1. Competitions open to NAA members only unless stated in the
2. Competitions to be of 5 hours duration unless otherwise stated on the pe
3. The match will be pegged down unless stated on the Start, draw and finish times will be as stated on the permit and matches started by an agreed signal.
4. Each competitor on drawing their peg number shall proceed to the corresponding number on the bank and this will be considered their fishing ground where they will fish. The peg must remain in position until the weigh-in is completed.
5. Every competitor must fish from within one metre either side of their designated peg. On flowing water, the competitor may fish in the direction of the flow as far as the next peg. On still water, they may fish as far as half the distance between their peg and the pegs on either side. Where competitors are drawn on opposite banks, the limit of the swim is the line midway between each ban On Rover matches competitors are allowed to move from their swim provided their catch is returned safely to the water before moving.
The competitor will restrict their activities completely to these boundaries, neither their person, their tackle, their hook baits or ground baits may intrude into their neighbours swim.
In an extreme situation e.g. snagged tackle of a snagged fish, an angler must seek permission from their neighbour/s before moving from their designated peg to try and remedy the situation.
6. No competitor may move their peg or exchange their peg or draw card with another without the organiser’s official consent.
7. Competitors must retain all fish in keepnets which comply with the relevant EA Byelaw Competitors must take every practicable step to keep their fish alive and, after weighing them, must ensure their careful return to the water. If, for any reason fish are seen to be in distress, a competitor or match official has the right to demand that they be weighed immediately and returned to the water during the course of the match.
8. Two separate keepnets must be used for carp and silver fish, or in any circumstance where the number or type of fish may be damaged if retained or transferred for weighing from one net only.
9. A competitor shall have in use one rod or pole, one line and one single hook at one time, but may have other rods or poles and tackle assembled for use in position behind him/her, if possible, providing that no such other tackles are baited.
10. Any bait, subject to local rules, can be used except live or dead fish, frogs, spinning baits, floating baits, artificial baits or artificial lure.
11. Before the starting signal no competitor must on any account ground bait or loose feed the swim but will be allowed to wet a line, plumb the depth and test the float, mix and wet ground bait, clear their ground of weed or obstructions and position their equipment. On no account must a loaded feeder be used before the starting signal. A ledger weight or empty feeder may be cast to find depth and distance etc., but at no time must the line be left in the water whilst continuing to set up other tackle.
12. All groundbait may be thrown in by hand, or by use of one or two handed catapults, throwing sticks, swim feeders, bait droppers and bait cups, but no other mechanical means of projecting groundbait is permitted. Competitors are not allowed to feed with a pole cup when another rod and line is in the water.
13. Competitors must strike, play and land their own fish except in the case of junior matches or physical disability.
14. A competitor may wade provided that the water does not extend above the knees unless they can touch the bank with fingertips, in which case the water can extend above the knee When platforms are used, the water must not come over the knees when standing on a river / lake bed.
15. A competitor must cease fishing at the finishing signa Should they still be playing a fish hooked before the signal is given, they will be permitted no more than fifteen minutes after time has been called to land the fish.
16. All fish caught are eligible for weighing with the exception of pike, game fish and crustacean
17. Weighing must be carried out by the designated scales person and no competitor should weigh his own catch without an independent witness.
