Rules

Rules

Erics Willows Lake Rules

Key rules

Do not jeopardize your opportunity and your own angling, people have been banned and will be banned if they disrespect the fishery as there are sensible anglers on the waiting list who would appreciate the opportunity.

  • Waders required
  • Life jacket / Buoyancy aid required
  • No unattended rods; one swim rules, excluding 9-10 and 1-20. Perform a receiver / alarm check prior to doing so
  • Do not pull for a break under any circumstances and make a bailiff aware of lost tackle; ie crack-off / trailer. Accidents happen but they cannot be resolved if we are not made aware

Tackle & Fish Care Equipment:

  1. Maximum of 3 rods can be used.
  2. Landing nets, mats, slings and water buckets are provided,
  3. Barbed hooks only, no longshank curve hooks please.
  4. Minimum mainline of 0.35mm, If you are unsure if your line is suitable then please ask us as some lines are sufficient but may not necessarily be 0.35mm diameter. Minimum breaking strain of hooklink 15lb (including zigs) excluding winter months (November-March)
  5. No fixed rigs, please use safety rigs only, these must lose the lead or the hooklink if snagged etc. If you are unsure then please ask us!!
  6. If at any point you are unable to retrieve tackle from the lake it is mandatory that you use the boat to do so or alternatively call a bailiff to aid and remove it for you ie snagged rig. Under any circumstances DO NOT PULL FOR A BREAK.
  7. A life jacket is required
  8. Baitboats are allowed, please use these sensibly and stay within the confines of your swim. Anyone misusing a boat will not be allowed to use them on future sessions.
  9. no sacks, safety retention slings are allowed for temporarily holding fish whilst sorting camera etc. Please make sure any retained fish is in deeper water and not near weed.
  10. The margins can be quite shallow in places, waders are essential unless you are prepared to get wet!! Anyone found landing fish in shallow water will be banned instantly.
  11. CARP CARE IS MANDATORY. It is required you are in the possession of carp care treatment to be used to treat all hookholds and any signs of damage as minor as they may be. (propolis and nash medicarp are recommended)

Etiquette:

NOTE: All sessions run 12pm-12pm, gate entry 9am

  1. Fishing from marked pegs only and only fish within the boundaries of your swim as marked on the map and by the half way markers, please ask if you are unsure.
  2. ONE SWIM RULE!!! You must not stray more than 1 swim away from your rods if they are live. This is in the interest of fish welfare and will also improve the chances of successfully landing fish so is therefore in the interest of the angler. Note: straying from peg 9 to 10 or vice versa is not permitted due to the distance between them.
  3. Please be sensible when drinking, if you are not in control of yourself or the fish through drink/drugs then you will be banned and only allowed to leave the site once sober.
  4. Ecotoilet must be used at all times, if you choose to defecate elsewhere ie bucket, bag it, take it with you and bin it.
  5. No dogs allowed, under the terms of our lease we are not allowed dogs and we have to stick to this I am afraid.
  6. Please make sure you lock or close any gate that you go through, these are there for your own security as well as the fishes. Do not leave open for a friend coming in 5 minutes.
  7. No visiting the lake or other anglers at any time unless you are fishing without good cause and prior arrangement. Anglers like a peaceful lake and this is the only way we can keep it like that. Guests are permitted at the bailiff’s discretion.

Bait:

  1. No maggots to be used at any time other than November 1st to February 28th
  2. Any self prepared nuts or particles must be checked by a bailiff prior to use. Company manufactured nuts and particles are allowed but must be used in sensible quantities and not over fed.

Boat rules;

The following is not conclusive and is subject to change should we see fit; these rules should be seen as our minimum expected standard which all boat users should adhere to.

Rules.

  1. NO LIFE JACKET, NO BOAT – NO EXCUSES, NO EXCEPTIONS, NO SECOND CHANCES.
  2. Boats can be and are dangerous, just because everyone else is using one don’t think that you have to. If you’re not comfortable with the safe use of a boat, don’t use one, ask a bailiff to talk you though how to use a boat safely.
  3. Boats are secured to their moorings using a numeric combination lock which will be provided when ownership of a life jacket has been established. The numeric code can be obtained by calling 07508987545.
  4. Boats are solely to be used for the safe retrieval of snagged / tethered fish and or items of tackle. This is primarily to promote fish welfare.
  5. One angler per boat only – the boats are not big enough to safely carry two anglers. If you end up in a fish rescue situation where you need two anglers out on the lake at the same time, use 2 boats and reel in all other rods for both anglers.
  6. Please report any damage to boats immediately to a bailiff. If you damage a boat through misuse or neglect, you will be charged for repairing or replacing the boat. The same applies for oars etc, they are not designed to be used as weed rakes, for sword fighting or anything else; if they are damaged or lost, you will be charged to replace them.
  7. General upkeep – you will no doubt expect the boat to be clean and tidy when you come to use it, and we expect you to leave it in a similar fashion. If you dirty a boat for any reason, please clean it after use; this includes removal of any dirty foot prints etc from the inside of the boat. If you are found to have left a boat in an unsuitable condition, you will no longer be welcome to use our boats and you will have to provide your own.
  8. If another member complains to the fishery bailiff that you are using a boat inappropriately / out of your water / in contravention of the boat rules, you will be given the benefit of doubt once and once only – a yellow card scheme will operate in this instance. You will only be warned once, if we have a second complaint, your access to a boat will be revoked.
  9. If you have your access to boat use removed for breeching any rule relating to boats, do not use a boat for any reason. If you are in a position where you need to rescue a fish, you must contact a bailiff first. If you are found to be using a boat without permission, you will have your membership of the lake revoked and you will no longer be welcome on the fishery.

Contract: –
Upon requesting access to a boat and presenting a suitable life jacket, you therefore agree to a contract detailing the terms and conditions for use of a boat, and also the rules (a copy of such can also be provided to you as proof of permission and for your records). Erics Angling Willows Lake and any associated body/organisation, accept no responsibility either written or implied for your use of a boat; you do so entirely at your own risk.
General advise: – If you are a regular at the lake, and plan to use the boats a lot, we would highly advise that you consider an automatic lifejacket, rated at 150N capacity, they are more compact, less obstructive and may save your life should the worst happen. We can order these from one of our suppliers at a discounted rate, but they are still more expensive than a foam equivalent. If you would like any advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. Also worthy of note is that a buoyancy aid is not suitable for use on the lake, they may help you stay afloat should you fall in, but will not turn you over and hold  your head out of the water should you be unconscious.

These rules are not exhaustive by any means, as long as you respect the lake, the fish and the other anglers then you won’t go far wrong.

A disciplinary system is in place, the rules are there for a reason. Anyone found to be disregarding / breaking them will be dealt with accordingly dependent upon the offence committed. Please report anyone breaking rules to a bailiff in order to benefit anglers as a whole. The bailiff’s decision is final.

Anyone who is unsure on their equipment or their rigs should point this out before commencing fishing. We are happy to help and advise and would prefer this to solving a problem after it has happened.

We usually reply with 24 hours except for weekends. All emails are kept confidential and we do not spam in any ways.

Thank you for contacting us :)

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