1. Matches will take place as detailed: – ‘Member Only Match Competition Dates’. Refer to match dates for reservation / booking details.

2. Members shall, in addition to these rules, abide by the general rules of Club membership. Please refer to club rules

3. The Match Secretary will determine the cost of match / Competition entry for Members.

4. Match entry cost will include a Peg fee of one Pound (£1) per match. This will be used to support administration and other specific costs associated to the presentation and delivery of match fishing events. Pay-outs / winnings will be proportioned at the discretion of the match organizer and announced at “the draw”.

5. Members will only be allowed to reserve / book one match place for themselves. Members arriving without having reserved a place may, at the discretion of the match organiser, be allowed to participate in the match.

6. Club membership will / may be checked before matches.

7. All participating anglers must be in possession of a current Environment Agency Rod License.

8. Participants are restricted to the use of one Rod and line / Hook / Pole ‘at any one time’.

9. All matches are designated as ‘Silver Fish’ only – no carp to be retained or weighed.

10. Match length to be cleared of all litter at the conclusion of the contest. Individual anglers will be required to clear litter from their peg irrespective of ownership before they are ‘weighed in’.

11. Bait type restrictions and limits may be imposed at the discretion of the Match Secretary. Unused bait must be taken away from the venue for disposal, not thrown into the pool or onto the bank.

12. In addition to the above, matches will be run in general accord with the NFA / Angling Trust match fishing rules.

13. Match anglers shall be considerate of other Club members, the general public and other water users.

14. Participants should seek guidance from the Match organiser on any issues of concern or uncertainty before the match starts.

15. The use of blood worm and joker is prohibited on all Blackfords matches.

16. Surface floating baits, either hookbait or feedbait, are not permitted.

17. A competitor may wade provided that the water does not extend above the knees unless they can touch the bank with fingertips, in which case the water can extend above the knees. When platforms are used, the water must not come over the knees when standing on a lake bed, at the Platform.

18. The Match Secretary / Match Organizers shall have discretion to impose other conditions or requirements as may be deemed necessary and, shall be the final arbiter in any maters relative to these events.

Keepnets:

1. Keepnets (and Landing nets) shall be of an approved ‘Soft’ type – Compliant with the Environmental Agency Bylaw 12.

2. Keepnets must be fully dried prior to visiting / and use at Blackfords venues.

3. Keepnets will be inspected by Match Organizers prior to “the Draw”

4. When participants arrive at their ‘peg’, they shall open and place their Keepnets on the bank behind them until the match-‘starting signal’.

5. Each angler must have at least two dry Keepnets available for use during matches.

6. Not more than 40 Pounds of any fish to be retained in any one net. Any ‘one net’ weight above 40 lbs will be counted as 40 lbs. Additional nets may be used.

7. Keepnets must be weighted or staked out to submerge as much of the net as possible and so as not to collapse onto contained fish.

8. Fish must not be ‘Rolled Down’ Keepnets during the ‘weigh-In’ activities.

9. Fish must be weighed and returned safely to the pool – not dropped out of nets.