dont get caught out
A&OAA Water rules
The organisation known as the Abingdon and Oxford Anglers Alliance consists of local angling clubs who have combined to further the interests of their members and the sport of angling in the Oxford and Abingdon areas. Membership of the Alliance confers the rights to members of all member clubs.
General Rules
Additional Lake Rules
Pike Fishing Rules for all AOAA Waters
Trout Fishing Rules
Other Notices
General Rules
- All fish must be returned live to the water, at the end of fishing on the day of capture except for livebaits
not exceeding 6 inches. - No wading on the lakes except to release and take photos in shallow margins where safe to do so.
Anglers must check with a bank stick to ensure bottom is safe to get in the water. - Discarding litter and the lighting of fires is strictly prohibited.
- Match venues as listed in the permit are to be left vacant.
- No swims are to be reserved on Alliance waters.
- No boats are allowed on to Alliance lakes.
- The maximum number of three rods are now allowed on all Alliance waters in accordance with new
three rod licence from the EA with the exception of Marlborough Pool and Dorchester Lake where three
rods are only permissible from 1st October to the 30th of April each season. - Any member leaving their swim must bring in their rods and remove any bait from the hook, and all
tackle from the water. - Members under the age of 16 years on or before April 1st of the current season shall qualify for junior
membership. Juniors under the age of 12, can fish for free when accompanied by a senior member. - Junior members must be accompanied by a senior member after sunset, on waters where night fishing
is permitted. - Members must be 16 years of age or over on the 1st of Apr of the current season will be classed as a
senior member. - Members residing outside a 25-mile radius of Oxford shall have no voting
power at any club A.G.M. - Night fishing is banned on all waters unless stated in special notices.
- Permits will always remain the property of the Abingdon and Oxford Anglers’ Alliance and in the event of
any contravention of these rules, must be given up request to bailiffs in possession of a warrant card
and be retained by the Alliance until a decision on possible disciplinary action to be taken. - The Alliance will not be held liable for any closures that may be enforced by the Government / Council.
- The GPC will have the authority to suspend, expel or refuse membership to any person whose conduct
is deemed detrimental to the interests of the Alliance. This includes social media of any kind. - Any member having a complaint to make must do so in writing to the Secretary, within 24 hours of the
alleged offence. - Members must not take their vehicles off the public road or on to any private property unless
permission has been granted to and by the Alliance. - Only an official Alliance membership card will be accepted as proof of membership and anglers not in
possession of a permit will be instructed to stop fishing and leave the water. No rights of membership
shall be exercised until the current year’s subscription has been paid. - Only official matches organised by the Alliance, or by visiting clubs with prior agreement of the club
controlling the water concerned, are permitted on alliance waters. - No Guns or Fires are allowed on Alliance waters.
- No fishing from cars and vans waterside and no sleeping in vehicles waterside.
- Dog permits are available from Geoff Waddle on 07914768947 (M/Pool) and Anthony Dumper on 07545584685 (Dorchester Lake).
- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, and it is your responsibility to clear up after your dog and take it home.
- Braided mainline should only be used for spod or marker rods, Pike fishing and lure fishing.
- No carp, Barbel or Pike to be retained in keepnets. No carp sacks allowed. Floating retention slings are permitted for retaining fish for up to 30 minutes. The only exception in exceeding this timescale is by permission of a bailiff or club official for the purpose of assessing fish health or arranging assistance for a specimen cup or record claim.
- The Taking of Drugs or Excessive drinking on Alliance Waters will not be tolerated. We are a family club, so please respect this.
- OMC Magic Twig is banned and not to be used on Alliance waters.
- All anglers should carry a fish care kt, irrelevant of what species is being targeted.
- The use of drones on any alliance water is forbidden, unless you have permission from the secretary (special circumstances only).
A full list of rules applying to the pools are displayed at the lakes. These must be always complied with.
Additional Lake Rules
- Junior members are allowed to fish for free after dark but must be always accompanied by a senior
member. - Night shelters ARE PERMITTED and must be either umbrella or bivvy type shelters. No tents.
- No more than one hook to be used with each rod except when pike fishing.
- Peanuts are banned on these waters.
- All plastic, rubber, foam and cork artificial baits are banned on our lakes, except for cork ball popups.
- Micro/whisker-barbed hooks may be used for all fishing.
- Unhooking mats must be used.
- Any angler will be limited to a maximum of 5 days in any one swim and must not return within 2 days.
- Only bait boats allowed and limited to individual swims only.
- Lead-core leader may be used to a maximum length of 1 metre.
Pike Fishing Rules for all AOAA Waters
- Pike Gags are banned on all Alliance waters.
- Wire traces must be used when lure fishing.
