TERMS, CONDITIONS AND RULES OF LOWER ITCHEN FISHERY LTD ("The Company")
TROUT & SALMON DAY TICKETS TROUT FISHING * Season: 18th April to 7th October.
* Fishing may not commence before †9.00 a.m. and shall cease 1 hour after sunset.
* Beats: The trout fishing is divided into 5 beats the appropriate position of which are shown for illustrative purposes on the plan on the reverse of this form. A beat will be allocated prior to/on arrival. Rods must keep strictly to the beat allocated to them and not under any circumstances stray onto other beats.
* Methods of Fishing: Upstream dry fly. Maximum size of hook permitted - size 12. (Barbless hooks to be used when releasing fish). Upstream nymph may be allowed at the discretion of the bailiff.
* No fish under 12" in length to be killed unless diseased or in very bad condition. No Grayling to be killed.
* Limits: The bag limit for the day is 4 fish or 6 fish if two rods are sharing a beat. Rods may then continue to fish but must release all fish caught.
* Records: All catches must be recorded on the day of capture on a form which will be provided.
SALMON FISHING
* Season: 1st March to 1st October.
* Fishing may not commence before †9.00 a.m. and shall cease at 8 p.m.
* Beats: The salmon fishing is divided into 3 beats the appropriate position of which are shown for illustrative purposes on the plan on the reverse of this form. A beat will be allocated prior to/on arrival. Rods must keep strictly to the beat allocated to them and not under any circumstances stray onto other beats.
* Methods of Fishing: No worms to be used, and as per Environment Agency Byelaws.
* All fish to be netted.
* To ensure that salmon fishing continues, the fishery operates a Catch and Release policy for all salmon caught
* Brown trout fishing is restricted to two fish per beat per day. No Grayling to be killed.
* Records: All catches including Sea Trout and Brown Trout must be recorded on the day of capture on a form which will be provided, giving date, number, approx. weight and lure. All catch and return fish should be recorded.
* In order to preserve salmon stocks, in exceptional years during prolonged very hot spells it may be necessary to suspend salmon fishing either at 1pm should the water temperature at 9.00 a.m. that morning be 19oc or above or cease fishing when temperatures reach 20oc (depending on current advice from the Environment Agency). During such hot spells we suggest you contact the keeper in the morning before setting off to check the water temperatures and if they are too hot to change your fishing day if wished.
TROUT & SALMON
* †In order to assist with weed cutting on the river, we reserve the right to postpone the starting time for fishing until 10.30am during weed cut and clearing down days in May, June, July and August, as set by the Test & Itchen Association (a copy of these dates is available on request). PLEASE RING THE DAY BEFORE TO CHECK during these periods.
* Payment: Full payment will secure your booking, subject to availability (returnable if your chosen day is unavailable).
* Cancellations: Once a booking is accepted by the Company no payment is refundable. However, the Company may, at their discretion, refund all or part of the fees paid if the relevant day(s) are re-let by the Company.
* The Fishing Lodge and Huts are available to all rods and their guests. (There may be occasions when the management require the use of the Lodge but prior notice will be given in such cases). The Fishing Lodge must be kept locked when not in use.
* Environment Agency Byelaws to be strictly observed at all times. All rods and their guests must hold a current Environment Agency rod licence.
* Dogs are permitted provided that they are kept under strict control at all times. The Company can accept no responsibility for dogs. All persons bringing dogs will be held liable for all damage caused by such dogs.
* The Company cannot be held responsible for any fishing tackle or other property left at the fishery. Cars, with their contents, taken on the fishery are entirely at owners risk and responsibility.
* All beat holders and guests enter upon the river banks, staging, sluices, bridges roadways, buildings and all parts of the property of the Company and fishery entirely at their own risk.
* Gates on the fishery should be left open or closed/locked as found.
* 10mph speed limit on the fishery's roads. There is a height restriction of 8'2" (2.45m) under the Motorway bridge.
* Weed cutting may take place during the set weed cut dates (dates available on request).
* The Company will not be held responsible for any matters affecting the fishing for circumstances entirely beyond its control.
RODS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHOWING THESE RULES TO THEIR GUESTS. IN THE EVENT THAT ANY ROD OR GUEST OF A ROD BREAKS THESE RULES. THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE HIS AGREEMENT AND NO REFUND OF ROD FEES WILL BE MADE. PLEASE READ OUR RULES REGARDING
CORONAVIRUS:
• The Fishing Lodge will be out of bounds as we cannot organise for the necessary and regular cleaning of all the surfaces which would be necessary.
• For trout catches please continue to write up the record sheets in the fishing hut on the trout beats but PLEASE bring your own pen to minimise the risks.
• We will try and provide hand sanitiser for your use in the main fishing hut, when available, but please bring your own hand sanitiser or anti-bacterial wipes with you and use before and after using the padlock on the gates and using the portaloo and other high contact items. We will try and keep a spray bottle of anti-bacterial in the portaloo but obviously cannot guarantee it will stay there. Please use this after using the portaloo by spraying on the high contact points including the outside of the door handle. • Use disposable gloves when opening the gate/padlock. We have managed to purchase a couple of boxes and will put these in an area to the right of the gate – but obviously we cannot guarantee these will remain there, so if you have your own it would be wise to bring them with you.
• Travel to the fishery in separate cars wherever possible, unless members of the same household.
• Park on your beat of if in the main parking area, leave plenty of space between cars.
• Please do not put Clayton at risk by asking him to assist with tying on flies/landing fish – unless you are certain that the minimum distance of 2m is kept at all times.
• If using the fishing huts – please sit apart from others and do not share utensils etc
PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR LITTER HOME WITH YOU RATHER THAN USING BINS AT THE FISHERY