Basic Rules & Welfare Code of Angling Practice at Angel Lakes

We do not want to offend anyone, however, no beginners, sea or game anglers converting to coarse fishing are allowed fishing on Angel lakes unless they have been with an Angel Lakes angling coach and deemed competent.

 

Please Note: All Fish are Catch and Return Alive to the Water

All our rules are Common Sense!

  • The main rule is  minimum handling = maximum conservation

  • A current Year-long EA License is required for all anglers over 12 years old it must be shown before fishing.

  • All anglers & guests must report, pay and sign in at reception prior to going to the lake you have chosen to fish, dip your landing nets and unhooking mats, no swapping of lakes once you are fishing.

 

Rule 1.

Every angler must have balanced coarse tackle and terminal tackle, & use it correctly.

An unhooking mat, landing net & disgorger at all times

NO Feeder or Ledger rod to be used as a float rod, no spinning rod, beach rod, boat rod etc.

 

Rule 2.

Any Angler who Swings any fish of any size in, or handled the fish back to water (all fish caught must be brought in & returned to the water using a landing net) or caught or reported breaking the rules will be asked to leave the fishery

 

Rule 3.

All nets, mats, weight slings, must be dipped in the chemical dip tank for 10 minutes then rinsed in the fresh water tank, the tanks are by reception, a mangle is also there to extract water from mats if required.

 

Rule 4.

Barbless hooks only max size 12 minimum 18.

A minimum mainline strength of 8lb on Bowes and Lookout and 4lb on Bassetts is recommended.

All ledger and feeder rigs MUST BE free running. NO Fixed rigs.

METHOD, BANJO, PELLET and HYBRID feeders ARE NOW PERMITTED on our fishery.

No Zig rigs and NO BRAID is allowed on either reel or as a hook length.

We recommend a minimum of size 10 elastic and 5lb hooklength for pole fishing. Floating pole is not allowed. Only Angel of The North Feed Pellets are to be used as Loose pellet feed. All other pellets for the hook are permitted (except wafters, band ums, washters, Fjuka etc).

  1. No fixed lead rigs or Helicopter rigs are to be used, when feeder or ledger fishing the ledger or feeder must be free running. No knots, swivels or float stops above the feeder to the reel.

  2. Method feeders, Hybrids, banjos and pellet feeders are allowed but must be free running and can be used with a MINIMUM 4 INCH HOOKLENGTH.

  3. a) JIGGA floats of any make/brand are NOT PERMITTED on our fishery.

    b) Pole fishing hook lengths and shallow rigs
    Pole rigs must incorporate a correctly shotted float. NO Overshotting allowed. No polyballs.

    We do allow 4inch and 6inch hook lengths for your pole rigs. No Direct rigs! A hooklength must be used.
    When shallow fishing your rig MUST CONSIST of a fixed float.
    Warning: Rigs, where only ‘shot’ are used, are NOT PERMITTED on our fishery and anyone caught using these rigs will be banned.

  4. No barbed or semi barbed hooks.

Suitable legal landing nets and appropriate length handles to be used. No keepnets to be used by pleasure anglers.

When returning fish to the water in a net please allow enough time for fish to recover before releasing it. If a fish is deep hooked then cut the line close to the mouth, do not pull at the line or repeatedly attempt to disgorge –just cut the line.

 

Rule 5.

No swapping of lakes, due to possible cross contamination and therefore bio-security, Fishing is from constructed pegs only. Anglers must reel in if you leave your peg.

No Stalking of fish.

 

Rule 6.

Do not damage plants on bank-side or surrounding area, on site toilets must be used.

All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult unless authorised

All anglers must keep to footpaths provided.

No Alcohol or drugs allowed on site and any angler caught with such will be asked to leave.

Please report any case of injured fish or wildlife to a member of staff

We would ask all anglers to take rubbish home or place in the bins at reception.

We request you DO NOT USE electronic bite alarms, or have them turned down, for fellow anglers consideration .

Finally take nothing but memories and leave nothing but Footsteps-enjoy!

 

Rule 7.

FEED-Angel sinking feed pellets only, or maggot, worm, caster, hemp,

ground-bait is allowed except on Bassetts pond.

  • NO OTHER FEED PELLETS TO BE USED EXCEPT ANGELS OWN!!!!

  • NO feeding of sweetcorn.

  • MEAT is now BANNED effective from November 2021.

  • No bloodworm, joker, No nut based bait. No power-bait. No wafters, bandums, washters,Fjuka etc.

  • No trout pellets allowed.

  • No Cat or Dog or any animal- Feed, Meat, Complete, Extruded.

  • No Floating or sinking biscuit.

  • No bread, punched, sinking, floating or crumb (except in matches as laid out in match rules).

  • No artificial or plastic baits.

  • No Floating Bait.  

  • No boilies of any size or description,  no pop-up boilies.

  • Hook baits allowed are maggot, caster, worm, paste, sweetcorn and hook-able pellets.

  • Hookable pellets that contain fishmeal and are factory produced and packaged only.

Please follow the BAIT rules for the welfare of the aquaculture therefore the fish’s habitat!