Rules

Club Rules

1. The Club shall be known as “MULBARTON & DISTRICT ANGLING ASSOCIATION” and hereafter shall be referred to as “the Club”.
2. The Club shall be under the management (COMMITTEE) of a Chairman, General Secretary, Fisheries Officer, Match Secretary, Fixture Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and 3 independent club members, all of who shall be elected annually at the annual general meeting.
3. All serving Committee members will be entitled to free membership.
4. No rule 4.
5.  The annual general meeting will be held on the first Monday in April starting at 19:30hrs, if this falls on a bank holiday then it will be held on the following Monday. Committee meetings will be held as necessary. Members will be notified of any other meetings.
6. Membership fees renewal for existing members will be available from the 1st April and valid to the following 30th April.
7. The Club management reserves the right to refuse or revoke membership and no refunds will be paid, except under circumstances as deemed by and at the discretion of the Committee.
8. No rules shall be altered, added or withdrawn except at the annual general meeting or at any extraordinary meeting convened for that purpose.
9. RULE BREAKING. A three tier warning system is used.
   1. Verbal warning and name taken and given to General Secretary.
   2. Written warning issued by General Secretary.
   3. Expulsion from the Club for the rest of the season.
10. The Committee shall expel from the Club any member, for conduct, which, in their opinion, is injurious or tends to be injurious, to the interests of the Club, or its assets, or its members. BUT before expelling a member the Committee shall enquire into the members conduct and give such a member a reasonable opportunity to defend or justify themselves, either in writing or by appearance before the Committee, and a decision will be decided by a majority vote by the Committee members present.
11. The Committee may close own controlled waters for maintenance or a non-fixture match with as much notice as possible.
12. The club shall not be liable for any accident, injury, loss or damage to property, person or third party on club waters or at any venue whist in pursuit of club activities, howsoever caused.
13. Members who intend taking a guest to the club lakes must purchase a day ticket OR contact a committee member otherwise they will be FINED £20. IF THE FINE IS NOT PAYED WITHIN 7 DAYS THEIR MEMBERSHIP WILL BE REVOKED.
14. Only one committee member can be voted off each year unless of death or retiring voluntarily.

Junior Members

1. Any person who is under 16 years of age prior to 31st May shall be a junior member.
2. Any junior who is under the age of 16 on the 31st May is permitted to join the club provided that an adult will accompany the junior member and be responsible for the safety of the junior.

Freshwater Competition Rules

1. All members fishing in freshwater matches must hold a current National Rod Licence issued by the Environment Agency.
2. In all matches two or more rods may be made up at one time, but only one line permitted in the water. Only one hook may be used at anyone time.
3. In all pegged matches the venue will be pegged before the draw takes place.
4. In all roving matches there will be a draw for the position when an angler or boat may leave the meeting place. No angler may overtake anyone with a lower number unless the angler or boat has settled into a swim. All boat matches are roving matches. Any other match can be a roving match when the circumstances demand it. The match secretary will decide if a match will be a roving match.
5. In all boat matches no other boat may encroach on the immediate area being fished by other boat anglers. Offenders will be reported to the club committee.
6. Fishing to start and finish at a given signal. No bait (or ground bait) may be introduced into a swim prior to the starting signal. The setting of floats and plumbing the swim prior to the starting signal is permitted.
7. No member may fish anywhere other than the peg drawn unless the match secretary grants permission.
8. On lakes no angler may fish past the midpoint of the lake.
9. No assistance may be given to any competitor with landing a fish.
10. If one fish is hooked by two competitors the catch is void.
11. After the whistle, 15 minutes will be allowed to land a fish hooked prior to the whistle being blown.
12. Weighing in will take place at each peg after the final signal. After boat matches the match secretary will row to where the competitors have been fishing.
13. No competitor will be weighed-in if there is litter in the peg.
14. No Pike to be weighed at a club match. (Except a Pike match) Eels will count at the weigh-in provided that they have been caught on normal match tackle.
15. All day matches will be 5 hours duration (Unless specified). Evenings 3 hours.
16. If a match has been fished over half way and has to be abandoned the result will stand.
17. Club championships will be fished over 9 matches with the best 7 results to count.
18. Club junior championships will be fished over 7 matches with the best 6 results to count.
19. Handicap cup: - To qualify members must have fished at least 4 club championship shield matches the previous season.
20. Competitors will be given 3 appearance points if they fish for the total duration of the match. In exceptional cases members may leave early, without the loss of appearance points, if arranged with the match secretary, provided at least half the match has been fished. 2 points will be given for weighing-in. Top weight will receive 10 points plus appearance and weighing-in points totalling 15 points; 2nd competitor will receive 14 points and so on. The winner will be the member who has the most points at the end of the championship.
21. In the event of a tie for any competition involving a series of matches, the result will be decided by who has the most wins. If the result is still tied, then the member who has caught the heaviest aggregate weight in counting rounds shall be deemed the winner.
22. Pairs matches: - When drawing for pairs, each pair will comprise of 1 member from the top half of the previous season's points table and 1 from the bottom half.
23. Guests are allowed to enter the pools/not the Golden peg, BUT their result will not affect the placings for points or Golden peg matches.
24. An optional pool will run at all club matches. Any member not wishing to take part in the pool must inform the match secretary before drawing a peg number.
25. Golden pool peg: - Optional, 50 pence for golden peg pool, limited to £100, if not won pool will be split in half and each pool added to equally, only applies to matches over 4 hours duration. (Excluding boat, pike, interclub matches, fun days, over 50s matches, venues with less than 8 pegs and any match not fished on a Sunday). The Golden Peg will only apply if there is a minimum of 8 anglers turn up to fish and only if a committee member is present. This will only be open to club members.
26. Any member with an objection to an anglers conduct for whatever reason shall inform the match secretary either during or after the match. If either party is unhappy with the decision they may write to a committee member within 7 days. The committee will inform both parties of their decision. The decision of the committee will be final.
27. All matches will be published in the fixture card. Once published these dates cannot be altered for any reason other than circumstances beyond the clubs control.
28. Venues are sometimes subject to alteration due to adverse weather conditions, in these conditions contact the match secretary.
29. Anglers must weigh in at all matches.
30. Depending on the amount of anglers wishing to fish a match, places will be allocated at the discretion of the Match Secretary.
31. The Match secretary will determine the limit of pegs available to fish at any match, irrespective of how many pegs are at the venue.
32. At any venue surface fishing is not permitted and feeding of floating baits is prohibited.
33. Keepnets must be laid out for 30 minutes prior to fishing any match on any lake or Stillwater.
34. A match can only take place if a minimum of 3 anglers fish and only if a committee member is present at the draw and weigh in.
35. Sometimes Club related matches are not included on the fixture list because of unforeseen circumstances, when they are known, then these will be, where possible be put onto the Club website, members who have previously requested will be contacted by phone or post as soon as possible and notice will be put up at the Club Lakes.

