Rules & Constitution
MID SUSSEX ANGLING LIMITED
GENERAL RULES
November 2025
1) The company shall be known as “Mid Sussex Angling Limited” (referred to as “MSA” within these rules as set out below).
2) Mid Sussex Angling Limited is and will always remain a company limited by guarantee, with no shareholders, thereby preserving the principle of the organisation remaining a ‘not for profit’ company.
3) The objectives of MSA shall be to:
- Provide for its Members facilities for angling
- Promote fair angling & a spirit of good sportsmanship amongst all its Members & any visiting Guests
- Honour & promote the countryside code & the preservation of wildlife
- Protect, preserve and develop angling facilities for our future generations.
Executive Operations
4) The business of MSA shall be managed and conducted by an Executive Committee (“ExCo”).
5) ExCo shall consist of a minimum of five Executive Officers.
6) A maximum of four of the current ExCo Officers will also undertake the roles of Directors of Mid Sussex Angling Limited
7) Non-Executive officers of MSA shall be appointed by ExCo, from time to time, to assist with specific administrative and / or operational task(s) / role(s). Reporting to ExCo shall be as and when required. ExCo can specifically set-up designated sub-Committees with laid down limited responsibilities. The powers or otherwise of these sub-Committees to be determined by Exco at the time of creation. Such sub-Committees can be time specific or on-going dependent upon the identified requirement(s) / task(s).
8) Unless otherwise advised, meetings of ExCo will take place on a monthly basis, with the venue for each meeting pre-advised to the Executive Officers
9) Any Executive Officer who is absent from 3 consecutive ExCo meetings without reasonable excuse and apologies may be retired from Exco and then rule 12 shall apply.
10) The Executive Officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Only Adult members may vote and a simple majority is required to appoint. All Executive Officers shall have served a minimum of 2 consecutive years as an Adult or Senior Member before being eligible to stand for election by the AGM. The Non-Executive officers of MSA shall be appointed by ExCo.
11) All Executive and Non-Executive Officers of MSA shall be Honorary Members during the period of their appointment.
12) If an Executive Officer retires during the year, ExCo may co-opt another Member to fill the vacancy until the next AGM.
13) The date of the AGM shall be advised by Exco. A Special General Meeting (SGM) may be called at any time by the Chairman. AGMs & SGMs are subject to the giving of a minimum 14 days prior notice.
14) Voting at any AGM or SGM shall be on a simple majority basis. Only Adult or Senior Members of 2 years standing may vote.
15) Exco has the authority to add or amend rules as and when Exco deems necessary at its full discretion.
16) ExCo has the authority to set membership classifications, levels of subscriptions, Guest Permits and Day Tickets, plus any other fees.
17) ExCo shall have the power and authority to suspend or expel any Member for misconduct or for breaking any MSA rule(s).
18) All fishery management of ExCo owned and controlled waters including stocking and fish removal shall be the sole responsibility of ExCo.
19) ExCo has the power & authority to deal with any issue(s) not covered by these MSA rules.
Members Obligations
20) All Members must be in possession of a valid Environment Agency Rod licence if they wish to fish MSA owned and controlled waters.
21) All Members must carry a screen-shot, or paper version of Clubmate membership details. All Members must produce this proof of membership if requested to do so by any Bailiff, Officer or any other MSA Member.
22) Junior members aged 13 years and above may fish unaccompanied on MSA owned / controlled still-waters other than Ardingly Reservoir. No Junior Members are permitted to fish unaccompanied on Ardingly Reservoir or any of the rivers owned / controlled by MSA – they must be accompanied by an Adult or Senior Member at all times.
23) Access to all MSA waters is by way of main entrances only. Members must keep strictly to the paths and pass to and from the waters in a quiet and unobtrusive manner. Motor vehicles and cycles must be parked only in the allotted places. All gates must be closed. Members should refer to and be fully conversant in all / any specific guidance for parking and accessing each MSA owned or controlled water they visit by referring to the instructions on the MSA web-site / Clubmate. This includes any temporary guidance as deemed appropriate by ExCo.
24) Where waters have permanent pegs or swims, fishing is only permitted from these areas.
25) All fish must be returned unharmed to the water from which they were caught. Trout may be retained in accordance with the appropriate bye-laws governing size limit and numbers taken and / or the guidance set out for each and any MSA owned or controlled water.
26) The retaining of fish in keepnets for long periods should be avoided. If keepnets are used, carp and silver fish should be retained in separate nets. This includes in all competitions. Any temporary change to this rule for example the prohibiting of keepnets in summer heat / low water levels, is at the discretion of ExCo and will be communicated by way of signs and / or the MSA web-site / Clubmate. Keep-nets are not permitted at Piltdown Pond other than in scheduled competitions / matches or where sanctioned by Exco. Carp sacks are prohibited on all MSA waters.
27) All members fishing for pike, carp and barbel in MSA owned and controlled waters must have both an unhooking mat and an appropriately sized landing net of a minimum of 36 inches diameter with them.
