Highbridge Angling Association

Acceptance of any permit of the Association shall be deemed to be acceptance of all the Association Rules and Bylaws. The permit to fish authorises the named angler to fish the waters of the Association. The purchase of said permit does not include membership of the Highbridge Angling Association. Anglers must produce when asked the relevant Environment Agency rod license and Highbridge AA permit. (Highbridge permits are for 2-3-4 rods) and must comply with All Environmental Agency bylaws. Failure to do this will render the permit INVALID. Anyone fishing HAA waters MUST READ AND AGREE to abide by all HAA rules and bylaws.
The permit must always be carried when fishing all HAA waters and produced when requested by any other angler, such as an association official or water bailiff. THE PERMIT IS NOT VALID UNLESS COMPLETED IN FULL. The HAA operates a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY relating to AGGRESSION, ABUSE or VIOLENCE towards any bailiff, Committee member or anglers holding a current fishing permit.
The Management Committee, HAA bailiffs or Officials have the authority to fine, suspend, expel and withdraw from any angler their current permit to fish if they are in apparent breach of HAA bylaws or rules or whose conduct it considers to be harmful to HAA or permit holders .That angler will be deemed suspended from the HAA until the next committee meeting, which they will be invited to attend. In the case of a dispute, the Committee’s decision will be final. Any complaints or disputes must be written to the Secretary or Chairman. Where no rule exists and a decision is required, the Committee will make a ruling, which will be ratified at the next AGM.
Association bailiffs have the authority to ask anglers to withdraw their lines from the water if they feel it is necessary. They also have the power to check keepnets, carp retainers, etc. Using appropriate containers for fish recovery is actively encouraged rather than having fish out of the water for prolonged periods. An appropriate large padded unhooking mat must be used for carp and pike fishing. All fish must be treated with carp clinic (or other proprietary brand) on the hook hold or any other damaged area. A maximum of 36 lbs of fish may be retained in a keep net on all club waters. However, permit holders should seek to minimise the time that fish are retained and in no circumstances exceed 6 hours.
All persons, vehicles, property, etc., enter HAA waters at their own risk. The Association can accept no liability whatsoever. Members are only allowed to park on HAA waters when fishing. All vehicles must be parked in the places provided. Please observe the mandatory 5 mph speed limit on all HAA waters and the access road to Walrow Ponds. Bivvies are permitted. No coaches, caravans, or camping tents are permitted on Association waters. The cutting of trees, hedges, reeds, etc. or the alteration of swims or banksides is strictly forbidden unless it has been agreed by the Committee and carried out by a contractor, person or work party appointed or approved by the Committee.
The only method of fishing is by fair rod and line, anglers may use up to a maximum of 4 rods, providing they have the correct number of Environment Agency rod licenses and an HAA permit. Anglers must observe the closed season where applicable on all Association waters. The Closed Season on all RIVERS is inclusive from March 15th to 15th of June. Apex and Newtown Lakes, 1st March to 31st March Inclusive. Permit holders are not authorised to fish from property not owned or leased by the Association.
Anglers must not damage banks or property near the water nor trespass on any adjoining land. Access to the water must be via approved entrance points only; every angler fishing HAA waters must remove all litter in or adjacent to the swim they are fishing. On arrival, you must check for and remove all debris. Any angler with junk in or around their swim will be liable to a £10 fine and face a possible ban. Glass and tin cans are prohibited on all waters.
Pike fishing season is from October 1st to March 14th. Freshwater fish for live bait must be caught on the water being fished at the time, gorge tackle and gaffs are strictly forbidden in all Association waters.
Matches approved by the Association are held on most waters, and these sections will be closed. It is the responsibility of all permit holders to ensure they do not fish closed areas. Where keep nets are permitted, this must not be less than the minimum size of 8ft (2.5m) and 18ins (500 mm) wide. NO CARP are to be kept in keep nets except in matches where two nets must be used, one for silver fish and one for carp. Landing nets must be used at all times, and when fishing for Carp and Pike must not be less than 42 ins. Only matches approved by the Association are permitted on Association waters. Any permit holder found to be holding or fishing non-approved matches is liable to expulsion from the Association.
Bait boats, catapults and throwing sticks may be used while fishing.
Pre-baiting at any other time is prohibited.
Transferring or removing fish between waters is strictly forbidden, even between adjacent waters. Any Angler found to breach this rule will be banned from all Association waters and face possible prosecution.
Rods must not be left unattended. You may go (approximately 5 meters) away from your rods as we understand that socialising is integral to fishing. You may fish to extended points without other anglers but must withdraw if another angler moves into the extended area. Any angler failing to abide by this rule will be asked to leave.
The use of drugs and alcohol is strictly prohibited in all Association waters. Any angler breaching this rule will face the relevant ban from all Association waters. No dogs are allowed on the banks of any Association waters.
Night fishing is allowed only at Walrow. A night fishing permit at £10 must be purchased from Thyers Tackle, Highbridge, Tel 01278 786934 before fishing. These permits are only available to Full Senior Members.

No night fishing is permitted on any other Association water, and all banks must be vacated between 10.30 pm and 5.30 am.
In the interest of safety, possessing a pole or other equipment manufactured of carbon or other conductive material within 30m of high voltage cables or any other electrical power source is prohibited.
The flying of drones is exclusively allowed for authorised drones within the boundaries of all Association Waters. Individuals with permits or granted access as visitors are prohibited from operating drones especially above the Walrow Complex without written permission. Anyone found using a drone on site will be requested to leave immediately. This regulation will be firmly upheld.
Barbless hooks only to be used on the Silvers lake at Walrow
No fixed lead rigs. All leads must pass freely over the leader knot.

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