ByeLaws

RULES OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT FRESHWATER ANGLING COMPANY (IOWFAC)
UPDATE 29/11/2024

The Board of Directors politely asks you to follow the rules and procedures listed below at all times in order to protect the wellbeing of our fish stocks and the lakeside environment. This will enable the Board to create and maintain safe and enjoyable venues for all its members and guests.

All persons visiting our venues do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own Health and Safety. You are required to read and understand the Company’s health and safety policy which was attached to your new/renewal membership e mail. Care must be taken to recognize that uneven or wet and slippery ground, especially near deep water can be hazardous. There is an abundance of wildlife at all our venues, including adders, which should be respected and not disturbed.

The Company does not accept liability for the loss or damage of possessions or angling equipment at our venues, and vehicles are left in the car parking areas at your own risk.

Please ensure that you read these rules carefully before you attend our venues. Any person who fails to observe these rules or behaves in such a way that it interferes with others’ enjoyment of our venues will potentially face disciplinary action and ultimately have their membership terminated.

GENERAL RULES

  1. Entrance gates must be locked on all Company sites. Please do not disclose the code number for gate locks to any 3rd party without the written authority of the Board or Company Secretary. You must lock the gate behind you when entering and leaving Company sites. If on opening the gate to a venue there is another vehicle behind you please do not assume they are members. Please check they know the gate code before allowing them to follow you.
  1. Speed limit of 10 mph on all Company sites.
  1. The Holliers venue can only be accessed between 5 am and 10 pm. No vehicles are allowed on the access lane before or after these times. Kingfisher and Minnow lakes can also only be fished from dawn to dusk. Gunville and Heron lakes can be fished at anytime day or night. Please note that some swims are signed as only available for daylight fishing due to specially identified safety hazards.
  1. Lakes scheduled for Sunday competitions will be closed to non-competitors between 07:00 and 17:00. (Other lakes at the venue may continue to be fished during these times). Lakes scheduled for Thursday evening competitions starting at 16:30 will still be open to all members, along with Kingfisher lake during the scheduled Wednesday competition.
  1. There shall be no fishing during the close season ( March 15th to June 15th) on Company controlled stretches of the River Yar at Brading and Alverstone. The Environment Agency do not permit night fishing on the River Yar. At Brading, upstream to the small pump house at Yarbridge may be fished any time during the open season. Downstream from the road bridge to the first cattle ditch may only be fished from July 15th to October 30th as per our agreement with the RSPB. The Alverstone stretch of the River Yar can be fished from the left hand bank upstream of the footbridge at the old mill to the stile near the old railway track.
  1. Please could all anglers ensure they have a valid and appropriate Environment Agency Fishing Licence for inspection by an Environment Agency Officer if requested. Non-compliance can result in prosecution. A Company bailiff is also entitled to ask for sight of your Environment Agency Fishing Licence as well as proof of Company membership.  A company Bailiff should present his ID card before asking to check membership, a member is entitled to see the Bailiffs ID before complying.
  1. Aggressive or intolerant behaviour towards other members, guests or Company Officers is not acceptable under any circumstances,
  1. Nets, keepnets, weigh slings and unhooking mats must always be dipped in the disinfectant receptacle provide before commencing to fish.
  1. When using the toilet facilities provided please leave them as you would like to find them.
  1. Junior members must be supervised at all times by an adult member. For reasons of safeguarding any junior member under the age of 16 ( as a member or Family member) must fish either on the same or adjacent peg to the responsible adult member during daylight hours. If fishing overnight they must fish on the same peg as the adult member. The adult member is responsible for the health and safety of the junior at all times, and the Company will not be held responsible if this ruling is not complied with.
  1. No alcohol may be consumed or brought onto any of our sites. This also applies to recreational drugs/illegal substances.
  1. No wading or swimming.
  1. No fires or loud radios
  1. Use of barbeques is restricted to gas powered ones only – no solid fuel or disposable barbeques are allowed on any Company site.
  1. Please take all litter and unused bait home.
  1. No dogs are allowed on Company sites unless written permission from the Board of Directors is held, and is subject to review.
  1. There will be no transferring of fish between any waters and removal of fish off site is strictly prohibited unless approved by the Board of Directors.
  1. No unauthorised use of manned boats on all Company waters.
  1. Bailiffs have the authority to check rigs and end tackle at any time to ensure members are using suitable and safe methods. They are available to offer advice if rigs are deemed to be unsuitable.
  1. The discharging of any weapons (excluding bait catapults) is not permitted. The only exception to this rule are guns authorised by the Board for vermin control.
  1. No umbrella spikes, rod rests, bank sticks or bivvy/umbrella guy spikes to be dug into any stone, wood or tarmac area on any pegs at Merstone or Holliers
  1. Bivvies are only permitted on Heron and Gunville lakes, using the designated fishing bays. On all other Company lakes only fishing brolly’s, small day shelters and brolly systems can be used. It is very important that they do not block access to the paths around the lakes.

