Rules and regulations
Rules and regulations
It is the responsibility of the angler to make themselves aware of the rules of regulations before fishing.
Safety General fishing rules Rod licences Day and season permits Behaviour Catch and release Coarse fishing Boat anglersSafety
Your safety is our number one priority; please help us to help you by observing these simple safety rules:
Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
Always wear head and eye protection.
Please make yourself familiar with the buoyancy or life saving equipment before fishing.
Please read and observe all warning notices.
Adverse weather can create safety hazards, especially early and late in the season. If in doubt, please contact the site for details (before leaving home). In such conditions, all activities will take place at the discretion of the duty ranger.
To avoid slipping, take extra care on dam walls and grassy banks, especially when wet.
Wading is permitted, except off dam walls and where “No Wading” signs are displayed. Chest waders are permitted for warmth and comfort, however, wading above thigh depth is not allowed.
When the water is low, avoid areas of soft ground and other hazards, which may become exposed.
Wear head and eye protection particularly when casting and in windy conditions.
Always check behind you before casting, other anglers or non-anglers may be passing by.
Keep rods and lines away from overhead power lines and cables.
In an electric storm, cease fishing, put the rod down and move well away from it.
If you are in a boat, and it is safe to do so navigate back to the fishing lodge. Otherwise, wait for assistance from the safety boat.
Be prepared to help others in difficulty - but do not put your own life at risk.
Rangers reserve the right to suspend or cancel fishing due to adverse weather conditions or any other safety consideration.
General fishing rules
The rules in this guide are not exhaustive. In addition, anglers must abide by specific or reactive rules displayed in each individual fishing lodge. Please check before commencing fishing.
The rules displayed here are not exhaustive. In addition, anglers must abide by specific or reactive rules displayed in each individual fishing lodge. Please check before commencing fishing.
Anglers fishing at the reservoirs do so at their own risk, on the understanding that Northumbrian Water does not accept liability for loss, damage or injury to persons or property whilst on the company’s land or water.
Northumbrian Water reserves the right to change any rules or regulations and to close part or all of any fishery without notice or redress.
Contravention of the rules:
Any person found to be in contravention of any of these rules shall be asked to leave the fishery.
Further action, possibly including the forfeit of the day or season permit, a ban for a period of time, or a prosecution may follow.
Northumbrian Water reserves the right to prevent fishing in areas immediately after stocking. Notices of restrictions will be displayed in the fishing lodges.
The minimum size limit for takeable fish is 23cm (9 inches). This measurement is from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail.
Anglers should not leave their baited rods unattended at any time.
All fish must be properly played and lifted from the water using a landing net. The 'beaching' method must not be used. When taking fish they should be swiftly and humanely dispatched using a priest.
The killing of coarse fish at any site is strictly forbidden.
Hours of fishing are 8am to 9pm or sunset, whichever is sooner
Boat fishing times at Kielder Water may vary, please check with the fishery
Hury and the north shore of the Derwent are restricted to natural or artificial fly fishing only. No more than four individual hooks or two doubles should be used on a single cast.
It is illegal to take brown trout after 30 September at any Northumbrian Water fishery with the exception of Kielder and Derwent where the brown trout season runs from 1 May to 31 October.
Rod licences
Every angler (12 years or older) must carry a valid Environment Agency rod licence. Details of where to get your licence and charges, can be obtained from the regional office, telephone 0191 203 4000.
Rod licences are available from the lodges at Fontburn, Derwent, Kielder, Scaling Dam and Grassholme. All regional Environment Agency bylaws apply to all Northumbrian Water’s fisheries.
Day and season permits
Before commencing fishing, every angler must possess a valid Northumbrian Water fishery day or season permit. Day permits are available for all Northumbrian Water managed fisheries.
Day permits are only valid on the day of issue and for the water that they were purchased for.
All permits must be signed by the angler and are non-transferable.
Explorer season permits are available covering all Northumbrian Water’s managed fisheries.
Pricing details of all fisheries can be found in the prices section of the website.
No person is allowed to take more than eight fish per day (unless a 12 fish family permit or a 12 fish day permit has been purchased). The daily catch limits at our wild brown trout fisheries, Balderhead, Cow Green and Selset is twelve fish.
