RULES

1. Members will pay the appropriate annual fee for the various membership categories:

Coarse fishing - Adult, Partner (of an Adult member), OAP (over 65’s), Junior (under 18’s)

Trout fishing - Adult trout, Trout accompanied angler.

(a) Life Members and ordinary members having paid the appropriate fees for trout fishing may fish all Society waters.

(b) Other members and those persons so permitted under Rule 5(a) below may fish waters allocated for coarse fishing.

(c) All persons fish at their own risk.

2. Except under Byelaw 6 no member shall, without the sanction of the Committee: (i) seek special privilege from or hold discussion with any landlord to the Society or his servants or agents with regard to the terms and conditions under which the Society operates or (ii) enter into discussion with or communicate with any National or local body or authority with regard to any matter concerning the Society's fisheries.

3. An ordinary member for coarse fishing wishing to participate in trout fishing may have the privilege of filling the next vacancy for trout fishing provided he/she has completed five years continuous membership and paid the difference between current entrance fees and subscription fees of the respective fishing categories. A Trout fishing member may only change to Coarse fishing member after having completed five complete seasons as a Trout fishing member.

4. (a) The fee for admission to membership and the annual subscription for each membership or fishing category shall be determined by the Committee from time to time.  The Committee may dispense with or vary the subscription and times at which it may be due to be paid and in any particular case and on one or more occasions.

(b) An ordinary member or member of any other category shall pay a joining fee on being admitted to the Company together with the appropriate annual subscription for either coarse fishing or trout fishing. The initial annual subscription shall be either the full annual amount or an amount reduced by reference to the date of joining pro rata to the remaining months of the appropriate fishing season (Coarse fishing – 1st April to 31st March of the following year. Trout fishing – 1st March to last day of February of the following year.) Thereafter, the full annual subscription shall be payable in each year as follows:

Trout Fishing by last day of February

                Coarse Fishing by 15th May

Any member failing to pay by these dates shall cease to be a member.

5. (a) Under Article 13 the use and enjoyment of the Society's coarse fishing facilities shall be permitted to persons under the age of 18 years on the terms referred to in Rule 1.  A permit shall be issued to such persons subject to the same conditions as apply to members under Rules 4(a) 4(b) and 5, to the Society's Byelaws 3 - 31 inclusive but not otherwise.  Guest tickets shall not be available to junior members..

(b) Under Article 14, partners, juniors members under the age of 18 years at the start of the coarse fishing season and senior citizens Under Article 14, partners, juniors members under the age of 18 years at the start of the coarse fishing season and senior citizens aged 65 and over at the start of the coarse fishing season shall be required to pay a reduced fee as determined by the committee from time to time; Accompanied Young Trout anglers will be required to pay a fee which reflects the administrative charges accrued in setting up the membership. Such Accompanied Young Trout anglers must be accompanied by their sponsoring adult member. The sponsoring adult member may be the parent, legal guardian or other such adult member approved by the angler’s parent or legal guardian. This permission must be in written form and a copy must be lodged with the Society Secretary before any visit to the fishing venue.

6. Members will be requested periodically to participate in a working party at any Society water.  In the event of non-attendance without reasonable excuse, the member will be again invited to attend a working party the next year, when his/her absence without reasonable excuse will automatically bring his/her membership into question under Rule 8.

7. Every member shall be issued with a Membership/Identity Card annually which must be carried by the member when visiting society venues. Any member may request anyone fishing on any Society water to produce their Membership/Identity Card and any member so challenged shall not unreasonably refuse to produce them.  A failure to do so shall be reported to any officer or member of the Committee who may be present at the water, to a bailiff or to the Secretary.

8. Any member of any category shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Company if he/she voluntarily resigns by giving notice in writing to the Secretary or if his/her membership is terminated by resolution of the Committee for breach of the Company's byelaws, rules or regulations or for other conduct held by the Committee to be prejudicial to the interests of the Company.  No such resolution shall have effect unless the alleged breach or other transgression has been fully investigated by members of the Committee to be appointed for the purpose and the member has been given at least 14 days notice of the matters to be investigated and of the date and place of the meeting for the purpose. The member shall be given the opportunity of submitting written representations which he/she wishes to be taken into account and of attending before such members or the Committee (whether with or without legal or other representatives) and making (whether personally or through his representatives) such oral representations to the members appointed to conduct the investigation or to the Committee as he/she wishes to have taken into account.  The members appointed for such investigation may impose any appropriate disciplinary measure on the member except that termination of membership must be by resolution of the Committee.

