Match Rules

1. Draw tickets are not transferable.

2. Competitors on being drawn will proceed to their pegs and prepare their tackle; they may wet and prepare ground bait, but must not put any ground bait in the “swim”. Keep-nets may, however, put in the water before the match has started.

3. Any competitor who objects to the suitability of the pitch he has drawn may appeal, before the commencement of the match, to the members of the committee present. If they decide that the pitch is unfishable they may make whatever suitable alternative arrangement they think fit and their decision will be final.

4. The signal to commence fishing will be given by the match time-keeper, who will also give the signal to cease fishing.

5. Each competitor to use only one rod, one line, one hook (treble hooks, Pennell and Stuart tackles etc are not allowed) and must bait his own hook. A second rod may be prepared but under no circumstances may both lines be in the water at the same time.

6. No live or dead fish may be deliberately used as bait and neither may spinners, plug baits or any other artificial fish or fly. Any other bait, other than those banned by law, may be used.

7. A competitor may assist another competitor to net a fish should he be requested to do so.

8. Competitors must fish at the peg, which shall mean that a competitor be allowed to stand or sit at a position not more than a yard on either side of his peg. Wading is permissible only to position a keepnet. When the match is fished on a lake, each competitors “swim” will be the distance between his own peg and half way to the next peg on either side.

In a match fished on a river or canal a competitor must not let his tackle travel beyond his next competitor’s peg.

9. A competitor who, during a match, moves any of his tackle away from his peg will be deemed to have withdrawn from the match and must not fish anywhere within the pegged match length.

10. On the signal to cease fishing at the end of the match every competitor must immediately withdraw his line from the water, but a fish landed after the call of time to cease fishing shall be eligible for weighing-in if hooked during the progress of the match.

11. Any competitor having an objection against another competitor must give notice to the committee members present at his earliest opportunity and in any case before the match result is announced.

12. Each competitor must be present when his catch is weighed and must agree the weight recorded by the Clerk. In deciding the weight, the decision of the “weigher-in“ and Clerk shall be final.

13. Only fishing from the bank is permitted.