Rules

1. 1.The members shall abide by all rules of the Association and the rules of any bodies to which the Association is, or may become, affiliated to.

2. Neither the Association committee, trustees nor landowners shall be responsible for any injury sustained or damage committed or suffered while members are fishing or travelling to and from Association waters.

3. Members must hold any necessary licences or permits eg EA rod licence and these should be carried at all times when fishing Association waters. Anglers fishing MKAA waters must produce their MKAA ticket and rod licence when requested by an MKAA bailiff/officer, Parks Trust official, Environment Agency officer or the police. Members not carrying a valid MKAA membership book will be liable to purchase a day ticket, or where applicable, leave the fishery. … Under EA bylaws anyone fishing 3 rods must carry, and produce if required, 2 valid EA rod licences.

4. This membership book is the property of MKAA. If it is lost or stolen the secretary must be notified and a fee may be charged for a replacement. Breaches of the Association rules will render a member liable to expulsion at the discretion of the executive and/or the delegates (representatives of clubs affiliated to MKAA).

5. Those under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times when fishing MKAA waters and may ONLY use one rod at any time. Anyone aged under 17 must also be accompanied by an adult while night fishing (between dusk and dawn) MKAA waters.

6. Claims for specimen fish must be registered with an Association officer within 7 days of capture together with the names and addresses of 2 witnesses who must be adult members of the Association, or be witnessed by an Association Officer or Bailiff. Any claimant may be required (at the request of the executive committee) to submit the weighing scales for independent verification. All claims must be from Association waters where the Association has sole control. All claims will be awarded at the discretion of the Executive committee. In the event of a suspected National record an Association Officer must be notified immediately. (Please note! MKAA reserves the right to publicise any catches made from its waters).

7. Fishing may only take place on Association waters during the traditional close season (15th March to 15th June inclusive) if the fishery in question is designated as being open.

8. (a) Fish Welfare must be paramount at all times and all fish; EXCEPT zander; caught from MKAA waters must be returned alive to those waters. (Zander are an invasive, alien species covered by the Importation of Live Fish Act; and can cause great damage to silverfish stocks, especially in the canal, and should be humanely killed and taken away).
All Red Signal Crayfish (RSC); crustaceans, easily recognisable by their mini-lobsterlike appearance, red claws and size; are a VERY invasive and damaging alien species and any caught must be humanely killed and removed from the site. It is against UK law to return RSCs, or parts of them, to any water in the UK.
However, the extremely rare (locally) native white claw crayfish (not often exceeding 100mm in length and with small, drab brownish claws) should not be harmed.
(b) All rods must be attended whenever the lines are in the water. Environment Agency (EA) bylaws state that if an angler is fishing with more than one rod, the distance between the butt ends of the outer rods must NOT be more than 3 metres (10 feet).
(c) No more than 40lbs (18 kilo) of fish shall be retained in a single keepnet at any one time. Please note that very few fish of 6lb or more are required to reach that limit (record session weight on Willen North 209lb). Be aware of the limit and empty your net as necessary, or use multiple nets.
(d) Keepnets used on waters accessed via an MKAA ticket or match shall NOT be smaller than the legal minimum size (see note 3) specified by the EA and will preferably be larger and made of a (fish friendly) material.
Anglers must follow the Angling Trust keepnet code, taking maximum care of their catch and retaining fish for a minimal time. Keepnets must be pegged at both ends when used in shallow water.
(e) All anglers fishing MKAA waters must have a suitable landing net in their possession and use it when appropriate.
Anglers in pursuit of specimen or large fish (eg carp, pike and barbel) must have in their possession a landing net of at least 30 inches arm length (750mm) if triangular or 24 inches (600mm) in diameter if circular or spoon. They must also have a suitable unhooking mat of at least 18 inches (450mm) by 36 inches (915mm). Any angler using feeder tactics to target large bream or tench must also abide by this rule.
(f) NO LIVE FISH may be ADDED to MKAA waters. Such additions (even in small numbers as baits) are: a) Against UK law b) Risk spreading diseases which can wipe out existing stocks.
Fish live baits can ONLY be used if they have been caught from the water they are being used on (that is the UK law) on the day they are being used, and only native English species can be used, no koi etc, even if they were caught from the water in question. Use of livebait buckets and tubs is banned on all MKAA waters.
(g) On MKAA waters use of fixed leads and feeders which cannot be released on breakoff of rig is banned; no bent; hooks; may be used; wire traces must be used when pike fishing; use of gaffs is illegal and banned as is carrying them.

(h) Anglers fishing with straight leads must ensure they unclipped once their rods are set back in the rests

9. “Overcasting” of leads onto the far bank is prohibited, as is use of boats for fishing. Bait boats and other controlled devices (including drones) for delivery of bait and/or tackle is banned as are any swim markers which cannot be promptly retrieved. A minimum of 50lb shock leaders must be used when bailing up with spombs or spods. Baiting up devices must be of the floating type or have spomb floats attached.

On Stillwater’s anglers are permitted only to cast from the peg they occupy, casting from out of bounds areas and walking rods back, wading to place baits and rigs, walking  baits down the bank and casting and then throwing them into the water and wading out to cast , are all prohibited.

On Furzton ‘A’ section ( between the sluice and the wooden bridge) is feeder and float only, no fishing with straight leads. ‘C’ section  (excluding the point) No night fishing on ‘C’ section. Feeder or float fishing only. No fishing with straight leads. A straight lead are any piece of of lead (including lead substitutes and stone/stones) whether fixed or running and includes the in-line leads. Styles of fishing permitted on ‘A & ‘C’ section include freeline fishing, use of floats including fixed, sliding, self cocking where the float and loading together do NOT exceed 50 grams  in weight, use of feeders (such as cage, maggot or method types) not exceeding 50grams in weight before loading with bait.

