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Site rules for fishing and recreation
Follow our rules for general visits, fishing and using boats at our recreational sites.
General site rules
When visiting our sites, please follow these rules.
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- Dogs are allowed but must be kept on leads – please clean up after them
- No fishing
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Stay out of the water
- Keep to paths
- Do not damage wildlife and plants
- Dogs allowed but must be kept on leads. Please clean up after your dog
- No fires or BBQs
- No littering
- No cycling
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- No dogs (except assistance dogs)
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Please use the toilets provided
- No horses
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- No dogs (except assistance dogs)
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Please use the toilets provided
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- No dogs (except assistance dogs)
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Please use the toilets provided
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- Dogs are allowed but must be kept on the public footpath – please clean up after them
- No fishing
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- No dogs (except assistance dogs)
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to permitted areas
- Please use the toilets provided
- Stay out of the water
- No fires or BBQs
- No dogs (except assistance dogs and kept under close control on the public footpaths)
- Fishing only with a valid booking. Find out more about fishing at Tucking Mill.
- No cycling
- No littering
- Please keep to the public rights of way, there is no public access to the fishery or woodland areas.
Fishing rules
When booking a ticket or fishing at our sites, please follow these rules.
- All anglers must adhere to these rules, the code of conduct and safety instructions provided.
- Anyone under the age of 18 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
- Bookings can be placed online up to 14 days in advance. A permit, including signed declaration, must be completed at the Fishing Lodge before fishing.
- Bookings are non-transferable.
- All anglers are responsible for ensuring they have a valid Environment Agency Rod licence valid for the discipline of fishing and for complying with any relevant laws and regulations.
Find out how to book a fishing ticket and discover what you should do if you need to change or cancel your booking.
- Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times.
- Do not drop litter or leave any rubbish, fishing equipment or discarded line around the reservoir.
- All visitors must use the toilet facilities provided at the lodge. Defecating or urinating in or around the reservoir will not be tolerated.
- Angling is only permitted using fly fishing tackle and techniques. Fishing by any other method is prohibited.
- Bank fishing at the reservoirs is only permitted within designated areas as shown on the site map.
- Day ticket holders (including books of tickets) are entitled to take the number of fish as stated by the bag limit on their ticket.
- Day tickets are limited to one per customer, per day.
- Season ticket holders are entitled to take up to 1 Day Ticket bag limit on any one calendar day and fish a maximum of 4 days in any one calendar week.
- Once a limit has been caught, fishing must cease. Bag limit is personal and cannot be transferred to another angler.
- Catch and release is not permitted. Other than brown trout, all sizeable fish must be dispatched and count towards bag limit.
- Brown trout of any size must be returned to the water unharmed.
- Anglers must submit for inspection any fish caught to any officer of Wessex Water upon request.
- Lifejackets are recommended when bank fishing and mandatory for all boat users, including when on pontoons. Lifejackets are available free of charge from the fishing lodge.
- Wading is only permitted up to thigh height. The use of a wading stick is strongly recommended.
- Fishing is not permitted during lightening; anglers should put down their rods and move to an area of safety such as the Fishing Lodge or their private car.
- Anyone using their own equipment (including but not limited to rods, nets, lifejackets, electric outboards) remains solely responsible for its condition and use. Wessex Water Services Limited accept no responsibility for damage to personal belongings or that of others through the use of private equipment. Such equipment should be suitably insured and include 3rd party liability.
- All anglers must adhere to these rules, the code of conduct and safety instructions provided.
- Anyone under the age of 18 must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
- Bookings can be placed online up to 14 days in advance. A permit, including signed declaration, must be completed on arrival at the reservoir before fishing.
- Bookings are non-transferable.
- All anglers are responsible for ensuring they have a valid Environment Agency Rod licence valid for the discipline of fishing and for complying with any relevant laws and regulations.
- Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times.
- Do not drop litter or leave any rubbish, fishing equipment or discarded line around the reservoir.
