Welcome to Langholme Lake

Langholme Lake Rules

1. Only Carp Society members and authorised visitors may enter the property.  Non fishing visitors must report to the office or head bailiff, and carry their permit and/or membership card at all times and produce it/them to a Carp Society official or permit holder on request. If such documents cannot be produced the person may be asked to leave the property by a Carp Society official.

2. Permit holders are entitled to fish the water for the period for which their permit applies, except for dates when Carp Society events are arranged. Such dates will be posted on the Society website and the notice board, or will be available on request from the office.

3. The gate to the property must be closed and locked immediately after entry or exit.

4. Whilst on the property vehicles must be driven carefully and quietly, and must be parked in the car parks provided. Loading or unloading of vehicles is permitted on the roadways, but vehicles must not be parked on the grass.

5. Fishing is only permitted from authorised named swims. Single swims can be fished by a single angler to a maximum of 3 rods, and double swims can be fished by two anglers to a maximum of 6 rods.

6. No swims may be altered without the consent of a bailiff or Carp Society Official. Climbing of trees is not permitted.

7. No boats of any description are allowed on the water other than the authorised use of a boat by the bailiffs in the course of their duties.

8. No swimming or wading permitted except for landing fish over shallow water.

9. Anglers fishing for carp or pike must use a minimum of 15lb breaking strain monofilament line.  Float fishing for other species must be carried out with a minimum of 5.5lb line.   When feeder fishing for tench, anglers must use a minimum mainline strength of 10lb mono.

10. Dogs must not be brought onto the property.

11. It is the responsibility of any angler occupying a swim to ensure that the swim and surrounding area is kept free of litter. Take all litter home.

12. The use of all leadcore, braided mainlines and shock/carp leaders (i.e. where there is a knot above the hooklink) on any baited rods is not permitted.

13. All anglers must carry and use a good quality unhooking mat meeting the Carp Society requirement for size (1.2m x 0.8m x 40mm). Anglers must also be in possession of a weigh sling and antiseptic treatment. Sacking of fish is strictly not permitted.

14. Barbless hooks must be used at all times, the use of long shank ‘nailer’ hooks is prohibited.

15. The use of nuts as hook baits or in loose feed is not permitted.

16. No guns, crossbows or weapons of any kind are allowed on the property unless authorized by the lake management.

17. No open fires to be lit on the property.

18. Anglers must not introduce into the lake from any other water any live or dead freshwater fish, spawn or pond plants.

19. The minimum age for holding an annual permit is 16 years.

20. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on the property.

21. Any person fishing the waters must hold the relevant E.A. licence. When/where 3 rod fishing is permitted any angler doing so must be in possession of 2 licences.

22. Permit holders may be accompanied by non fishing companions (at discretion of duty bailiff) who must report to the office or duty bailiff, provided that the companion/s is a Carp Society member. No swims can be reserved by any means.  Anglers considered to be reserving swims, especially communicating by mobile phone with anglers not already at the lake, risk being banned from the fishery.  Please note that bivvying up behind an angler already occupying a swim is not permitted.

    While you’re fishing:

23. Unruly and abusive behaviour (verbal or physical) between individuals or groups of anglers, or towards Carp Society property or personnel will be deemed to be a rule infringement. All members must (at the discretion of the bailiff) conduct themselves in a sportsman-like manner and observe good angling etiquette.

24. Swims designed for wheelchair access must be vacated by an able bodied angler if they are required by a wheelchair bound angler, provided that the angler has given at least 72hrs to the office of his/her arrival. Signs will be posted in the swim in advance.

25. An angler may be absent from his/her swim for a maximum of 4 hours and off site for a maximum of 2 hours in any 24hr period. Please note: stalking whilst occupying a permanent swim is allowed with one rod only and only when space permits. This must not interfere with another anglers fishing and is allowed at the bailiffs discretion.

26. No angler’s baited rods must be left unattended. This includes ‘walking out’ of lines to clip up, if other lines remain in the water. It is not acceptable to leave rods under the control of another angler who is already fishing.

27. Wound in rods must not be left unattended without the hook bait being removed.

28. Fishing in areas which are out of bounds or in swims which are closed is prohibited.

29. The Carp Society shall have the right to inquire into, and take the appropriate action in the event of an alleged infringement of the rules in accordance with the current bailiff guidelines, which are published on the Carp Society website. A paper copy is available from the office.

30. Rule infringements. Annual permits holders warned for rule breaking could have their permit punched; a second infringement will result in your permit being withdrawn. Twenty four hour ticket holders infringing a rule will be warned and on the second occasion will be requested to leave the lake immediately. All rule infringements will be recorded on the membership database. Return of any permit or options to purchase further tickets are entirely at the discretion of the Society management team.

31. All bailiffs and Carp Society Officials have the right to examine any vehicle on, entering or leaving the property to ensure that fish are not being removed, transported illegally or stolen. This right may only be exercised in the presence of the person using the vehicle, but refusal to cooperate may result in the termination of the vehicle user’s rights to fish and/or be on the property. Any person found attempting to remove fish from any Carp Society water shall automatically lose their permit(s) and membership. Subject to the seriousness of the incident the Carp Society can suspend permission to fish whilst investigating an alleged infringement.

32. Random checks will be made with regard to permits, memberships, licences, rigs and bait.

33. The toilets provided must be used at all times.

34. An angler may spend a maximum of 96 hours (4 days) in a swim before having to vacate it. This is deemed to commence from 10am on the first day of occupancy irrespective of the time of arrival. The same angler cannot reoccupy that swim for a further 120 hours from 10am on the day of his/her departure. For anglers doubling up in red post swims the time limit is set from the first occupying angler.

35. Your permit remains the property of The Carp Society and is non transferable.

36. Should you lose your permit or membership card a replacement will be supplied following payment of an administrative fee.

37. All permit holders are expected to attend at least one work party out of the planned yearly work schedule.

    Pike Angling Rules and Guidelines:

38. Pike fishing is only permitted between 1 October and 31 March.

39. Pike fishing is limited to two rods only. (Please note: When pike fishing a third rod is not permitted to fish for carp. Similarly when carp fishing a third rod is not permitted to fish for pike).

40. Barbless hooks must always be used on all spinners / lures, and all trebles (except for one barbed hook permitted for holding on dead bait).

41. All pike anglers must carry adequate forceps, pliers, side cutters and antiseptic treatment at all times.

42. Braid is permitted for spinning and lure fishing only. This must be 25lb breaking strain or over.ke are very fragile and delicate creatures, and despite their predatory looks and images require extra care and attention. Any angler who appears to be lacking the necessary knowledge and experience in fishing for and handling pike may be asked to stop fishing.

    Please note: these rules and guidelines are only in place for the future welfare of our fish stocks.

    Any rule infringement will be noted on the membership record database. Any future tickets will be marked accordingly. A second rule infringement will result in the angler/s being asked to leave the lake immediately. Future access to the lake will then be subject to the consideration of the Society Management, who will notify the angler/s in writing.

    The Bailiffs carry the full support of the management team and their decisions are final.