Rules

The rules for fishing our waters. These rules and the conditions on each venue page are the full and final authority.

Permission to fish is conditional and ends the moment a core condition is broken.

Membership, a day ticket or a permit is a licence to fish granted by the Association. It is personal to the holder, non-transferable, and granted only on condition that the holder complies with the core conditions below and with the conditions set out on the venue pages. Breach of a core condition revokes that licence immediately and automatically, whether or not a bailiff is present and whether or not anything is said at the time. Once revoked, permission does not resume that day, and does not resume at all until the Association confirms it in writing.

The Association may, at its discretion, treat permission as continuing where a breach is minor or inadvertent and is corrected on request. That discretion rests with the Association alone.

The waters covered by these rules are private fisheries, or waters in which a private right of fishery is held. Fishing them without permission, or after permission has been revoked, is a criminal offence under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Theft Act 1968, punishable on summary conviction by a fine. On conviction the court may order the forfeiture of rods, tackle and anything else the offender had with them for taking fish.

The offence is complete without a fish being kept or carried away. To take means to lay hands upon, grasp, seize or capture (Wells v Hardy [1964]). Returning every fish unharmed is not a defence, and neither is catching nothing, because an attempt is enough.

Removing fish from the Association’s enclosed stillwaters is theft contrary to section 1 of the same Act. Fishing any water without a current Environment Agency rod licence is a separate offence under section 27 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. Remaining on the bank after permission has been revoked is trespass, and the Association reserves its civil remedies in addition to any criminal proceedings.

The Association and its bailiffs may record evidence of a breach, including photographs and written reports, and may share it with the police, the Environment Agency, landowners and other fisheries. The Association reports unlawful fishing to the police and to the Environment Agency and supports prosecution.

The rules in force are those published on this page at the time of fishing, together with any restriction announced under the hot weather policy.

These rules apply to all P&DAA waters. They form the terms and conditions of your membership and day ticket. Venue-specific conditions and access are given on each venue page. Where a venue page sets a stricter condition, that condition applies.
Hot weather. In prolonged warm spells, low oxygen puts fish under real stress. Additional restrictions may apply at short notice and form part of these rules from the time they are published, so please check the hot weather policy and our social channels before you travel.

Terms and conditions

These terms apply to every angler on an Association water, whether fishing on a season membership, a day ticket or a permit, for the period that membership or ticket covers.

All tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.

Core conditions

Rules 1 to 12 are the conditions on which permission to fish is granted. Breach of any of them revokes that permission immediately, as set out above.

  1. Fishing of any kind is not permitted on any of the Association's river waters during the close season, 15th March to 15th June inclusive. The lakes at Ferry Meadows and the Boathouse Basin at Thorpe Meadows are stillwaters and stay open through it.
  2. Night fishing is permitted only on the River Welland, Town Welland and the Coronation Channel, and at Ferry Meadows for holders of a valid Ferry Meadows night permit. On all other waters anglers may commence fishing one hour before sunrise and must cease one hour after sunset.
  3. The use of live freshwater fish as bait is not allowed. Only pre-packed, shop-bought dead bait may be used.
  4. Keepnets are permitted. They must be fish friendly, a minimum of 3 metres (10ft) long, and secured correctly so as not to cause damage, stress or fatality to fish. Pleasure anglers at Ferry Meadows may use keepnets only for silverfish up to 2lb; bream, other than in matches, must be released on capture. For matches at Ferry Meadows a minimum of 2 nets must be used with a 50lb limit per net. On the river there is a 50lb limit per net. Other than in matches, keepnets may not be used to hold specimen fish such as pike, carp or barbel.
  5. No fish may be killed or taken away. All fish, including eels, must be returned to the water alive after they have had sufficient time to recover.
  6. Landing nets must be used at all times, and must be a minimum of 30 inches (76cm) for all specimen and predator fishing including, but not limited to, pike, zander, carp and barbel.
  7. Unhooking mats must always be used for fish on the bank. Do not place fish on the ground even if it appears soft and wet. All photography must be over an unhooking mat, never while standing.
  8. Lead: only lead weights of 0.06g or less, which is No. 8 shot and smaller, or heavier than 28.35g (1oz), may be used. Everything in between, from No. 7 shot up to Swan and legers up to 1oz, is prohibited by law as well as by this rule. Lead incorporated in the construction of a swim feeder is outside that restriction.
  9. No more than three rods may be used at any one time, with rod licence(s) to cover the number of rods in use. On all backwaters anglers may use only one rod.
  10. Multiple hooks are not allowed, the exception being where integral to a lure or to secure a deadbait when predator fishing. Gaffs, gags and lip grippers are not permitted. No trolling on P&DAA waters.
  11. Overhead wires: for your safety, fishing is not allowed within 30 metres of any overhead cables or power lines.
  12. Anglers must produce proof of membership, their day ticket and their rod licence when asked by a member of our bailiff team, who carry ID badges and patrol regularly. Obstructing or abusing a bailiff ends permission to fish and will lead to loss of membership and a ban from all Association waters.

Conduct on our waters

Rules 13 to 17 govern conduct. Breach may lead to a warning, suspension or a ban from all Association waters. Where the same act also breaches a core condition, permission is revoked as well.

  1. Anglers must park with consideration, not blocking any gateway or entrance, and respect all signage present.
  2. Anglers may bring dogs but must keep them under control at all times and clear up and remove their dog's waste.
  3. Anglers are expected to remove all litter from the bankside, even where they are not responsible for it. Discarded fishing tackle is a danger to wildlife.
  4. Our waters are shared by other users who must be shown respect at all times.
  5. Camping, fires, barbecues and excess alcohol are not allowed at any time. Damage to crops, fences or property could result in the loss of our fishing rights, so please report any damage or vandalism to a bailiff or club officer.

General notes for all venues

  • Fishing hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, strictly enforced, except where night fishing is permitted: the River Welland, Town Welland at Spalding, the Coronation Channel, and Ferry Meadows for holders of a Ferry Meadows night permit.
  • Our waters are mostly shared with other users, with public footpaths crossing them or forming the river bank. Anglers do not have preferential rights in these cases. Many meadows are grazed by livestock, so take care, especially around young animals. Some banks are public bridleways, so expect horses at times. Please do not obstruct any public right of way.
  • Parking is as described in each fishery description and must be adhered to. Do not block access to fields or park on protected verges. Never leave valuables on show in your car. Parking at Ferry Meadows and Thorpe Meadows is charged for by the owner, Nene Park Trust, and their conditions apply. P&DAA members qualify for a discounted annual parking membership on proof of P&DAA membership and an EA rod licence; current details and prices are on Nene Park's parking page.
  • Fish welfare is paramount. Unhooking mats must be used at all times, and a minimum landing net size of 30 inches (76cm) applies to specimen anglers. Keepnets are allowed (minimum 3 metres, 10ft) but use common sense on how long fish are retained.
  • Live baiting is prohibited.
  • All fish must be safely returned to the water.
  • Gunwade and Overton Lakes at Ferry Meadows and the Boathouse Basin at Thorpe Meadows stay open through the river close season (15th March to 15th June). Some areas may be closed while birds are nesting.
  • A current EA rod licence is a condition of season and day ticket membership. Our bailiff team will ask to see licences and refuse access where these cannot be shown.
  • P&DAA enjoys good relationships with its landowners but relies on their generosity in renewing fishing agreements. By following the rules we maintain our fishing rights for the benefit of all members.