A person may however, purchase two or more day permits before commencing fishing.
In the case of concessionary permits only one may be purchased per day. Concessionary anglers wishing to continue fishing must purchase all subsequent permits at the full day ticket price.
At trout fisheries, up to two juniors aged under 17 years, may fish free of charge if accompanied by their parent or guardian who is in possession of a valid fishing permit or why not try our new family permit which costs £25. This permit allows two parents or guardians (second adult must be spouse or partner) and one or more children aged under 17 to fish with a shared catch limit of 12 fish.
The 12 fish day permit allows an individual angler to fish with two rods provided both rods are individually licenced in accordance with Enviroment Agency regional byelaws.
Catch returns are required for the successful management of our fisheries, so that adequate stocks of fish can be maintained. All anglers are required to complete a catch return sheet, which are available on site.
Disabled facilities
Some fisheries have facilities to cater for disabled anglers. These are detailed in the fishery descriptions. Other fisheries may accommodate disabled anglers with assistance.
Behaviour
To help us to make you and your fellow anglers fishing as enjoyable as possible and to help protect the environment please observe the following rules:
- At fisheries where dogs are allowed they must be kept on a lead.
- To prevent danger to wildlife, nylon waste must not be discarded.
- Please take your litter home.
- The gutting of fish on site is forbidden.
- Drunkenness, foul and abusive language or threatening behaviour, will not be tolerated.
- The lighting of fires is strictly forbidden (barbecues must not be used, except in desginated areas).
Catch and release
Only use barbless hooks, or standard hooks with the barbs removed or crushed.
Only use knotless micromesh landing nets.
Buoyant flies (e.g. Boobies) which are fished on a sinking line either static or retrieved must not be used.
If taking fish, once the staed permit limit has been rached, fishing must cease.
All deeply hooked fish or fish showing signs of distress must be humanely dispatched using a priest.
Catch and release guidelines
Play the fish firmly and get them to the net with the minimum of fuss, this will ensure that they are not exhausted and will aid recovery.
Keep handling of the fish to a minimum and always make sure your hands are wet before touching the fish, alternatively use a dampened cloth.
If possible unhook the fish in the water.
If it is necessary to remove the fish from the water, keep it in the net, support the head and gently ease the barbless hook from the mouth, quickly return the fish to the water.
Catch and release is forbidden whilst multi-bait fishing.
Coarse fishing
All normal methods of coarse fishing are permitted.
The use of live fish baits is forbidden.
Dead baits: only sea fish species may be used.
The use of cereal based ground bait is forbidden.
Loose feeding with hook bait is permitted.
Anglers are politely requested to use barbless hooks.
All coarse fish and trout must be returned safely to the water. Anyone found removing trout or coarse fish from the water may be liable to prosecution under the Theft Act.
A single day or season permit allows the angler to fish up to a maximum of two rods.
One child aged under 17 years is entitled to fish free on their parent or guardian's valid permit.
Coarse fish may be retained for the duration of the session providing this does not unduly cause the fish stress. If any fish show signs of stress they should be returned to the water straight away.
Keep nets are to be a minimum 10ft in length and 1ft 6 inches in diameter and should be at least three-quarters submerged. Please use common sense when keeping large numbers of fish in a keep net.
Please do not keep specimen fish or pike in keep nets.
Anglers must not swim out or use inflatable or model boats for the laying of baits.
Boat anglers
All persons in the boat must wear an approved life jacket. Northumbrian Water will provide life jackets free of charge with the boat, these must be worn over the top of all outdoor clothing.
Alternatively, if you wish to wear your own life jacket you may do so providing it complies with British Standards and it has been approved by the duty ranger.
Boats must contain a minimum of two and a maximum of four people. At least two people in the boat must be adults (i.e. aged 17 years or over).
If conditions deteriorate whilst fishing and it is safe to do so, navigate back to the boat jetty. A 'follow me' procedure will take place if the duty ranger determines that the conditions are no longer suitable for boat fishing. If this happens please follow the safety boat to a safe location.
Rangers reserve the right to suspend or cancel the boat fishing due to adverse weather conditions or any other safety consideration.
Trolling is permitted on Kielder Water.