Dorking & District Angling Society Revised 2024
RULES OF THE DORKING AND DISTRICT ANGLING SOCIETY
1. That this Society shall be called the Dorking and District Angling Society and be legally enrolled (if necessary) under that name and have its Headquarters as the Committee decide. The working Committee of eight members being hereby authorised to take any steps needful to carry out this rule.
2. That the objects and purpose of the said Society shall be to acquire or rent or both, stock or preserve any water or waters with coarse fish, for the exclusive use of its members and act in the interests of its members and anglers generally, but only so far as its funds permit. Such “exclusive use” shall not be construed as a deterrent to the Society from granting permits for fishing In the Society’s water or waters under its control, during the open season by visiting anglers from time to time, as provided under the rules relating to such permits.
3. That there shall be a President, Vice-Presidents, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Competition Secretary, Fisheries Office, together with a working Committee of six members or more and Water Bailiffs (five to form a quorum), The Committee meetings to be held on the notice of the Secretary, approximately once or every other month.
4. That the Officers and working Committee shall be elected at an Annual General Meeting to be held on the date as notified by the Secretary, but that no member be qualified to hold office or be elected on the Committee who is on the Committee of any other Angling Club or Angling Society existing for the purpose of angling for coarse fish.
5. It is specifically understood that neither the Officers nor Committee shall be empowered, either individually or severally, to pledge the credit of the contributions payable by such members, the members of the Society, other than the extent unless a plain indication to that effect be given by the members at a special meeting of the members, convened to deal with the granting of such power; such power to be sanctioned or ratified by the members.
6. An Officer or member of the Committee may resign at any time. Such resignation to be preferably in writing and to take effect at the time specified, or if no time specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Committee or Secretary. The Officers and Committee in office may appoint any qualified member to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term or until his successor is chosen.
7. The Secretary shall give or cause to give seven days’ notice of all meetings to its members and such other notice as are usually given to its members and incident to the satisfactory working of the Society. He shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of its members and Committee in a book kept for that purpose and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Committee and which are considered incident to the office of Secretary.
8. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the working funds (except such funds and securities vested in the Trustees). receive and give, or cause to be given, receipts and acquittances for moneys paid in on account of the Society and shall pay-out of the funds in hand, all debts of the Society upon maturity of same. He shall enter or cause to be entered in the Society’s books to be kept for that purpose, full and accurate accounts of all moneys received and paid out on account of the Society and shall render a statement of his cash account when required to do so by the Committee. He shall keep or cause to be kept a true record of the expenses, losses, gains, assets and liabilities of the Society and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Treasurer.
9. The Trustees shall be appointed by the members at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees shall deposit upon trust, the funds and securities belonging to the Society and perform all other duties incident to the office of Trustees.
10. The Officers shall keep or cause to be kept, a register of the members’ names and addresses, together with the subscription paid. Every member shall furnish notice to the Secretary of any change of address. The register shall be available for inspection by any member at reasonable times and upon giving seven days’ notice to the Secretary of his desire to do so.
11. A copy of the audited accounts to be sent to each member seven days before the Annual General Meeting.
12. The Committee shall be empowered to arrange and promote angling competitions from time to time, as they think fit and proper, to promote the goodwill and interests of its members and furthering the sport of angling for coarse fish during open season; also to offer and provide prizes usually recognised as suitable tor angling clubs and to be competed for by the members entering such competitions.
13. The Society shall not be conducted for the purpose of profit: any surplus disclosed at the auditing of the accounts, shall be applied exclusively to further the objects and purposes of the Society as provided by the Rule.
14. All members of the Society shall contribute in advance annually toward the working expenses of the Society, the amount of such contributions to be fixed at the Annual General Meeting.
15. Junior members eligible from the age of 8 to 17 years, becoming Senior members on their 17th birthday. Juniors must be accompanied by one adult when at the river, until the age of 12 years is attained. All Juniors allowed on Junior competitions, i.e. 8 - 17 years. Juniors 14 years and over eligible to fish in all competitions. Juniors under 14 years not entitled to vote at the A.G.M.
16. Any person or persons desirous of becoming members of the Society, shall apply on Clubmate.
17. No person shall be considered a member until his or her subscription is paid and shall not be deemed eligible to fish in the Society’s waters as a member until such time as his or her contribution is paid.