9. A junior member shall forfeit his/her permit for breach of a Rule or Byelaw or other conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Company if after investigation by members of the Society appointed for the purpose such breach or act is substantiated to their satisfaction.

10. Junior members may not participate in the Company's affairs other than referred to in these Rules.

11. The trout fishing members may meet from time to time to make recommendations to the Committee on the management of the fisheries including the fixing of charges and the making, repeal or amendment of the Rules and Byelaws so far as they apply to trout fishing but not otherwise. Such recommendations shall only be formulated by trout fishing members. The Chairman or Vice Chairman or Treasurer of the Society shall preside at such meetings.

BYELAWS

In these byelaws references to members and competitors shall include Junior members.

Guests

1. No trout fishing guests are allowed during the first seven days of the trout fishing season on all trout venues.

2. (a) A member may introduce one fishing guest (by ticket) in any one day (dawn to dusk only) for any coarse fishing water. A guest ticket for coarse fishing must be obtained before fishing, by payment of the appropriate fee from such persons as may be appointed by the Committee and notified from time to time.

(b) A member may be accompanied by one non-fishing guest in any one day for any coarse fishing water. The member must ensure that the guest is aware that he/she is not covered by any KAPS insurance during his/her visit to the fishery.

 (c) An adult trout member under Rule 1(a) above may introduce not more than one guest for trout fishing for one day, valid for only one venue.  The Visitors Book must be completed for each guest prior to fishing.  The maximum number of guest tickets is six per member, per season.

(d) A ticket for trout fishing for each guest must be obtained, before fishing, from the Trout Fishing Organiser or society Secretary. Applications to be made by post only and accompanied by the appropriate fee and a stamped addressed envelope.

(e) The member concerned shall be responsible for the conduct of their guest, their adherence to the Rules and Byelaws of the Society in so far as they are applicable and ensure that they leave Society waters by dusk.

(f) The Committee may invite any person to fish Society waters at any time and shall be responsible for their conduct.

Fishing - General

3. All members and their guests must hold the appropriate Environment Agency Rod Licence(s) for the type of fishing being undertaken.

The open season for coarse fishing shall be the periods:

(a) Paddlesworth, Ulcombe, Hoo (Heaton Lake) and Wealden Pond, Headcorn - All year.

(b) Hoo, Stock Pond - 1st June – 31st March (inclusive).

(c) All other waters - 16th June - 14th March (inclusive).

4. No member on any Society waters shall:

a) fish with more than 2 rods (except on the Pollard and Rugby Lakes at Paddlesworth and the main lake at Hoo and then only after a Third Rod Permit has been purchased) with lines attached and shall not set up multiple rods so that distances between the outermost butts exceeds two metres.

b) Except when pike fishing, attach more than one hook to each rod and line.

c) Fish within 10 metres of his/her neighbour or use a spinner within 50 metres except by mutual consent.

d) Cause any loud outcry or noise, or fish, or conduct himself/herself in any such manner as to wilfully annoy other anglers. Such conduct will include solvent abuse, drug abuse and the use of alcohol where this causes distress, annoyance or concern to other anglers including concern for the safety of the offending angler in a dangerous waterside environment or where the offending angler is thought not to be in complete control of his/her fishing tackle.

e) Leave any litter on lake or river banks. Members are wholly responsible for the cleanliness of pitches and swims in which they decide to fish, irrespective of whether litter is of their own making. Members found leaving littered pitches and swims may be expelled. A pitch is defined for this purpose as of 5 metres radius.

f) Park his vehicle except where authorised or make entry by breaking through or under or over any fence or hedge, or fail to secure any gate. For the purpose of this Byelaw authorised parking places are as promulgated from time to time by the Secretary.

g) Fish other than from the bank nor use any boat (including bait boats) for any purpose except for authorised working parties and as referred to in Byelaw 39 at Lullingstone.

h) Use any livebait on any water.

i) Fish other than from a numbered swim on venues that are permanently pegged.

 (j) Introduce into the water any material designed to cause a calm slick on the surface of the water.

(k) At Ulcombe fish with boilies or barbed hooks, or use keepnets (except in an official KAPS organised match), or fish other than from a numbered swim.

(l) Fly a drone.

(m) Use plastic, non-biodegradable baits.

(n) Use the self-hooking gadget marketed as ‘The Magic Twig’.

5. No member shall at any time use on any enclosed water in any manner whatsoever any particle bait, being peas, beans, grain, nuts and seeds of whatever kind or origin except suitably cooked and softened sweetcorn or maize, or hemp which has been suitably cooked with the outer shell clearly open.

