General Rules

The below fishing rules apply to all of our waters.

Fishing shall be limited to members of the Alresford Angling Association and to member’s guests who have purchased a “Guest Ticket” in advance of fishing.
Landing Nets and weigh slings to be immersed in the Net wash prior to session start.
Wading in any of the lakes is not permitted unless covered by a Work Party.
All gates to be kept closed after access and egress.
Where night fishing is permitted, members under the age of 18 years MUST be accompanied by a Senior AAA member. ID may be requested as proof of age.
Fishing is permitted ONLY from specified pegs and these are not to be enlarged by digging out the bank side.
No boats/bait boats or Drones shall be permitted on club waters without the consent of the committee.
The club shall require all members to carry current proof of membership of Alresford Angling Association and a relevant Environmental Agency licence when fishing. These are to be shown to any other member of the Association,the Landlord, and his agents or to any Environmental Agency bailiff on request.
No angler shall leave or approach the waters by any other than the recognised access points. No dogs are permitted at any club waters, unless authorised by the Committee. No guns permitted on any of the clubs’ waters unless authorised.
NO LITTER shall be left on the banks or in the waters. Any member found doing so will be suspended from the club.
No growing crops to be crossed or damaged and no trespass shall be permitted on adjacent lands, neither shall any disturbance to game or landlords’ property be caused. All gates to be left properly fastened.
The Association shall be responsible for making good any damage occasioned to the landlord’s property by members of the Association.
The Association shall observe any close season as laid down by the Environmental Agency or imposed upon the Association by rental agreements.
Nothing must be done which may cause harm to Wildlife by intrusion or pollution. The uses of radios or similar items are not permitted.
Vehicles should be parked ONLY in the Associations designated areas and should not in any way obstruct the Landlords property.Disabled badges must be prominently displayed on members’ vehicles. No able-bodied person to use Disabled parking area.
Membership shall not be permitted to any person under the age of 16 years without the written consent of their parent or guardian, who will be deemed responsible for their safety and behaviour whilst at club waters. Any child under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by a Senior Club member.
Care and consideration must be given handling fish at all times
Keep Nets must be of the knotless kind and may ONLY be used during matches and for the retention of specimen fish for weighing purposes
Hooks Barbless and Micro-barb hooks only. No fully Barbed hooks to be used on any of the Clubs’ waters
A Euro size Carp unhooking mat must be used where the potential for catching larger species fish is possible. These to be wetted during hot weather
Where the potential to catch fish above 10lb a 42” minimum sized landing net must be available
All fish to be returned to the water.
The uses of all nut baits (i.e. Tiger Nuts, Peanuts etc.) are banned on ALL club waters.
Waters may not be used 12hours prior to a match

Grinsted Orchard Lakes

Cox, Bramley and Worcester

Fishing at Orchard Lakes is permitted ONLY between the hours of 06:00 – 21:00 or dusk whichever is the earlier.
No lighting of fires or camping is permitted.
No night fishing.
No fixed-lead rigs to be used (including swim feeders)
No fish over 5lb to be kept in keepnets (except for official matches or until an offical scalesmen has weighed a specimen fish)
Keepnets are not permitted except during an authorised match and these should be a minimum of 3m in length and of a carp-safe material (No knotted mesh)
Unhooking mats are compulsory if fishing for carp

Lake Specific Rules

Alresford Pit

No fishing or access shall be allowed from the South Bank at Alresford Pit.
72 hrs is the maximum allowed session and a 3 Rod limit per person.
Outside of working hours;
06:30 – 18:00 Mon- Fri
06:30 – 13:00 Sat
The top gates on the haul road are to be kept locked. Access is only from Alresford end.

Alresford Pit Pike Fishing Rules

Pike fishing will only be allowed between October 15th until March 15th inclusive.These dates will be dependent on weather conditions i.e.,should warm weather carry on into November then the starting date will be moved accordingly.This will apply also to the season end date, should an early Spring arrive.Please check Gate and Newsletter notices.
Dead Baits only to be used.NO LIVEBAITING.
The use of lures can only be used on the Lake during the Pike season.This is to avoid the accidental hooking of Pike while Perch lure fishing.
To avoid deep hooking Pike,freelined static baits are banned.
A minimum line strength of 15lb mono or 40lb braid (the braid breaking strain is to give a minimum thickness of 0.28mm).
Wire traces are to be a minimum of 18" or 46cm long and 30lb breaking strain.
All anglers must be in possession of a suitable sized landing net of 30" dia minimum and preferably a rubberised mesh one. "Chinning" or lifting fish from the water without a net is banned, irrespective of size.
Anglers must be in possession of large side cutters,a minimum of 11" long for cutting/removing hooks.An equivalent pair of forceps and an unhooking glove must be to hand.
Dead bait trebles will have one micro-barbed hook to retain the dead bait,the other two will be barbless. All lure hooks to be de-barbed.
When unhooking use the forceps and hand technique.Lay the Pike on its back,fig A,slip your gloved hand through the gill cover,fig B,(avoiding the gill rakes as these are razor sharp!). Firmly hold the jaw, the mouth can be opened very easily ,use long nosed pliers or forceps to remove the hooks, fig C.

11.An adequately sized unhooking mat must be used relative to the fish size and preferably have sides.

12.The use of Pike gags is strictly forbidden.

13.Strike early,do not wait for the Pike to swallow the bait as this will result in a deep hooked fish.

If the hooks are difficult to remove,use strong cutters to cut away hooks and remove the trace.

Remember a deep hooked Pike will soon become a dead Pike if the tackle is not removed!If however, you cannot see the hooks DO NOT cut the trace. Leave this attached and release the Pike. When the fish is re-caught a more experienced angler may be able to remove the snap tackle.

The safety and well being of our fish is of the utmost importance and there is no shame in asking for assistance.

cf05a0_26d12cfa8ff34ae49a721760fcafc85e~mv2.avif

cf05a0_ff8f9b7be09a4a21a3b585579ef55f31~mv2.avif