Notices

(Environment Agency Bylaws - North East Region)

(Simplified Guide at bottom of the page)

FISHERIES BYELAWS

(Simplified Guide - August 2001)
The Agency has the role of maintaining, improving and developing fisheries within the North East. The money required to do this comes largely from rod licence fees.
This information is for guidance only. It is not intended to be a legal interpretation of the
byelaws. A full copy of the byelaws can be obtained from the Environment Agency North East
Region, 21 Park Square South, Leeds, LS1 2QG.
At present three sets of byelaws operate in different parts of the Region.
In waters within the River Tees catchment and all catchments north of the Tees, the Northumbria byelaws apply. In waters to the south of this, the Yorkshire byelaws apply. The North East byelaws apply to the whole region.
REMEMBER all anglers aged 12 years or over must be in possession of a valid
Environment Agency rod licence before starting to fish. All fishing belongs to someone
- make sure you have permission from the owner before you start fishing.

NORTH EAST BYELAWS

These byelaws apply to all parts of the Region

Coarse Fish Close Season
It is unlawful to fish for coarse fish from 15 March to 15 June inclusive on any river, stream, drain or waterway (other than canals). With the exception of the Aire and Calder Navigation between Castleford and Ferrybridge Lock there is no statutory close season on any canals, reservoirs, lakes or ponds for coarse fish in the North East Region. However, individual owners may close their fisheries if they wish. ALWAYS check before you fish.

Migratory Trout Close Season
It is unlawful to fish for migratory trout from 1 November to 2 April inclusive.

Number of Rods
When fishing for salmon, trout or char, it is unlawful to use more than 1 rod and line in any river,
stream, drain or canal or more than 2 rods and lines in any stillwaters.
When fishing for coarse fish or eels it is unlawful to fish with more than 4 rods and lines.
It is unlawful to fish with more than 4 rods and lines anywhere and when using more than 1 rod and line, the distance between the butt ends of the 2 outside rods must not exceed 3 metres.

Unattended Rods
It is unlawful to leave a rod and line in the water which is unattended or over which control can not be effected.

Keepnets
Keepnets must be made of knotless non metallic material to avoid damage to the fish, and should be at least 200cm long. Supporting rings must be less than 40cm apart.

Landing Nets
Landing nets must be made of knotless non metallic material.

Keepsacks
Keepsacks must be made of soft dark coloured, non abrasive water permeable material and should be at least 120 by 90cm (or 150 by 30 by 40cm if used with a frame). Not more than 1 fish may be kept in a keepsack at a time.

Fishing weights
No fishing weights made of lead may be used except those of 0.06grams or less and those of more than 28.35grams. In angling terms this means that lead shot from size 14 to size 8 and lead weights of over 1 ounce can be used in fishing.

Lures and Baits
On waters where the close season for freshwater fish applies the only lures or baits which may be
used are natural or artificial fly, minnow, worm, shrimp, prawn, sand eel, or artificial lure. It is an
offence to fish for salmon by means of other than an artificial fly or artificial lure before the 16th June. Fish taken for use as live bait may only be used on the water from which they have been taken. It is an offence to use crayfish (alive or dead) as a bait at any time.

Fishing near Obstructions
Fishing within a distance of 25metres upsteam and 95metres downstream of the fiollowing structures is prohibited at the dates and times specified.
At any time : Framwellgate Dam, Ferens Dam, Tees Barrage Broken Scar, Keilder Dam
(downstream only) and Ruswarp Weir (to downstream side of Ruswarp Road bridge).
At night : Guyzance Mill, Pauperhaugh Bridge, Wylam Bridge and Dales House Weir.
At night and at any time during the months of September, October and November :
Lesbury Weir, Denwick Bottom Dam, Denwick Dam, Cannongate Dam, Filberthaugh Weir,
Hulne Park Weir, Coquet Lodge Dam, Acklington Dam, Felton, Humford Dam, Bothal Dam,
Sheepwash Weir, Morpeth East Mill, Highford Dam, Olives Mill, Riding Mill Weir, Hexham
Bridge Weir, Devils Water Dam, Derwenthaugh Weir, Haltwhistle Weir, Featherstone Weir,
Haydon Bridge Weir, Catton Bridge, Whitfield Dam, Chollerford Weir, Otterburn Mill Weir,
Tarret Burn Burnmouth Falls, Esp Mill Falls, Roses Bower Falls, Prebends, Chester Le Street
Weir, Burn Hall Weir, Wallnook Dam, Black Ling Hole, Bedburn Gauging Weir, Jocks
Bridge Weir, Burtree Falls, Low Force (Holwick Falls), High Force, Bowes Falls and Bowlees
Falls

Fishing Methods
All methods of fishing other than using a licensed rod and line or licensed net are prohibited.