28) Live-baiting (i.e. with live fish) is prohibited on all MSA owned and controlled waters. This includes the catching of bait fish on the proposed day of use as a live-bait. No bait fish are to be caught and killed for the purpose of fishing with a dead-bait.
29) Members may not fish with any more than two rods at any one time other than at Balcombe Lake and Ardingly Reservoir where a maximum of three rods may be used at any one time. When pike fishing, the maximum number of rods that can be used is two on all MSA owned / controlled waters. Both / all rods must be fished in the same swim and must not be left unattended. If three rods are used, then the appropriate EA Licence must be held.
30) All litter, waste line & other refuse, including cigarette butts must be taken home.
31) Boating or bathing is prohibited on all MSA owned and controlled waters. Bait boats are not permitted on MSA waters other than Balcombe Lake and Ardingly Reservoir.
32) Fires are prohibited (except on organised working parties for maintenance purposes) as are BBQs on all MSA controlled and owned waters.
33) Radios and / or any other devices that emit sound must not be used on MSA owned and controlled waters. The use of mobile telephones is permitted, but volume should be limited so as not to disturb other anglers’ enjoyment.
34) Any type of bait or ground-bait that is left over at the end of a fishing session must
not be disposed of on the bankside or thrown into the water.
35) All hooks must be barbless or whisker / micro-barbed.
36) No picnics are allowed on any MSA owned or controlled waters.
37) Members are not permitted to bring dogs or guns on to MSA owned or controlled waters.
38) Members are not permitted to bring alcohol or drugs on to any MSA owned or controlled waters.
39) Members must report any instances or suspected pollution to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.
40) Guest Permits may be purchased by Members before fishing commences via Clubmate. Guest Permits can be purchased for all MSA controlled or owned waters other than the River Ouse at East Mascalls and Ardingly Reservoir. In respect of Ardingly Reservoir Day Tickets can be purchased via Clubmate.
41) No fishing is allowed on any MSA owned or controlled waters where there is a scheduled competition. Members must vacate the fishery no later than 3 hours prior to commencement of the competition, and cannot commence fishing until at least 1 hour after the competition has finished. All official competitions are detailed on Clubmate and / or will be notified to Members via the MSA web-site / e-mail communication. Informal competitions may take place on MSA waters if sanctioned by ExCo, but the water fished will remain open to all Members.
Fishing Seasons
42) Coarse Fishing Season
- There is no close season on any MSA still-waters.
- The coarse season on the river is from 16th June to 14th March inclusive.
43) Pike Season
- The pike fishing season on MSA controlled or owned rivers runs from 1st October to 14 March inclusive.
- The pike fishing season on MSA controlled or owned still-waters runs from 1st October to 31st March inclusive.
44) Trout & Sea Trout Season
- The trout fishing season is from 3rd April to 31st October inclusive.
- The sea trout fishing season is from 1st May to 31st October inclusive
- Members fishing for trout or sea trout during the coarse fish close season shall only use artificial fly or lure (spinning).
45) Night Fishing
Where night fishing is permitted, Members may remain on a fishery for up to 48 hours, and cannot return within at least 24 hours.
Night fishing is only permitted on the following MSA owned & controlled waters;
- Ardingly Reservoir (subject to Members holding / purchasing in advance an appropriate premium membership)
- Balcombe Lake
- River Ouse – all sections
- Piltdown Pond
Fishery Specific Rules
Detailed below are strict fishery related rules. They are additional to the general MSA rules as set out above. These are determined by ExCo and may change from time to time.
46) River Ouse, East Mascalls
- Additional / temporary rules will be displayed on the noticeboard at this fishery and must be observed at all times.
- No Guest Permits are available for this stretch of water
- ‘Bridge Pool’ specific rules applicable;
Ø No fishing between 15th March and 15th June inclusive even for trout
Ø No more than 2 Members may fish the pool at any one time
Ø Members may only use 1 rod at any one time
47) Piltdown Pond
- Keep-nets are not permitted on this water at any time other than in officially scheduled or Exco approved competitions / matches.
48) Ardingly Reservoir
- Please also refer to the Ardingly Activity Centre web-site at www.ardinglyactivitycentre.co.uk for additional / current / temporary information and rules with regard to fishing at this water.
- Night fishing is only permitted if Members hold or have purchased in advance a premium Ardingly night fishing membership.
- No Guest Permits are available for this water. Any non-members wishing to fish this water, whether accompanied by an MSA Member or not can only do so by purchasing a day ticket prior to commencing fishing, either via Clubmate or at the Ardingly Activity Centre.
Additional Competition Rules
1) Where necessary / required, the Competition Secretary, Assistant Competition Secretary or Member running the competition has delegated authority from ExCo & whose decision is final.
2) Competitions with 12 or more anglers shall be ‘pegged down’, with the organiser on the day responsible for choosing the pegs to be used in the competition.
3) Weight limit for keepnets in competitions to be 50lbs. If over 50lbs but up to 60lbs the weight of that net is to be reduced to 50lbs. If the weight of a net is over 60lbs then the entire net be disqualified. A separate keepnet to be used for all silver fish and any carp / F1s less than 1lb in weight.
4) All competitions are single / one rod only.