Hemp, sweetcorn and maize may only be introduced into the water from within the confines of the swim being fished. The method of delivery is restricted to the following methods:

1. Catapult; 2. Spod;  3. Throwing stick; 4; PVA bag, mesh or string; 5. Swimfeeder;  6. Pole-cup.

A Society bailiff must be allowed to inspect the contents of bait containers and baits being used.

6. All coarse fish shall be returned to the water from which they were caught.  The presence of diseased fish shall be reported to the Environment Agency (emergency telephone number - 0800 80 70 60). 

7. For the purpose of the award of Cups and Prizes for the best specimen fish of various species caught in Society waters, such fish must be vouched for by a witness at the water and recorded in such manner as to satisfy the Committee.

For the purpose of such awards the following fish shall be judged equal and others pro rata: -

  Pike         15 lbs              Carp      20 lbs              Bream   7 lbs

  Tench        5 lbs              Chub        3 lbs              Perch   2 lbs

  Roach      1.5lbs              Rudd      1.5lbs              Dace     12 ozs

  Gudgeon    3 ozs

If two fish of the same weight and specie are weighed in, the earlier report shall be deemed the heavier fish.

The decision of the Committee on the award of any annual cup or prize shall be final.

8. No member shall place into, remove from or transfer between any Society water any new fish or species of fish, eggs, spawn, ova, fry or any plant, weed or seeds or any bird or animal or water creature.

9. Reserving pitches and swims is not allowed.  If any equipment is left unattended for this purpose for more than one hour, that pitch shall be deemed to be unoccupied, and an incoming angler has the right to take up occupation.  Any angler leaving his swim for any reason must remove his/her lines from the water.

10. No pre-baiting may take place before the day of fishing.

11. (a) Members may only fish or occupy a swim, between the hours of dusk and dawn at Paddlesworth or Hoo if they hold the necessary night fishing permit.

(b) Persons under 16 years of age may not fish or remain on Society waters at night unless in the continuous close company of his/her parent or legal guardian or other adult member with the written permission of the parent or legal guardian whilst on Society waters. This permission must be in written form and a copy must be lodged with the Society Secretary before any visit to any venue.

(c) Persons under 12 years of age must always be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or other adult member with the written permission of the parent or legal guardian whilst on Society waters. This permission must be in written form and a copy must be lodged with the Society Secretary before any visit to any venue.

12. No dogs, no caravans, no radios, no fires, no bathing, no trees or hedges to be cut down, no tents either near or alongside any waters. No Tilley lamps or other bright lights at night.  No guns or other lethal weapons.

13. At venues where a close season is enforced, no tent, shelter, umbrella or other bivouac of any kind shall be erected at or near any fishing waters of the Society nor shall any member make or claim a pitch before 19.00 hours on the day preceding the opening day for that particular venue.

14. Gates to the Society waters must be kept closed at all times and wherever a gate has a padlock, members shall ensure that it is locked immediately after gaining access and again on exit.

15. Any fish retained whether or not for weigh-in must be kept in the water in a suitable keep-net, which must not:-

(a) have any knotted meshes or meshes of metallic material.

(b) have any holes in the mesh larger than 25mm internal circumference

(c) be less than 2.5m in length

d) have supporting rings or frames greater than 40cm apart (excluding the distance from the top frame to the first supporting ring or frame) or less than 120 cm in perimeter.

Keep sacks must not be used.

Landing nets must not have any knotted meshes or meshes of metallic material. Carp landing nets must have a minimum width of one metre. 

16. Carp shall not be retained in a keep-net except in Society competitions.

17.  The keep-net must be immersed in the water to the fullest extent possible - at least three- quarters of the net.  In shallow water, where the net is likely to collapse, it shall be pegged out to avoid this. Keep-nets must not be used in situations where this is not possible.

18.  If a pleasure fishing session is likely to last in excess of six hours a keep-net must be emptied at regular intervals - every four hours or when the angler estimates the catch to be in excess of 40 lbs. (18kg).

19. (a) On release fish must not be dropped into the water, even from a small height, as this can readily result in damage to the swim bladder. Keep-nets should be emptied by immersing the top ring in water so that fish can swim out. To empty fish into a weigh-net one of the bottom rings should be pulled through the top ring so that fish are not slid along the length of the net.

 (b) A padded unhooking mat with a minimum length of one metre must be used for specimen fish.

Freshwater - Competition

20. Any Society water, or section of a water, that is to be used for a match (as listed on the current match calendar) will be closed to non-competitors for the duration of the match and no member, whether competing or not shall approach the water or section in question between sunset of the previous day and the commencement of the match for matches beginning between 06:00hrs and 09:00 hrs, or for a period of 2 hours prior to the start for matches commencing at other times.

