BARNTON & FRODSHAM ANGLING CLUB

Constitution and Rules - (Updated as at 1st February 2008)

    • Constitution:
    • That the club shall be named BARNTON & FRODSHAM ANGLING CLUB.
    • The objective of the Club shall be:
    • to promote good fellowship among its members and anglers in general;
    • to suppress all types of illegal fishing and disorderly conduct and protect the fishing rights of the Club and the property of the
    • landowners;
    • to refrain from the practice of leaving litter around the banks or in the vicinity of Club waters:
    • to encourage and observe the proper Closed Season or as fixed by the AGM
    • to protect the aquatic environment from pollution or other damage
    • The officials of the Club shall consist of: President, Vice Presidents, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary & Treasurer
    • who shall all be elected annually at the AGM
    • The Club shall be governed by a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Match Secretary and Membership Secretary together with a Committee consisting of at least six members, to be elected annually at the AGM 1/3rd to form a quorum. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote. The Committee shall have power to co-opt members during the year.  Any Committee Member who fails to attend 3 consecutive Committee Meetings, and whose reasons for doing so are not acceptable to the Committee, shall be deemed to no longer be a member of that Committee.
    •          
    • 5a.The Committee shall have full power to act in all matters except to amend or interfere with any decision taken at the AGM.
    • b. All recommendations for the award of Honorary Life Membership must be approved by at least three-quarters of the members of the Committee BEFORE submission to an AGM for ratification.
    • 6. The Committee shall appoint Four Trustees, being either Officers or Members of the Club, for the purpose of overseeing Heesom’s Pool. The Committee shall have power for any reason to remove a Trustee from Office and to appoint if a vacancy arises.
    • 7a. The Club shall indemnify the Trustees against all and any claims made against them howsoever arising as a result of any action or inaction of the Club or its members.
    • b.   In the event of the Club being disbanded, its assets (including trophies) shall be allocated charitably at the Committee’s discretion
    • 8.   NOTICE OF MOTION, (in writing), for the amendment or deletion of any part or clause of the Constitution or Rules must be in the hands of the Secretary not later than 28 days prior to the AGM.  Any ten members may demand a Meeting Extraordinary by signing and forwarding a written request to the Secretary stating in full the nature of the business. Such a Meeting is to be held within 28 days of receipt of request. The number of Meetings Extraordinary that may be convened in any one calendar year is limited to two.
    • 9. The business of the AGM shall be to elect Officials, Committee and an Auditor, to receive the Chairman’s Report, the Secretary’s Report and Financial Statement and to deal with changes in the Constitution & Rules as have been notified to the Secretary as per Rule 8.
    • 10a. The Committee shall cause the convening of meetings in agreement with the Chairman. Minutes are to be kept of all meetings. Copies of all correspondence to and by the Secretary will be kept. The funds of the Club shall be banked in its name at a Bank and/or Building Society of the Committee’s designation. Cheques drawn from Club funds require the signatures of any two from the Chairman, the Treasurer, Vice-Chairman or Secretary.
    • b. The balance of Club funds held will be at a minimum of £10,000. (Only in exceptional circumstances will the Committee allow the balance of funds to fall below this level).   
    • Membership Rules:
    • 11a There shall be two classes of membership: Seniors – Minimum age limit 16 years; Juniors – 8 years to 15 years inclusive
    • All applications for Senior Membership must be put in writing to the Membership Secretary.
    • 12 The strength of the senior and junior membership will be set by the Committee and reviewed as required.
    • 13. All fees to be fixed at the AGM. Current membership rates: £20.00 full member, £10 OAP (65 years and above). All new Senior members will be charged a Joining Fee of £12.00 plus, if required, the cost of a key for Heesom’s Pool and the Rifle Range car park on the River Weaver at Anderton Moor.
    • 14a Annual membership subscriptions shall be due on 1st April and must be paid on or before 16th June each year. (Members must renew their membership before they fish on any of the Club’s water after 31st March)
    • b.   Those that are in default but seek to renew their membership between 17th June and 31st July must pay an administration charge of £5 and the annual membership subscription.
    • c.   After 31st July those still in default have to reapply to join the Club. (If membership vacancies are still available, those reapplying must pay the full joining fee and the annual subscription). 
    • 15a Club members must complete all the details on their membership card before it becomes valid.
    • b. Every Club member must always have his/her valid card with them when fishing Club waters and must always produce it when requested to do so by any other Club member, or a member of the Constabulary, a Cheshire County Council Ranger, a Landowner, or a Landowner’s Agent.