- All visitors must use the toilet facilities provided at the lodge. Defecating or urinating in or around the reservoir will not be tolerated.
- Dogs or other animals are not allowed on site.
- All anglers must use the car park provided at the Fishing Lodge or as directed by Rangers.
- All visitors must wait until the Ranger arrives in the morning before gaining access to the site.
- Anglers must dip their nets, tackle, and weigh slings in the tank of disinfectant outside the lodge before and after fishing.
- Anglers must fish from the swim that was booked unless otherwise agreed with a Ranger.
- Anglers must only fish at marked swims.
- Sutton Bingham is a day ticket water. You must be ready to leave on time, the closing time is displayed on the notice board in the lodge.
- Anglers should make every effort to return all fish to the water unharmed. Removing any fish from the premises without written authority will be regarded as theft and may lead to prosecution.
- Adequate fishing equipment must be used to ensure the fish are not damaged. Anglers should use un-hooking mats and return fish to the water promptly.
- Carp sacks are not allowed.
- Keepnets are only allowed when fishing organised matches.
- Anglers must not leave a rod with a baited hook in the water unattended. A maximum of two rods per angler is allowed. Rods should be kept close together and not spread out along the bank.
- Pre–baiting and live baiting is not allowed.
- No casting around moored boats, air line, draw off tower or other hazards.
- Anglers are to ensure that their lines do not cause a hazard or obstacle to other users. This includes sailing boats, kayaks, fishing boats and motor boats. We strongly recommend your line is at least 1m below the surface of the water at all times. Boats may come within 3m of the bank and have an existing right to be there.
- Bait to be stored in sealed containers and not left on the bank.
- All rubbish to be removed and taken home, swims to be left tidy.
- Low oil baits only.
- Only micro barbed or barbless hooks are allowed.
- Noise must be kept to a minimum at all times.
- Do not drop litter or leave any rubbish, fishing equipment or discarded line around the reservoir.
- All visitors must use the toilet facilities provided at the lodge. Defecating or urinating in or around the reservoir will not be tolerated.
- Dogs or other animals are not allowed on site.
- All anglers must use the car park provided; you are not allowed to leave your vehicle at the lay-by in Enmore Road or to park up by the lodge. Access to the reservoir across the fields is not permitted.
- All visitors must wait until the Ranger arrives in the morning before gaining access to the site.
- Anglers must dip their nets, tackle, and weigh slings in the tank of disinfectant outside the lodge before and after fishing.
- Anglers must fish from the swim that was booked unless otherwise agreed with a Ranger.
- Please keep away from the bird sanctuary - including casting - which is marked with a floating rope and could entangle your tackle.
- The area in front of the lodge, from the dam wall to the race hut, is reserved for the sailing centre and is out of bounds for fishing.
- Durleigh is a day ticket water. You must be ready to leave on time, the closing time is displayed on the notice board in the lodge.
- Anglers should make every effort to return all fish to the water unharmed. Removing any fish from the premises without written authority will be regarded as theft and may lead to prosecution.
- Adequate fishing equipment must be used to ensure the fish are not damaged. While fishing for pike, anglers should use a minimum braking strain of l0lbs, use a wire trace and be in possession of a pair of forceps. Carp anglers should use un-hooking mats and return fish to the water promptly.
- Carp sacks are not allowed.
- Keepnets are only allowed when fishing organised matches.
- Anglers must not leave a rod with a baited hook in the water unattended. A maximum of three rods per angler is allowed. Rods should be kept close together and not spread out along the bank.
- Pre-baiting and live baiting is not allowed.
- Bait boats can only be used from November until the end of April. However, they must not go out further than halfway across the reservoir.
- Only micro barbed or barbless hooks are allowed.
- The lake is for use of those with a disability.
- Anglers must be in possession of a current Environment Agency rod licence.
- One able bodied assistant per disabled angler is allowed to fish but must use the same platform or swim (or adjacent only, if not big enough) with the angler they are assisting. Assistants must only use a single rod.
- No keep nets allowed for pleasure fishing.