21. The starting time, finishing time, boundaries of the match and the resolution of any dispute shall be decided by the Competition Fishing Organiser or in his absence by an appointed deputy.

22. Except in the case of a match being pegged down, a draw will be held to decide the walk off order, any member to draw only once.  At the starting time of the match the competitor who has drawn the lowest number shall walk off first and the following competitors at short intervals in order of numbers drawn.  A competitor may not pass another competitor holding a lower number unless and until the former has selected his swim or made an undue stop.

23. A competitor shall not fish within 10 metres of another competitor except by prior mutual consent and shall not fish or conduct himself/herself in such a manner as to willfully annoy his neighbour.

24. Every competitor shall be confined to the use of ONE rod and ONE hook only.  Other rods may be assembled.  Competitors shall not introduce bait into the water before the starting whistle but plumbing and shotting a float will be allowed.

25. Every competitor shall hook and play his/her own fish, but any other person may net the fish if requested to do so. Competitors will be allowed 15 minutes to complete the landing of a fish hooked before the final whistle.

26. Fish likely to suffer physical damage from retention in a keep-net should be weighed in immediately.  Two or more competitors may not use the same keep-net. All carp, together with other fish estimated at 2lb or over should be kept in separate keepnets from nets with smaller fish of non-carp species. A single keepnet should not hold more than a total of 50lb of fish.

27. All fish will be weighed in at the competitor’s peg.

28. Unless otherwise stated at the start of the match, the result will be decided on the heaviest aggregate catch (excluding game fish and pike).

29. The award of prizes shall take place following the weigh-in and the decision of the official in charge of the match as to the award of such prizes shall be final and binding.

30. No member shall be eligible for the award of any prize in any match or competition if he breaks any byelaw of the Society in taking a fish for which a prize might otherwise have been awarded or if he fails to return to the water the fish in accordance with the byelaws.

31. An Individual Points Championship will be run in conjunction with specified matches.  The basis of award points to be decided at the commencement of each season by the Competition Organiser or his deputy.

32. In unforeseen circumstances (e.g. flooding) the match venue will be changed to the reserve venue as listed on the current match calendar. Notice of the change of venue will be available to members at the earliest possible time by posting on the Society website and/or will be emailed to potential competitors who have registered for this service with the Match Fishing Organiser. Competitors should meet at the original venue where this is not possible.

Fishing - Trout

33. The size of takeable trout and the limits of the open season shall be determined by the Annual Meeting of the trout fishing members within any limits set down by the Environment Agency.

The combined bag limits from either, or both, of the Society waters are as follows:-

Members:           2 Rainbow Trout per day. No more than 8 in any seven day period.

Guests:               2 Rainbow Trout per full day

All other fish must be carefully unhooked and returned immediately to the water.

An angler who has caught a total of six sizeable trout in a day must cease fishing.

34. Fishing shall be by the use of one rod using conventional fly tackle only, using either wet or dry flies or feathered (including artificial materials) lures tied on a single hook. Hooks must be barbless or de-barbed at all times, irrespective of whether the angler wishes to take any fish.

35. Fishing is permitted only from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

36. At the conclusion of any period of fishing, members must complete a return of all fish caught, as well as all fish taken away, on behalf of both themselves and their guests.

37. No non-fishing guests are allowed at Lullingstone on the river or lake without the prior written permission from the society committee

38. No boat other than those provided by the Society may be kept at the water unless prior permission has been obtained from the Trout Fishing Organiser and the appropriate boat fee paid.  Such boats shall be left solely at the owners' risk and when not in use, shall be properly moored or secured in approved locations.

Where appropriate the user of a Society boat must share it with another member/s on request.

At no time may a guest be the sole occupant of any boat nor may any person other than a member or guest angler ride in any boat whatsoever.

When not in use Society boats must be locked at the moorings provided.

39. Trolling and trailing of lines from boats is prohibited and whenever a boat is changing fishing stations lines must be held inboard.

40. A guest must fish within 50 metres of the member, or may fish with him/her from a boat.

41. At Lullingstone, the river, lake and banks at Lullingstone are for fishing only. Members and their guests may not picnic in the grounds.

42. At Lullingstone, not more than five persons may fish from the bank extending from the boathouse to the lower weir and fishing here is prohibited when the grounds are open to the public.

43. The official KAPS parking permit must be displayed in the member’s vehicle when fishing at Lullingstone.

44. Life jackets must be worn by all trout anglers when fishing from a boat.