Foul Hooking
Any fish that is hooked other that in the throat or the mouth must be returned to the water immediately with as little injury as possible.

Use of Gaffs
The use of gaffs is prohibited at all times of the year.

Night Fishing
Fishing in rivers stream and drains for salmon and migratory trout between the end of the first hour after sunset and the beginning of the last hour before sunrise shall be an offence unless the bait used consists of a natural or artificial fly with each hook not exceeding 10mm diameter.

Salmon and Sea Trout
All salmon caught before the 16th June must be returned to the water immediately with as little injury as possible.

Buying & Selling Salmon & Sea Trout
It is an offence to buy, sell or receive any salmon that has been caught unlawfully.

Catch Returns
Details of each year’s rod catches of salmon and migratory trout, including dates, locations and times spent fishing must be submitted to the Agency by 1 January on a form provided by the Environment Agency. If you have fished for salmon or sea trout you must make a declaration even if you do not catch any fish.

NORTHUMBRIA BYELAWS

For all waters within the Region from and including the River Tees northwards,
but not including the River Tweed and any of its tributaries.

Salmon & Trout Close Seasons
The close season for salmon is from 1 November to 31 January inclusive.
The close season for all non-migratory trout on rivers, streams, drains and canals, and for brown trout on all waters except those listed below is from 1 October to 21 March inclusive.
The close season for brown trout on Kielder Water, Broomlee Lough, Crag Lough, Greenlee Lough, the Derwent Reservoir and East and West Hallington reservoirs is from 1 November to 30 April inclusive. There is no close season for rainbow trout on any stillwater.Size Limits
It is illegal to take fish less than the size limits below (measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail). Undersized fish must be returned to the water immediately.

Size Limits
Salmon 30cms
Migratory Trout 25.4cms

Non-Migratory Trout
River Tees below Egglestone Abbey Bridge 22.5cms
River Wear below Harelaw Bridge 22.5cms
River Coquet below Pauperhaugh Bridge 22.5cms
River Tyne below Hexham Bridge 22.5cms
River Tees and tributaries above High Force 17.5cms
River Lune and tribs above Selset Reservoir 17.5cms
River Balder and tributaries above Balderhead Reservoir 17.5cms
Kilton Beck and tributaries above Lockwood Beck Reservoir 17.5cms
Burnhope Burn and tributaries above Burnhope Reservoir 17.5cms
Waskerley Beck and tributaries above Tunstall Reservoir 17.5cms
Any other waters covered by Northumbria Byelaws 20cms

YORKSHIRE BYELAWS

For all waters within the Region lying southwards of the River Tees and its tributaries.

Salmon & Trout Close Seasons
The close season for salmon is from 1 November to 5 April inclusive.
The close season for all non-migratory trout in rivers, streams, drains and canals and brown trout in all waters is from 1 October to 24 March inclusive. There is no close season for rainbow trout in any stillwaters.

Keepnets
Keepnets cannot be used on waters where there is a close season for coarse fish during that period.

Baits
Undersize bream, carp, grayling, tench or trout must not be used as bait. Fish roe must not be used as bait

Size Limits
Fish which are below the following size limits must not be killed or taken away. The size is measured from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.
Dace, perch, roach, rudd 18cms
Bream, chub, grayling, tench, trout 23cms
Carp 25cms
Barbel 30cms

Bag Limits
Not more than six fish of which not more than two may be bream or tench may be taken away in one day without written consent of the owner or occupier of the fishery. Day or season tickets sometimes state higher bag limits and this may be taken as written consent. Any lower limit stated on a ticket must be observed.

Conservation Areas
Fishing with a rod and line for salmon or migratory trout is prohibited in the River Esk between
Ruswarp Weir and a line drawn due west across the river from the southern-most end of Eskside Wharfe in Whitby. Fishing of any kind with a rod and line is prohibited in this area from 8pm or one hour after sunset (whichever is earlier) and 6am the following morning.

BE SAFE NEAR WATER AND ENJOY YOUR FISHING