- No spinners to be used.
- Only barbless hooks are to be used on site.
- Landing nets must be dipped in the disinfectant bins provided before use.
- No dogs allowed (except guide dogs).
- No swimming, boating, use of model boats or bait boats permitted.
- Site must be kept tidy of all litter and discarded line taken home.
- Entry to site is 7.30am. Fishing is permitted between 8am and sunset only.
- Audible bite alarms are not permitted at this fishery.
- Do not leave a rod unattended while fishing, or a distance over which you do not have sufficient control.
- Anglers are requested to respect the privacy of the properties adjacent to this site. Loud or abusive behaviour/ language will not be tolerated and will result in a warning or ban.
- Any angler fishing here may be asked by a person duly authorised by Wessex Water to produce proof of disability.
- Anyone found in contravention of these rules will be asked to leave and may be banned from this fishery.
Boat rules
When using a boat at Clatworthy, Sutton Bingham or Hawkridge, please follow these rules.
- Customers acknowledge and accept that all activities are unsupervised and are undertaken at their own risk.
- Customers are responsible for their own safety and that of any others participating in the activity.
- The hirer is responsible for ensuring that they are capable and competent to use the boat in the prevailing conditions.
- Wessex Water reserves the right to cease a hire at any time should concerns over safety or competence arise.
- Wessex Water is not liable for any loss, damage or deterioration to personal equipment.
- Customers are solely responsible for the proper use of that equipment and for its condition and are liable for any damage to third parties.
- An in-person handover must be provided by a member of staff prior to the hire commencing.
- Boat users must read and adhere to the handover and safety information for boat anglers.
- A maximum of two people per boat at any one time.
- A maximum total load of 225kg (35 stone), including all people and equipment taken on board.
- The hirer must ensure they have a means of communication with them to call for help in the event of an emergency.
- Only boats provided by Wessex Water may be used for fishing. Fishing from any other craft, such as a kayak or float tube, is not permitted.
- Wessex Water lifejackets (provided free of charge) must be worn at all times whilst on pontoons or boats
- Smoking, vaping or drinking alcohol is not permitted on boats or pontoons.
- People should remain seated whenever possible, and at all times when the boat is moving.
- Do not anchor over the aeration (destratification) lines extending from the dam.
- Boats should be kept a minimum of 30 metres from bank anglers and all other water users.
- Any sailing boats or kayaks have the right of way.
- Boats should not be taken into shallow water of less than 1m unless in an emergency. Therefore, they should not be used to drop anglers onto banks.
- Boats must be locked when not in use, including during any breaks and when returned at the end of the day.
- Boats must be left clean and tidy, with any rubbish and fishing line removed.
All boat fishing will cease if:
- average wind speed exceeds or is expected to exceed 21 knots/25mph
- a gust exceeds or is expected to exceed 27 knots/31 mph
- visibility is less than 250m
- there is thunder or lightning.
- When using a Wessex Water engine or private electric outboard equivalent to 4hp or more, a kill cord must be fitted and worn around the helm's leg when the engine is running.
- When motoring, the helm must be seated and in immediate control of the boat at all times. No autonomous electric outboards are allowed.
- If you bring your own engine, it must:
- be from a reputable manufacturer and be CE certified
- not be modified from the manufactured condition
- be used in line with the manufacturer's guidance/manual
- have a kill cord if equivalent to 4hp or more
- have its external batteries contained within a suitable battery box and secured to the deck using the straps provided
- be available during the boat handover, so that our team can perform a quick visual check before use.
Anyone found to be ignoring these rules:
- will have their hire stopped with no refund
- may incur a ban
- will be required to pay for any damage caused to either Wessex Water property or that of another third party.
For more advice, read our boat safety leaflet.
Other information you need to know
View our guidance to help ensure the safety of yourself, the people around you and wildlife when visiting our sites.
Find out how to book a fishing ticket online, over the phone or in person, as well as how to change or cancel your booking.
View our fishing dates, times and prices and boat hire prices for the current fishing season.