    • General Rules:
    • 16.  Senior members may request a Guest Permit for a friend on application to the Secretary or any other person designated at a cost of £3                                                                                                                              Senior, £1.00 per day Junior. Applying Member must always be in attendance.
    • 17a. No cans (containing either bait or refreshment) will be allowed on or in the vicinity of Club waters. 
    • b. Any existing litter must be removed before commencement of fishing and pegs must be left Litter Free.
    • 18a. All Club waters are closed for fishing each year during the period March 15th and June 15th inclusive, EXCEPT Heesom’s Pool which will remain open all year round.
    • b. The use of Keep Nets is NOT ALLOWED on Heesom’s Pool between March 15th and June 15th inclusive, except in any designated match.
    • c. All fish caught in matches or otherwise, (if it is deemed necessary to keep them), must be carefully preserved by use of a keep net and carefully returned to the waters on cessation of fishing. No fish are to be retained in keep nets for over 5 hours EXCEPT in matches that, with the Committee’s approval, exceed 5 hours.
    • d. No member may be present on any club water for more than 24 hours in any 48-hour period.
    • e. No member may cast their lines more than half the distance to the next or opposite angler, even if they are fishing a previously baited area before the next the next or opposite angler takes his position.
    • f. No fish over 2lb in weight to be retained in keep nets EXCEPT in Club matches.
    • g. Members must not transfer fish into any of the Club’s fisheries from any other water. Members must not remove fish from any of the Club’s fisheries and put them into any other water. (This rule is in accordance with Environment Agency bye-laws)
    • h. At Heesom’s Pool, members must always dip all of their nets and/or un-hooking mats in the disinfectant tank provided, rinse them in the adjacent water tanks and then chain and lock the tanks before they commence fishing..
    • 19.  No member will be allowed to fish on DESIGNATED MATCH PEGS on Club Waters within TWO HOURS of the commencement of a match being held on that water.
    • Members are not allowed to fish on any designated match peg while a match is in progress other than those competing
    • 20. Junior members are allowed to fish Senior waters provided they are accompanied by their parent or grandparent who is a current Senior member. Other Junior members may pleasure fish Senior waters provided they are accompanied by a Senior member on a one- to- one basis.
    • Seniors may night fish any Club water. Juniors may also night fish provided they are accompanied by a Senior member on a one- to- one basis.
    • 21a. The maximum number of rods for pleasure fishing will be two rods in use at any one time. (An Environment Agency Rod Licence is required for all waters).
    • b. Members must not leave a rod and line in the water that is unattended or over which sufficient control can not be affected. (This rule is in accordance with Environment Agency bye-laws)
    • 22. Blood Worm and Joker are not allowed in any Club water.
    • No groundbait or liquidised bread in any Club water except the Club length of the River Weaver and Heesom’s Pool.
    • No fish to be used as livebait or dead bait in Club waters at anytime or during Club matches on any water.
    • Loose feeding, in moderation, of hook baits is allowed in Club waters.
    • 23. At all times cars Must be parked in the designated car parks provided and all car park gates and road barriers leading to Club waters MUST be left closed and locked after passing through, (unless instructed to the contrary by a Club official, a County Council Ranger or a member of the emergency services).
    • Match Rules:
    • 24.  No member may use more than two hooks in matches or sweepstakes and must fish with only one rod at any one time, (others may be assembled), you may plumb for depth before commencement of a Club match. All self-modified or offset shanks are banned
    • 25a. That the draw for all Club matches ceases 30 minutes before commencement of fishing.
    • b.   That all club members can fish Club matches on Club waters with no pegging fee. An optional pool of £2.00 can be paid.
    • c.   Members can fish Club matches on away waters upon payment of the appropriate pegging fee. An optional pool of £2.00 can be paid.
    • d.   All optional pools to be fully paid out. Pay out shall be as follows: UP TO 20 PAYS 3; 21 TO 24 PAYS 4; 25 TO 29 PAYS 5; 30 OR MORE PAYS 6.
    • e.   At least 50% of the Club trophy matches shall be fished on Club waters; the remainder shall be at the discretion of the Match Secretary.
    • f.   All matches to take place only on pre-designated pegs.
    • g.   ONLY COMPETITORS AND OFFICIALS will be allowed on the bank during matches.
    • 26.  The Juniors have the option of Senior waters for match purposes in adverse weather conditions, if the Seniors present are agreeable on approach from a Junior Match Official.