Trophies are awarded as follows

1. Championship Shield - As per rules 17, 20 & 21
2. Winter League - A series of matches fished on a points system, best 3 matches to count.
3. Chairman's Trophy - To the winner of a pre-determined match, to be a boat match if possible.
4. Bilverstone Cup - To the winner of a pre-determined match.
5. Cyril Murrel Trophy - To the winner of a pre-determined match.
6. Specimen Roach Trophy - For the largest roach of the season.
7. Specimen Bream Trophy - For the largest bream of the season.
8. Specimen Fish Trophy - For the largest fish of the season when compared to the relevant rod caught record as a %.
9. Singles Knock-out Cup - Self explanatory. Open to the anglers who fished the first round match of the competition.
10. Pairs Knock-out Cup - Self explanatory. As per singles, also as per rule 23.
11. Pike Trophy - To the winner of a pre-determined match.
12. Bill Watling Trophy - To the winner of a pre-determined match.
13. Brig. Harris Trophy - Heaviest individual match weight of the season. (Excluding the pike match).
14. Peter Lockhart Trophy - For the most bream caught in matches throughout the season. Minimum qualifying length 10inches nose to v of tail
15. Anglia Hosts Trophy - To the winners of a pre-determined match.
16. Ronnie Barrett Trophy - To the winner of a pre-determined match.
17. Tony Smith Memorial - Evening match champion, 6 matches, the best of 4 to count.
18. Falcon Cup - Awarded to the winning team of an annual match between Dereham AC and the club MDAA.
19. Coca Cola Cup - Awarded by the Committee to the most improved angler, in their opinion.
20. Wrecker Silverfish Trophy - A series of matches fished on a points system, best four matches to count.
21. Coffin Dodgers Cup - Awarded to the winner of a series of matches.

Club Fishery Rules

1. FAILURE TO ABIDE BY ANY CLUB RULE MAY RENDER A MEMBER LIABLE TO FORFEIT OF MEMBERSHIP.
2. No FLOATING BAITS or FLOATING FEED ALLOWED on the MATCH LAKE.
3. The annual subscriptions for current members shall be payable from the 1st April each year.New members from 1st May. Only fully paid up members may fish the club waters.
4. No member or guest may fish without a current Environment Agency rod licence.
5. Membership cards MUST be carried at all times and shown on request to any other member without prejudice.
6. No litter to be left. Any litter found must be removed.
7. The property and crops of the owner must be respected always.
8. No fires to be lit,BBQ`sare  allowed if off the ground.
9. Night fishing is allowed on the main lake only for up to 48hrs. Any longer, permission must be sought from an officer of the club.
10. Only manufactured barbless hooks may be used. (Includes trebles). Members may inspect others terminal tackle without prejudice.
11. No fish to be introduced, moved or taken from club waters without the permission of the fishery officer.
12. Ground bait is allowed on all club waters in moderation. Boilies may be used as loose feed up to a limit of 5kg per session per person.
13. The use of braid is strictly prohibited.
14. Carp in excess of 10lbs must be returned immediately after capture.
15. A maximum of 2 rods may be used on club waters at any one time.
16. Carp in one net. Silver fish in another.
17. No fish to be kept in keep nets for more than 6 hours on the Canal and no more than 50lbs per net.
18. In any AUTHORISED match, fish are allowed in a keepnet for as long as is neccessary.
19. Adult members only are permitted to take guests. Maximum one guest per session. Guest's fees must be forwarded on to the Treasurer as soon as possible. Each guest is permitted a maximum of 6 visits.
20. Junior Permit holders under 16 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
21. No fish to be unhooked on the ground unless an unhooking mat is used.
22. Fishing is only allowed from designated pegs.
23. Any member who fishes in a match on a club water will be required to pay a MANDATORY match fee to enable participation. The level of fee is determined by the committee at the start of each season. Fee for the year will be displayed on the club website.