WILLEN SOUTH LAKE ‘A’ Section The Brick Culvert Swim. Anglers must cast directly out from this peg. Casting to the left is strictly prohibited, this area is out of bounds. More detail can be found on the Venue – Willen Lake page.

NOTE 1: Sacks & tubes should only be used when necessary, with fish retained for minimal periods (caution: large fish which have been retained for a prolonged period have usually recovered their strength and could be difficult to handle, so be prepared).
Sacks & tubes should be of a reputable make, with plenty of holes to provide a good water exchange. Ensure they are clean and in good condition, and check the water flow through them, otherwise fish could be damaged.
They should be secured in deep water only, even at night (in shallow margins fish may suffer or die due to extremes of temperature and or lack of oxygen). Stake out securely, placing only one fish in each sack or tube. In rivers, ensure that the fish faces upstream.
Check fish regularly, and release them immediately if they show signs of distress. Hold them upright in the water (facing upstream in rivers), until they push off hard of their own accord.
For pike, catfish and barbel only tubes should be used, and be large enough to properly accommodate the fish. Big bream can be kept safely in large keepnets with 28 inch (720mm) diameter, or larger, rings. It is also helpful to cover a staked-out keepnet with light, damp sacking or weed. Framed sacks are also suitable.
NOTE 2: Putting a net into a fishery when it is still wet from use on another water can greatly increase risk of spreading diseases and parasites. Please dry nets between trips, preferably (if possible) by prolonged exposure to strong sunlight (the Ultra Violet light kills most bugs).
NOTE 3: Current legal minimum size (EA bylaws) for keepnets is 2 metres long with a minimum CIRCUMFERENCE of 1.2 metres (for round nets that equates to a minimum ring diameter of 381mm (15 inches). They must be of soft (knotless) material and no hole in the mesh must be larger than 25mm knot to knot (approx). In the interests of fish welfare anglers should use keepnets considerably larger than the legal minimum.

10. Any member whose behaviour is deemed to bring the association into disrepute or any breach of association rules shall be liable to disciplinary action. That action will be agreed by the disciplinary committee, which has discretion on whether or not any appeal should be heard.

11. No guns (including replicas, air rifles/air pistols and BB guns) or other weapons to be taken on to or carried on any fishery accessed via an MKAA ticket.

12. Please respect the countryside and parks. On all fisheries accessed via an MKAA ticket: no approach shall be made through mowing grass or growing crops; trees, bushes and bankside vegetation are not to cut or damaged; all gates are to be closed after passing through; lighting of fires, including barbeques is prohibited as is the taking of dogs on to fishery banks (though dogs may be taken into MK and Emberton parks if kept under control).

13. In the event of booked pegs not being taken within 1 hour of the start of the match such pegs shall become available to other MKAA members, subject to the booking club’s approval. This does not apply to MKAA matches. Unofficial (not previously booked) matches are not allowed on any waters accessed via an MKAA ticket.

15. Cars are not permitted on the banks of any fishery accessed via an MKAA ticket OTHER than in properly designated parking areas.

16. No season/day ticket angler shall leave litter of any description on Association fisheries or any fishery to which access has been gained via an MKAA membership card; cans, tins and glass bottles must not be taken onto such waters; anglers are responsible for clearing litter in and around the vicinity of their swim PRIOR to fishing: no match competitor’s catch will be weighed in if there is litter (including peg numbers) in/around their swim.

17. Anglers are not allowed to set up at the waterside of any MKAA Fishery (which is still subject to the traditional close season) more than 12 hours before the start of the season (June 15th 24.00 hours).

18. All waters that are reserved for any purpose must be vacated by 8pm on the previous day. The only exception is when the competition is scheduled to start at or after 5.00pm. In this instance only, the water may be fished up to 12 noon (12.00am) on the day of the competition. Water reservations and start times are shown in this membership handbook.

19. Where accessing another club/organisation’s waters (those listed as in association with) via an MKAA ticket or match, MKAA members will be bound by the host club/ organisation’s rules while on that water.

20. One bivvie only to be erected in the vicinity of any peg on Furzton Lake, Tear Drops or Lodge Lake irrespective of whether or not more than one angler is fishing from that peg.
21. Anglers visiting MKAA venues are limited to a maximum stay of 6 consecutive nights, and where an organised or informal group visit this limit applies to the swims occupied by any of the group. All tackle, including bivvies, must be removed from the venue, and no return to the same venue is permitted for 3 days (72 hours).

IMPORTANT NOTES

NOTE 4: Night fishing is normally allowed by season and day membership holders on all MKAA waters OTHER THAN Lodge Lake, Wolverton Mill, Ravenstone Mill, Adams Mill and those waters listed as (by arrangement) with other clubs/organisations.
NOTE 5: Anyone NOT paying the 3 rod premium when buying their season card may purchase a £16 upgrade by contacting the Association chairman or general secretary.
NOTE 6: MKAA day tickets are valid for a 24 hour period midnight to midnight, so fishing through midnight requires the purchase of TWO day tickets – and if a day ticket angler is fishing three rods through midnight he/she will need a total of 4 day tickets (day ticket currently £8.00 (£5.00 concessions). Day tickets valid for daylight hours ONLY on Lodge Lake. A (CANAL ONL) dayticket at £5.00 (no concession rates) allowing purchaser to fish MKAA’s canal midnight to midnight with up to 2 rods. This CANNOT be used on any other MKAA waters and CANNOT be upgraded to cover other waters. It is for use on the canal ONLY.
NOTE 7: Rule 8c says that a limit of 40lbs (18 kilos) is to be held in any one keepnet at any one time. Match anglers will operate within this rule by using two nets or having interim weigh-ins.