- No livebaits larger than 6 inches are to be used. These must have been caught in the same location, as
they are used. - Treble hook must be semi-barbless and not used until Oct 1st and not after 31st Mar, each season. A
maximum of 2 trebles are to be used, even on Lures. - There is no Predator fishing of any kind on Dorchester Lake or Marlborough Pool from Apr 1st to Sept
30th each season. - Trace length must be a minimum of 18 inches, except for live baiting where an uptrace must be used
and a shorter main trace can be used. - 15lb Mono and 30lb Braid are the minimum breaking strain lines for Pike fishing.
- The minimum safety kit required: Suitable side cutters,12-inch-long forceps, unhooking mats and a
suitable size landing net. - For novices and beginners, it is recommended to fish with someone who is confident and competent in
handling and unhooking Pike.
Trout Fishing Rules
- Fishing is confined to traditional artificial fly methods only, wet, or dry single hook
flies only, and with not more than three flies to the cast. Bubble floats, fly spoons,
Booby’s etc. are not allowed. The use of these or other methods will be deemed an
offence against the rules during the trout season. - The Trout season will open on the last Sunday in March and close on the last day
in February the following year (subject to the Environment Agency bylaws). The
fishery will be open to members from 6.00am, Until one hour after Sunset. - There shall be two membership types. The first is catch and release. These
members cannot retain any fish. The second is Catch and take. These members
can take 10 fish per season only. After that point is reached, they must fish catch
and release. - No member shall retain more than two Rainbow Trout in any week. The week
starts on a Monday and ends on Sunday. The maximum number of Rainbow Trout
to be taken is 10 per season. No Brown Trout are to be taken. Brown Trout are
catch and release only. - Members must book in before starting to fish and out book out on leaving the
fishery. A record of the number of fish caught and the number retained is required
with weights and species indicated. All coarse fish are also catch and release. This
then needs to be recorded. - A limited number of Day Guest Tickets will be available for members wishing to
take a visitor fishing. The member must always accompany their guest and any
breach of the rules by a guest shall be deemed as breach by the introducing
member. Guest tickets are available from the Phil at a cost of £15 per day. No Day
Guest tickets are available till May 1 st . - The stock ponds must on no account be fished.
- The official car park and access must be used when visiting the fishery.
- No wading, boating or bathing is allowed.
- Members disregarding any of the Trout Section Rule, may at the discretion of the
GPC of the said Alliance be expelled or suspended from this Trout Section, without
redress for any payments made. - No Dogs or the playing of Radios of any kind is permitted on the fishery.
- The Secretary should be notified of any complaints of any misbehavior within forty-
eight hours of the alleged offence. - At the start of the season and after re-stocking, fish are very easy to catch,
therefore a limit of 30min in any swim at these times is to be imposed. - A catch limit of fifteen fish (or at the discretion of the Fishery Officers), to be caught
in any one session. - Fishery Officers and Bailiffs have the power to conduct a bag search if they deem
it necessary. - Barbless hooks are to be used from the start of the season until 1 st May.
- Security of the fishery. The fishery Gate and Lodge are to always remain locked.
The codes for both locks will be on the trout permit sent to the members upon
joining the club. This code will be changed each season. Failure to leave the
fishery Secure will result in the loss of membership (reference rule 13)
A full list of rules applying to the pools are displayed at the lakes. These must be
always complied with.
Other Notices
- Eynsham: Parking has been offered by Mr Russell Crawford in the bungalow on entry to the toll bridge going from Oxford towards Eynsham (lefthand side) next door to the gated field but you must gain permission from him direct, he would like anglers to call in to see him.
- Parking at Farmoor reservoir for fishing above Pinkhill Weir. The rangers should be contacted on 07747 640707 to find out opening times and one-way system around the reservoir and the parking places, they also offer us as Alliance members a one-off yearly parking permit for £10
- The club recommends that anglers do not wade due to big silt beds in both of our lakes, if however it is necessary to release a tethered fish please be careful and use a prodding stick, Do not enter the water in the dark, too many anglers have drowned after getting into difficulty!
- NO TOILET FACILITIES at our lakes
- Dorchester public toilets a 2-minute drive from the lake by river bridge. Get directions
- Marlborough Pool nearest public toilets Eynsham Clover place car park 20p entry. Get directions. Most people use either the nearby local garage or Tesco’s facilities. Alternatively, you can invest in a Go Outdoors “bog bucket”, put a dustbin liner inside with some cat litter then tie it up and bin it at home.
Make sure you understand these rules and obey them. Rule breakers will be asked for their permit and suspended, they will be disciplined or even banned from the club and all its waters. Be considerate to fellow anglers and be kind to the fish.
Take all litter home and discourage rats! Weil’s Disease will hospitalise you and is a human killer!
Tight lines from committee and bailiffs, please enjoy your fishing and surroundings.