21st May

Godalming Angling Society

Fishery Re-opening Policy 2

Following the Government’s decision to relax some of the Covid-19 restrictions and allow fishing to take place from Wednesday 13 May, the Society opened some of our fisheries with limitations. Having considered how the first few days have gone, the General Committee have agreed some further changes. The following replaces the previous policy.

From Monday 25 May, Marsh Farm Lakes, Wood Lake (Busbridge) and Bramley Park Lake will be open from 6am to 11pm daily, until further notice.  Members must not be on site outside of these times. There will be no night fishing.

At Marsh Farm the Apollo shop will manage the gates between 8am and 3pm to enable their ‘phone and collect’ operation, at other times and other venues access gates are to be kept shut and locked when both entering and leaving venues and not be unnecessarily obstructed.

From Monday 25 May, the following swims at Broadwater will be open from 5am to 9pm daily, for fishing with one rod only until further notice. The ‘open’ swims will be identified with a green disc/markernext to the swim number.  Other swims must not be used due to proximity of paths/public or adjacent swims, which make social distancing difficult. There will be no night fishing.

Swim numbers ‘open’:

6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,19,20,21,23,24,37,38,39,40,41,42,43, 44,45,46,47,48

Swim numbers ‘closed’:

1,2,3,4,5,16,17,18,22,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36

Until further notice Juniors may not fish GAS fisheries except, when they are accompanied at all times by, and fish in the same swim as, a parent or legal guardian who is a senior member and who shall be responsible for the junior at all times whilst on site, effective from 25 May.  

No coarse fishing on the River Wey due to national closed season until 16 June however, fishing for trout is allowed by fly only throughout the trout season.

Johnson’s Lake will remain closed (no fishing) until 16 June.

We will continue to review numbers and use of fisheries, with the aim of allowing day tickets, guest tickets and exchange tickets at a future date.

Members to act responsibly with regard to their own and others safety and well-being, behave in accordance with Government rules and advice and are advised to have their own disinfectant sanitisers/sprays/wipes and disposable gloves. These are to be used when opening and closing access gates and using toilets.  

Social distancing of a minimum of 2m from all other members on all fisheries must be ensured at all times, unless members living at the same address: as shown on permit. If an adjacent swim does not permit the minimum 2m social distancing it should not be used.

Bailiffs will require that you hold out your permit so it may be checked as required.

No fishing tackle or equipment should be shared with any other anglers, such as landing nets, bags of bait, cameras etc.  Keep nets are not permitted.

If members are seen ignoring these requirements, then they risk being asked to surrender their permit, being asked to leave the fishery and will face a disciplinary which will likely result in them being suspended or expelled: which none of us want to happen.

The Committee will keep the position under review as things will change, which may enable us to relax rules or make them tighter, depending, in part, how members behave.

Finally, do not leave home if you (or someone in your house) have symptoms of Covid-19 and follow government advice on isolation. You should only travel to fishing venues on your own or with members of your household and abide by current guidelines on social distancing.

Keep safe everyone and let’s hope we can continue to enjoy our fishing.

David Johnson Society Chairman

14th May

Just to reiterate that until further notice fishing is for Senior (which includes Young Adult) Members only (no juniors). There will be no day or guest tickets.

12th May

Following the governments relaxation of the lockdown that allows fishing to restart the General Committee yesterday evening decided to re-open some of our waters from tomorrow morning 13th May in line with the relaxation rules. Herewith the associated Fishery Re-opening Policy and Rules (to download and print the document click re-opening-policy-1):

Godalming Angling Society

Fishery Re-opening Policy 1

Following the Government’s decision to relax some of the Covid-19 restrictions and allow fishing to take place from Wednesday 13 May, the subcommittee (appointed by the General Committee) have agreed the following basis on which fishing can take place on GAS fisheries:

Marsh Farm Lakes, Wood Lake (Busbridge) and Bramley Park Lake will be open on Wednesday 13 May at 7am. Each venue will be open from 7am to 7pm daily, until further notice.  Members must not be on site outside of these times. There will be no night fishing.

Broadwater Lake will remain closed (no fishing) until further notice, subject to a review of the implications of the public park and clarification with Waverley.

Johnson’s Lake and the River Wey are closed (no fishing) until 16 June, in accordance with existing local and national closed seasons.

Until further notice fishing is for senior Members only (no juniors). There will be no day or guest tickets.

The following rules will apply:

Access gates are to be kept shut and locked at all times when both entering and leaving venues.

Members to act responsibly with regard to their own and others safety and well-being, behave in accordance with Government rules and advice and are advised to have their own disinfectant sanitisers/sprays/wipes and disposable gloves. These are to be used when opening and closing access gates and using toilets.  

Social distancing of a minimum of 2m from all other members on all fisheries must be ensured at all times, unless members living at the same address: as shown on permit. If an adjacent swim does not permit the minimum 2m social distancing it should not be used. 

Bailiffs will require that you hold out your permit so it may be checked as required. 

No fishing tackle or equipment should be shared with any other anglers, such as landing nets, bags of bait, cameras etc.  Keep nets are not permitted. 

If members are seen ignoring these requirements, then they risk being asked to surrender their permit, being asked to leave the fishery and will face a disciplinary which will likely result in them being suspended or expelled: which none of us want to happen. 

The Committee will keep the position under review as things will probably change, which may enable us to relax rules or make them tighter, depending, in part, how members behave. 

Finally, do not leave home if you (or someone in your house) have symptoms of Covid-19 and follow government advice on isolation. You should only travel to fishing venues on your own or with members of your household and abide by current guidelines on social distancing. 

Keep safe everyone and let’s hope we can continue to enjoy our fishing. 

David Johnson Society Chairman 

7th May

Please be aware that, whatever statements are made by the Government about relaxing the Coronavirus restrictions, Godalming Angling Society fisheries are closed until we announce otherwise. This is in the interests of members' safety, to avoid potential overcrowding and ensure a responsible return to enjoying the sport we love.

19th April: 

All of our waters remain closed until further notice as do the Marsh Farm site including Apollo Angling Centre. Last weeks latest government directive extended the lockdown for another 3 weeks until the end of the first week in May after which easing of restrictions (if any) would only be gradual. Both the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency support the governments directive which means no fishing, herewith their current statements for your reference:

• Angling Trust:

  "We must all do what is required of us by the Government and work together to fight this pandemic. Therefore until further notice we should all refrain from fishing. This is about saving lives and supporting the NHS.

  In regards to the current restrictions announced by the Government on Monday 23 March 2020 it is clear that the only permitted activities that have been specified are walking, running and cycling for the purpose of local daily exercise. Today we have written to the Sports Minister highlighting the benefits to both physical health and mental wellbeing that angling provides and that we are ready and prepared to offer whatever support the government or Sport England require now or in the future to get people back fishing as soon as is safely possible."

• Environment Agency: 

  "These are difficult times for everyone and we know that you’ll all be impacted in different ways by the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This unprecedented situation is changing the way we all go about our daily lives, and the health and safety of our angling community is important to us during this time.

  The current advice from government is clear: stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. To keep ourselves and others safe, it’s vital that we all play our part and abide by the social distancing guidance. This means that none of us should be leaving our houses to go fishing." 

23rd March: 

In accordance with the latest government directive (that people must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work) all our waters are now closed with immediate effect until further notice as is the Marsh Farm site including Apollo Angling Centre.