FISHING RULES

  1. Fishing is only allowed from designated swims on any of our lakes. No fishing allowed in the stock ponds at Holliers.
  1. You must never stand when handling a fish for a photo. Keep the fish as low as possible and above a padded unhooking mat.
  1. Rods/poles must be attended at all times, and if a swim is vacated rigs must be removed from the water and bait removed from the hook. To comply with “attended” anglers must always stay within the designated confines of their peg area. For the sake of clarity, it is confirmed that if a peg is allocated a plot for a bivvy this too is regarded as being within the confines of the peg area.
  1. The use of bait boats is permitted on Heron and Gunville lakes only, but must be used responsibly, and not interfere with other anglers.
  1. All members fishing Heron or Gunville lakes must have a 42 inch landing net set up and available for use, and an unhooking mat suitable for large Carp and Pike.
  1. No braided mainlines to be used, but hook lengths are permitted.
  1. Micro barbed or barbless hooks must be used and only one hook per rod, except when fishing for Pike. Barbless treble hooks are permitted when lure fishing for Pike on Gunville or Heron Lakes.
  1. Keepnets are only allowed on scheduled Company matches. Please see match rules for more information.
  1. Fixed method feeders/feeders, paternoster rigs or tether rigs are not permitted. Nor are any mechanical self-hooking devices, such as the “Twig” or “OMC Magic wand” Please seek advice if not sure if your rig complies by asking other anglers or a bailiff.
  1. When pleasure fishing a swim, you must not fish beyond half way to the next angler. When match fishing a swim, you may fish as far as half the distance between your peg and the peg on either side ( not the next angler)
  1. Where anglers are fishing opposite banks(i.e. not to an island), the limit of your swim is a line midway between each bank.
  1. All anglers must ensure that their swim always has a suitable landing net and unhooking mat.
  1. Up to three rods are allowed for each member or authorised guest on Heron and Gunville lakes. (a maximum of three rods on any peg) Up to two rods per member or authorised guest may be used at Kingfisher and Minnow lakes, and Old and new lakes at Holliers. (Except when more than one member or authorised guest is sharing a peg on these lakes, in which case a maximum of three rods is allowed, and a landing net and unhooking mat can be shared).
  1. Remember – You can fish with either rods or a pole, BUT only one style can be in the water at the same time. (i.e.an individual cannot fish with a rod and pole in the water at the same time).
  1. From time to time a temporary restriction may be introduced allowing one rod only per peg. This is for reasons of fish welfare when, for instance, lily pad growth is extremely prolific. Members will be informed.
  1. No fish to be retained for excessive periods of time. It is considered reasonable to allow time to sort out scales, camera and wetting of unhooking mat and sling. You must return your catch promptly, and only one fish out the water at any one time.
  1. Pike and lure fishing is permitted from October 1st to 31st March only. No live bait allowed.
  1. There are no bait restrictions apart from live fish, and all particle baits such as seeds, nuts, peas and beans must be soaked, well cooked and used in moderation.
  1. Guest ticket procedure: No guests are allowed on site unless in receipt of a
    valid Guest ticket and each must hold a valid E.A. license if fishing.

    • Any member who requests a guest ticket must be present with their guest
    on the day of fishing and will be held responsible for the behaviour of their
    guest. 2 free guest tickets per full member each club year.


• Guest tickets are only valid from dawn to dusk.


• Guest tickets must be requested by e mail to iowfacmembers@gmail.com,
and please allow 48 hours notice before proposed date of fishing.


• Paid guest tickets will not be released until confirmation of payment is
received.


• Payment for Guest tickets must be made online to Isle of Wight Freshwater
Angling Company. Account no 14270757, sort code 54-10-34


Company Secretary will issue an e mail to the member with permission. Member is required to show the e mail to a bailiff if requested.

  1. In the event a member leaves the club during the club year [01 June31 May] either by choice or because of a disciplinary sanction, NO refund
    of any membership or joining fee paid will be due. The Board may use its
    discretion in the event of serious illness or death of a member