred, or added to any of the Society’s waters without the permission of the Committee.

 

15. Use of keep nets is allowed for fishing providing that -

a, Only to be used on Island lake 

b, NO keepnets are to be used on New Lake unless for an official club match

 

16. Each angler must have his own landing net to use while on club waters. No sharing.

 

17. There are no facilities to leave litter at the club’s waters, therefore no litter of any kind is to be left on the site.

 

18. No gaffing of fish – all fish to be weighed in a net/sling.

 

19. No fishing between sunset and sunrise.

 

20. Barbless hooks only to be used (hooks with barbs pinched are not allowed).

 

21. No lead shot.

 

22. No loose fed boilies, plastic baits, peanuts or tiger nuts.

22a. Single boillie / wafter hook bait only. Max size 14mm.

 

23. Ground bait is limited to 2 kilo / person / session.

 

24. Bait limited to maximum of 2 pints of hemp seed, a kilo of biscuit.

24a. No floating baits within lilies or reeds

 

25. Tackle limits,

a, only one rod can be used between the beginning of the season and the last day of October, 2 rods may be used from then until the close of the season.

b, Maximum line strength is 10lb single filament nylon

c, Maximum hook size 8.

d, No bolt rigs, free running rigs only.

e, no braid to be used including any hook length. 

f, no hook baited is to be left unattended at any time.

 

26. All members must have an unhooking mat unrolled at peg while fishing.

 

27. No live baiting, dead baiting or spinning allowed.

 

28. Members must carry a valid membership card on all Society waters and must produce their card when requested by a committee member, or to any person in authority. Any person unable to produce a current membership card will be asked to leave the respective waters.

 

29. All members who are fishing must carry a valid Environment Agency Course Fishing Licence. Any member not in possession of such a licence will be asked to leave the respective waters.

31. All Society’s waters, in use for competitions will be closed to non-competitors until after the final whistle or at the match secretaries/referee’s decision.

 

32. Society’s waters being used for competitions must be vacated three hours before the commencement of the draw.

 

33. Any member who witnesses an infringement of any of the Society’s rules, or the rights or liberties of the Society shall inform the Secretary. The Committee shall have the power to deal with the matter as they think fit.

 

34. None of the Society’s rules shall be altered or amended without the permission of the Committee, or a special general meeting called for that purpose. Notice must be given in writing to the Secretary by the 1st March of any proposal of changes to any of the Society’s rules

 

35. No member of the Society shall incur any financial obligation or expense on behalf of the Society, unless authorised by the Committee.

 

37. The financial year of the Society shall end on the 31 December.

 

38. The Society shall, from time to time, make, repeal, or amend all such rules at they deem expedient, to take effect, unless set aside by a resolution passed at an AGM.

 

39. All the Society’s rules shall be binding upon members until repealed by the Committee, or by a resolution passed at the AGM.

 

41. Anyone using the disabled swim must vacate it immediately should it be required by a disabled angler (member or guest).

 

42. The code to the padlock on the entrance gate at Heathcockhams Lake shall be changed annually on the 31st March. The new number shall only be given to members on their renewal of membership. Visitors must not be given the padlock code by members.

 

43. Guest tickets are available at £8 per Adult, and £5 per Junior, OAP or Disabled, per day and must be obtained in advance from The Village Greens Farm Shop, Coles Lane, Ockley, RH5 5LS

 

44. No stalking of fish.

 

45. All fish showing sores or disease should be treated with medical iodine, it is recommended that all members carry a bottle whilst fishing.

 

46. When lakes are frozen please check the notice boards for advice, If Ice cannot be broken freely from the bank, no fishing. Fisheries Manager will decide on a daily basis.

 

47. Any member of the club whose conduct is inappropriate or who declines to abide by any of rules or bylaws mat be expelled or suspended by a resolution passed at a meeting of the Committee and their entrance and subscriptions may be forfeited, Members shall have the right to appeal in person to the Committee with regards to any decision affecting themselves, provided that notice of such an appeal is submitted to the Committee in writing within 7 days of notification of the decision.

 

48. Any member may pleasure fish for a specimen trophy, as long as the catch is verified by two witnesses.

 

 

DISSOLUTION

 

1. If at any General Meeting of the Club, a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club, the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than 1 month thereafter to discuss a vote on the resolution.

 

2. If after that Special General Meeting, the resolution is carried by at least two thirds of the Full Membership present at the meeting, the Committee shall thereupon, or at such date shall have been specified in the resolution, process to realise the assets of the Club and discharge any debt and liabilities of the Club.

 

3 After discharging all debts and liabilities of the Club, the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed amongst the Membership of the Club but shall be given or transferred to some other voluntary organisation having objects similar to those of the club

 

 

HEATHCOCKHAMS LAKE (NEW LAKE & ISLAND LAKE)

 

1. Junior members, under 17, fishing the new lake must be accompanied by an adult.

 

2. Dogs allowed on the site but must be kept under members control.

 

 

 

COMPETITION RULES

 

1. Intending competitors shall notify the match secretary 7 days immediately preceding the competition. No entry will be accepted after this deadline.

 

2. All fish will be weighed in regardless of size, subject to rules.

 

3. Spare rods may be assembled, but kept to the rear of the angler.

 

4. The starting signal will be indicated by a whistle.

 

5. The draw for competitors will take place approximately 1 hour before the start.

 

6. In the event of a competitor leaving his or her swim for any reason, the hook and line must be withdrawn from the water and bait removed from the hook. Under no circumstances must the peg be removed.

 

7. Wading into the water while fishing is strictly forbidden, unless otherwise stated.

 

8. Under no circumstances will competitors be allowed to ‘pool’ fish when weighing in at competitions.

 

9. All fish must be hooked, played, and landed by the competing angler within the limits of their swim. Unhooking mats must be used.

 

10. Stewards will be responsible for the peg draw and weighing in on competitions, and the match secretary will be responsible for the pegging out and recording of the final results. Weighing in will take place at each peg. Any complaints will be referred to a steward.

 

11. 30 points will be awarded to the winner of each competition, 29 for second, etc. etc.

 

12. Junior competitions will be held throughout the season. Points will be awarded to determine championships. Advice and help may be given when in difficulty, but only with the permission of the organiser.

 

13. Juniors are allowed to fish all competitions (subject to full match fees) except where dedicated Senior Matches.

 

14. Trophies without the word Senior or Junior will be considered open to all members who participate.

 

15. Pond competitions will be considered all in.

 

16. No feed to be put into the swim prior to the starting whistle.

 

17. All junior members are allowed to have help from an adult when landing fish during a match.

 

18. All competitors must use 2 keep nets (club rule 15e). Maximum weight per net 60lb.

 

19. Failure to comply with the above rules will disqualify any member from the competition and may result in the termination of membership