Club Rules

1. This Association shall be known as THE TAUNTON FLY FISHING CLUB and shall consist of such a number of full members as the Committee may decide from time to time, plus a maximum of twenty five junior or intermediate members and whatever number of honorary and life members are so appointed by the committee. Junior members must be under the age of 18 years and receiving full time education. Junior members who reach 18 years of age but are still in full time education may become intermediate members until such time as they leave full time education or reach the age of 23 years whichever is earlier.

2. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and at least six elected members. The Chairman shall be elected by the Committee.

3. The Committee shall have full power, without further authority from the members, to enter into transactions for the purpose of purchasing new fishing or other substantial capital transactions with the provision that they shall at all times maintain a balance in the Club bank accounts sufficient for the normal running of the Club for one year ahead.

4. All new members shall be approved by the Secretary and will be issued with a membership card bearing their name and photograph.

5. Subscriptions are due on the first of January of each year and must be paid by the end of February at the latest. Any member not paying their subscription by this date shall be deemed to have resigned their membership.

6. Members must submit a catch return by the 5th of November each year of all trout, grayling, sea trout and salmon caught, kept and returned.

7. Seasons shall conform to the Environment Agency Bye Laws. Retained fish shall also conform to the Environment Agency Bye Laws. For the River Tone and tributaries the minimum keepable size for brown trout and grayling shall be 25cms (10inches) and for the Rivers Axe, Yarty and tributaries 20cms (8inches) for brown trout and 25cms (10 inches) for migratory trout. From the Axe, ONLY stocked trout may be taken and ONLY from Westford Park.

8. Only one brace of fish in total may be retained on any one day from Club waters.

9. All members must be in possession of an appropriate Environment Agency Rod Licence.

10. Only artificial fly is to be used on club waters unless specifically stated otherwise.

11. Members must not damage fences, hedges or crops or interfere with game or livestock.

12. Members shall not be accompanied by dogs whilst fishing club waters.

13. Members shall carry their membership card and rod licence when fishing and must produce these and any fish retained, for inspection, when asked to do so, by other members or bailiffs.

14. Four guest tickets are available to each full member in a season. Guests must be accompanied by the member or must be in possession of a dated and signed written authority to fish the water. Guest tickets are not available to junior or intermediate members.

15. The Committee has the power to expel any member who infringes any of the Club rules.

16. The Club does not issue day tickets for any club waters.

17. The Annual General Meeting will, if possible, be held on the first Friday in February each year.

18. On all club waters when fishing for brown trout or grayling barbless or de-bardbed hooks must be used.

19. Changes to these rules must be approved by a simple majority of the members present at the Annual General Meeting. Proposed changes must be received by the Secretary, in writing, at least fourteen days prior to the AGM.

Until further notice all brown trout and salmon fishing on the Axe is to be catch and release. Only stocked brown trout can be taken from Westford Park. They are identified by a clipped adipose fin or a blue dye mark on the belly.

Until further notice all salmon caught on club waters are to be handled carefull and returned to the river.