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  Match Rules

  Caistor Fisheries League Match Rules
   
1. The match must be a pegged down competition.  Pegs, preferably ten yards, must be staked out and    numbered prior to fishing.  All  pegs will be entered into the draw unless they are officially removed.
   
2. Each competitor on drawing his/her number shall proceed to the corresponding number on the bank and this will be considered  his/her fishing ground where he/she will fish. Should there be any vacant pegs available after the draw; any angler wishing to draw a different peg may do so at a cost of 50% of the entry fee. This amount will be added to the prize fund. The peg must remain in position until the weigh-in is completed. 
   
3. Every competitor must fish from within one metre either side of his/her designated peg.  On still water, he/she may fish as far as half the distance between his/her peg and the pegs on either side.  Where competitors are drawn on opposite banks, the limit of the swim is the line midway between each bank.  The competitor will restrict their activities completely to these boundaries, neither his/her person, his/her tackle; his/her hook baits or ground baits may intrude into his/her neighbour's swim.  In an extreme situation e.g. snagged tackle of a snagged fish, an angler must seek permission from his/her neighbour's before moving from his/her designated peg to try and remedy the situation.  A competitor must not cause annoyance to, or seek to interfere with another competitor or use mobile phones during the course of the competition. 
   
4. No competitor may move his/her peg or exchange his/her peg or draw card with another without the organizer's official consent.
   
5. Competitors must retain all fish under 3lb approx in keep nets which comply with the relevant EA Byelaws. Fish over this size must be weighed by an official, recorded and returned in the swim caught. Competitors must take every practicable step to keep their fish alive and, after weighing them, must ensure their careful return to the water.  If, for any reason fish are seen to be in distress, a competitor or match official has the right to demand that they be weighed immediately and returned to the water during the course of the match. 
   
6. A competitor shall have in use one rod or pole, one line and one single hook at one time, but may have other rods or poles and tackle assembled for use in position behind him/her, if possible, providing that no such other tackles are baited. 
   
7. Any bait, subject to local rules, can be used except live or dead fish, frogs spinning baits or artificial lures. 
   
8. No competitor shall have live or dead fish in his/her possession before a match.  All competitors must submit to a search if requested by a contest official. 
   
9. Before the starting signal no competitor must on any account ground bait or loose feed the swim but will be allowed to wet a line, plumb the depth and test the float, mix and wet ground bait, clear his/her ground of weed or obstructions and position his/her equipment.  On no account must a feeder be used before the starting signal.
   
10. Competitors may receive assistance to or from their peg, or both, for themselves or their tackle, or both.
   
11. No ground bait or loose feed may be thrown in by hand, it can however be introduced into the swim of the angler by the angler with the use of or by use of one or two handed catapults, throwing sticks, swim feeders, bait droppers and bait cups, but no other mechanical means of projecting ground bait is allowed.  No bait shall be introduced with a pole cup or bait dropper attached to an extra rod/pole whilst continuing to fish. 
   
12. A competitor must strike, play and land his own fish.
   
13. No bait, equipment or information can be given to any competitor during the course of the match.  Competitors withdrawing from the match are not allowed to give their ground bait or hook bait to or approach another competitor during the duration of a match.
   
14. Any competitor who abandons his/her peg having decided to cease taking part in the match but who decides to continue fishing must do so outside the confines of the length being used for the match. 
   
15. All competitors shall, as far as possible, prevent any persons other than match officials from entering the fishing ground.
   
16. No competitor shall leave his/her peg at any time during the course of the match other than to answer the call of nature or obtain refreshments and then he/she must not leave his/her baited hook in the water.  At the end of the match, a competitor must remain at his/her peg until his/her catch has been weighed unless he/she has been detailed for weighing duties.  Any competitor so detailed must have a witness to the weighing of his/her own catch.
   
17. A competitor must cease fishing at the finishing signal.  Should he/she still be playing a fish hooked before the signal is given, he/she will be permitted no more than fifteen minutes after time has been called to land the fish.
   
18. All fish caught are eligible for weighing with the exception of game fish and crustaceans.  It will be the responsibility of the weighman to return all live fish to the water after weighing.  Dead fish, handed to the weighsman by a competitor, must be returned after the match, to the headquarters by the competitor concerned and placed in the receptacle provided.  Any fish suspected of being weighted or any fish considered suspicious by the weighers must be laid before the match organizers and the angler's weight be not confirmed until a ruling has been obtained. If stewards recommended the disqualification of a competitor they will weigh his/her fish in case the ruling is not upheld.
   
19. All catches will be weighed to the nearest quarter of an ounce or ten grammes rounded up.
   
20. Each competitor will be responsible for ensuring the correct weight of their catch is recorded by the Steward and sign the sheet to that effect.  In any dispute the decision of the weighers and the organizers will be final.
   
21. All fish must be weighed at the competitor's peg.  Unless the bank side terrain renders impossible, no catch shall be carried more than ten yards to the scales. 
   
22. Competitors are responsible for ensuring that their pegs are clear of litter and no competitor may have his/her catch weighed in who has litter lying on the banks of his/her swim.
   
23. Any objection to an angler's conduct, for whatever reason, must be lodged in writing with a match official or weighers within one hour of the end of the match.  In all cases the objector shall inform the offender of his/her intentions at the time in order that he/she may speak in his/her own defense.  Should an offender after receiving such a warning leave the match scene, the objection shall be deemed to have been sustained and the match organizers must inform him/her of their findings and punishment (if any) within seven days.
   
24. All the foregoing rules are subject to the byelaws of the Environment Agency. 
   
25. All holders of trophies must, on presentation of them, give a written guarantee for their safety and shall undertake to return same (when applicable) in a clean and presentable condition when asked by the organizers.  In the case of a team trophy, all members of that team are obliged under this rule.
   
26. Any angler proved to have been in contravention of these rules will be disqualified. 
   
27. Any association or organization wishing to deviate from these recommended NFA rules must advertise the fact and list the deviation on the match entry ticket and other literature. 
   
   
THE FOLLOWING RULES WILL ONLY APPLY WHEN A TEAM COMPETITION AS WELL AS AN   INDIVIDUAL EVENT IS BUILT INTO THE MATCH. 
   
28. Details of each angler making up the team must be entered on a team card (or sheet) which must be   handed in before the match begins.  No alterations in the make-up of a team will be permitted once the draw has begun
   
29. A team competition may be decided in two ways, by means of aggregate weight or by means of points.  Where the latter is preferred the NFA recommend that the system to be adopted be the same as that set out in Rule 48 of the Federations Nationals Championship rules. 
   
30. The use of lead, including any alloy or compound lead, in the form of split shot or any other suitable thing for weighting fishing lines is prohibited.  The prohibition does not apply to weights of lead, alloy or compound lead, less than 28.35 grams if such lead, alloy or compound lead, is incorporated in the construction of swim feeders or self cocking floats.