Constitution and Rules

1. Names and Objectives

The Club will be called the Darlington Fly Fishers Club. Its object will be to arrange fishing for its members, who will use artificial fly only.

2. Membership

a. Membership will be limited to forty (40) though, at the discretion of the committee, spouses may be added.

b. All members will pay to the Honorary Treasurer by the end of February an annual subscription. The annual subscription will be determined at Annual or Extraordinary General Meetings.

c. Only persons proposed and seconded by members of the club will be considered for membership.

d. The admission of new members will be decided by the committee, who will give the power to delegate this responsibility to the President and Honorary Secretary.

e. Honorary Life Members may be elected at Annual General Meetings for outstanding services to the club.

f. Members wishing to withdraw from the club, must give notice of their intention to the Honorary Secretary by 31st December, otherwise they will be required to pay the following year’s subscription.

3. Administration

a. The affairs of the club will be directed by a committee consisting of a President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, and four (4) other members, all elected at the Annual General Meeting. The officers of the club and other members of the committee shall hold office for one year but shall be eligible for re-election.

b. An Honorary Legal Adviser and Honorary Auditor shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting.

c. A minimum of four (4) members of the committee are required to form a quorum.

4. General Meetings

The Annual General Meeting will be held not later than 15th February. Extraordinary General Meetings may be called by the committee, or by requisition of ten (10) members subject to allowing for fourteen (14) days notice being given to members.

5. Membership Cards, Guest Tickets, etc.

a. Members must carry an E.A. fishing licence together with their membership card when fishing and must produce them when requested to do so by officials, members, the club’s River Watcher, or Riparian Owners.

b. Members will be allowed to invite four (4) guests only during any one season, subject to a limit of one guest on any one day. The Honorary Secretary must be notified in advance of the dates when guests are to fish. Members will be required to pay a fee, to be determined at Annual Or Extraordinary General Meetings, for each guest ticket issued.

Guest fees must be paid to the Honorary Treasurer at the end of the season.

c. During the trout close season, members continuing to fish for grayling may be accompanied by one (1) guest at any time.

d. Each Riparian Owner or Farmer allowing access over his land to the clubs water may at the discretion of the committee be allotted a guest ticket for occasional use, by himself/herself, a member of his/her family, or a house- guest, on their water only.

e. Each member will be supplied with the current risk assessment

6. Season

a. Trout fishing will not be permitted before 16th April or after 30th September in each year.

b. Fishing for grayling, by fly only, is allowed during the E.A. season for coarse fishing.

7. Fishing Returns

Members will send to the Honorary Secretary by the date of the Annual General Meeting, a record of all fish taken, all fish of one pound and over are to be specially noted.

8. Access

Members will keep to footpaths and banks, will do no damage to woods, plantings, crops and fences and must not be accompanied by dogs, when fishing. When using the farm road access to the north bank, all gates must be securely fastened and cars must not be driven on the field grass/crops except in the bottom field, when all cars must follow the same track over the field to the enclosure.

The entrances to the enclosure must be kept closed at all times.

9. Penalties

On breach of any of the rules by himself/herself or his/her guest, the member may be liable to expulsion by resolution of the committee. The member concerned will be given seven (7) days notice of the committee meeting in order to allow him/her, should he/she so wish, to make representations for consideration to the committee.

10. Rules and Bye-Laws

a. Any member wishing to propose a new rule or to alter existing rules will be required to give notice in writing, detailing the change to the Honorary Secretary not later than 31st December for consideration at the Annual General Meeting, or, sufficient time to enable members to be given fourteen (14) days notice. Any proposed changes to the rules must be carried by at least two thirds of the members present at the meeting.

b. The committee will have power to propose alterations to rules and to make Bye Laws for the direction and management for the club and its waters.

Bye Laws

1. Catch Limits

a. No trout or grayling under ten (10) inches in length from snout to fork of tail may be taken and no member may take more than four (4) fish in any one day. These limits may be varied at the discretion of the committee.

b. Coarse fish, other than grayling, will not be returned to the water regardless of size.

2. Junior Membership

The club does not admit junior members, but children (under the age of 16 years of age) may, when accompanied by their parent, fish as a guest on payment of one half of the normal guest fee. Such occasions may be in addition to the four guests.

11. Dissolution of the Club

a. The dissolution of the club shall only be effected by a majority of the members in a general meeting.

b. Should it be so dissolved, any assets, after discharge of all liabilities shall be donated to any organisation that the members deem fit or other organisation(s) that the majority of members deem fit.