18. Every member shall be in possession of a current Rule Book and a current card of membership containing a recent passport size photograph affixed with glue in the space provided. The membership card Is not transferable and no alteration will be allowed in the name of the person to whom issued.
19. In the event of any wilful misuse of membership, being proved to the satisfaction of the Committee as being detrimental to the interests of the Society, the person so misusing it shall be wholly disqualified from membership or any other way deemed advisable. But such member shall have the right of appeal to the members at a general meeting convened specifically for that purpose, if dissatisfied with the decision of the Committee when considering such misuse. A member so expelled shall forfeit all claims on the Society.
20. It shall be deemed the duty of every member to do his or her utmost to preserve and further the interests and welfare of members and angling as a sport.
21. Temporary guest tickets to fish in part of the Society’s waters are issued at a fee. Guests to be accompanied by a member.
22. No fishing shall be permitted during the close season. The close season being from March 15th to June 15th inclusive.
23. Members are liable for any litter found around them: Plastic bags, drinks containers, discarded tackle etc. must be cleared up and taken away. Sweetcorn and luncheon tins are banned from our waters. All gates must be closed, avoid walking on growing crops or trespass on the golf course. ANY MEMBER FAILING TO COMPLY WILL BE LIABLE TO EXPULSION.
24. All members are to say their name or show membership on the Clubmate app, when requested to do so by a Bailiff or any person in) authority.
25. One rod and one hook only to be used at any one time. gorge bait fishing is strictly prohibited in all Society’s waters.
26. No fish to be taken from the Society’s waters.
27. Dogs are not permitted under any circumstances. Camping and the lighting of fires is strictly prohibited.
28. No bathing is allowed in the lakes and rivers leased or owned by the Society. Any member breaking this rule will be asked to resign.
29. The Committee shall have the power to deal with matters not covered by the above rules but a 10% of members can appeal to the general meeting (if dissatisfied) to have the matter reconsidered.
30. No alteration or addition shall be made to these rules except at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.
31. Notice of any proposed alteration to any Rule to be handed in writing to the Hon. Secretary by 28th February each year.
32. Venues stated for home competitions are closed to all members except competitors. Where matches are held during the afternoon and evening, members are not to fish venue on that day.
33. The use of portable radios, record players or any other instrument likely to cause disturbance or annoyance to residents or other anglers, is prohibited on any of the Society’s waters. Any member so disturbed by another member or day ticket holder, not complying with the above rule, shall have the right to ask the offender to leave the water immediately and report the incident to the Secretary.
34. Firearms, shotguns, air rifles, air pistols and catapults are strictly prohibited.
35. There will be no night fishing on any of the club waters. Night being the hours between 1 hour after sunset and sunrise.
36. All hooks larger than 18s to be barbless.
37. No bollies, nuts or floating baits to be used.
38. The use of all lead weights between 2oz and size 8 split shot is banned in all club waters, this ban includes lead ledgers and plummets.
39. No member shall run private competitions on club waters without Committee approval.
40. Keepnets are banned from all our ponds and lakes (except in club competitions). Keepnets may be used in the river, nets are to be minimum size of 8 foot in length and 18” across knotless material.
41. Dorking and District Angling Society cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or personal injury whilst on the Society’s waters.
COMPETITION RULES
1. Entries for all competitions must be made to the match secretary not later than the Friday previous to the competition unless otherwise stated.
2. Once a member has entered for any competition, he is liable for payment of the full entry fee to the Society, whether he is able to fish or not, unless he has cancelled his entry by sufficient notice prior to the closing date.
3. “Pools” money to be paid to the Steward prior to draw. No Pools money will be accepted after the draw.
4. Competitors will be sent off 60 minutes prior to start time. Stewards will not be at meeting place after 45 minutes prior to start of competition.
5. In Peg Down competitions, no competitor shall move to a position more than 4 feet either side of the shortest line drawn directly from his peg to the water.
6. Whistles will be used to commence and end all competitions.
7. Under no circumstances must water be broken prior to whistle.
8. Keepnets are to minimum size of 8ft in length and 18” across. Knotless material.
9. Only one rod and one hook allowed, although spare rods may be ‘made up’.
10. Instruments for throwing or projecting groundbait are allowed.
11. No competitor in “swimming down” shall allow his terminal tackle to pass the man below him.
12. Competitors must land their own fish except in the case of disability or infirmity.
13. Wading allowed up to one arm’s length from bank. or water edge, in line with peg. In some swims, up to depth of water to submerge keepnet, then fish from net mouth. Match Steward will inform competitors; his decision is final.
14. All fish in season count with the exception of sticklebacks and pike.
15. No competitor shall leave litter at a swim, nor discard litter in the river.
16. Weigh in points to be as near to competitors peg as possible.
17. Scale pegs to be allocated before match, any competitor refusing to take scales and weigh in will be disqualified from the match
18. A competitor breaking any competition rule will be disqualified from that competition, a warning letter will be sent. If the competitor is disqualified again, he will be banned from all season’s competitions.
19. The Steward’s word is final in all competitions but competitors may appeal to the Committee on matters not covered by Rules 1 - 17.
20. All Cups and Trophies must be returned to the Hon. Compt. Sec. by the last day of February. In the event of any Cups or Trophies not being returned by the last day of February, the defaulter shall be charged for the replacement value of the missing Cup or Trophy. Recipients of Cups and Trophies shall be required to sign for receipt of same.
COMPETITIONS
The draw for all Senior Club competitions will be 1 1/4 hours before fishing time shown on Fixture List. Junior competitions – contact competition Secretary. The place of the “Weigh in” at pegs. See membership and Fixture Card for all competition details.
“WEIGH IN” TIME FOR COMPETITIONS
Competition times shown in the programme are start and finish times. Whistles will be used to commence and end all competitions.
HOME COMPETITION VENUES
Will members please note that venues stated for home competition are closed for the day to all members except those taking part in the competition.
Where matches are held during the afternoon and evening, members must not fish venues before match starting time.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP
This
Cup will be awarded annually to the club member who, during the season,
gains the greatest number of points in competitions held in home
waters.
Amended points scoring - Points are awarded to top ten anglers, winner 10 points going down to 1 point for 10th position.
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
This Cup will be awarded to the club Junior gaining most points in a series of competitions. 8 points for 1st down to 1 point for 8th.
THE HEAVIEST FISH
The Ernie Gumbrell Memorial Trophy will be awarded annually to the competitor weighing in the heaviest fish in the home river waters in a points competition.
The Norbury Vase will be awarded annually to the competitor for the heaviest catch in home river waters in a points competition for which a trophy is not already awarded.
Plaques will be awarded for the heaviest Roach, Dace and Chub caught in home competitions during the season.
Any member obtaining information which may be of interest to the Society regarding the acquisition of fish or additional waters, please contact any officer or Committee member immediately.
PARKING OF CARS AND MOTOR CYCLES
Will all members please note that they must not park their vehicles on any part of the CASTLE GARDENS ROAD or take them down to the riverside via our right of way at the Castle Gardens. This also applies to CASTLE MILL No parking by concrete bridge at Cowslip Farm gates and house entrances around farm.
PLEASE NOTE
THE MILL POND is also leased by the Society. No fishing between dusk and dawn and North Bank only for fishing.
Great
efforts have been made by your committee to obtain the maximum
available local waters of the river Mole on the longest possible leases.
The
Committee feel therefore, that members generally will appreciate the
waters we now hold and wish to bring to your attention the necessity for
avoiding all possible damage to installations, fences, growing crops,
cattle etc.
Complaints have been received of injury to cattle by hooks and lengths of nylon etc. left on the banks.
This
carelessness must cease and all hooks, odd lengths of nylon etc. should
be retained by each member and disposed of in the proper place.
It
has also been found during recent years, that a great deal of litter is
being left on the banks and members are particularly requested to do
their utmost to abate this most serious nuisance.
No doubt all
members are aware of the Society’s rules which ban the lighting of
fires, camping, bathing and the taking of dogs to the riverside and
strict compliance with the club rules will avoid possible complaints by
our landlords and tenant farmers and so enable us all to enjoy the
angling in the waters now held, for many years to come.
Please
remember that the good name of the Society rests on your personal
conduct as a member and the Committee feel sure that you will do all in
your power to support the efforts made by our officers to obtain and
hold all local angling rights possible.
In all cases of
suspected pollution, please contact any Committee member without delay
or telephone the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. If possible, take
samples of water immediately below and/or above the suspected point of
pollution, noting the time and date. If any dead fish are available,
please retain these but do not handle more than necessary.
Any
member obtaining information which may be of interest to the Society
regarding the acquisition of fish or additional waters, please contact
any officer or Committee member immediately.