Christmas closing times 2020 

The Christmas closing times are as follows 

The Christmas closing times are as follows 

Closing: At 16.00hrs on the 1st December 

Reopen: Saturday 2nd January 

Please Note: All dates are subject to weather permitting

Please follow the guidance when visiting the A1Pits complex 

Fish safely, locally and respect the ‘rule of two’ during lockdown

Having now examined the government’s new Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations the Angling Trust is pleased to be able to offer some initial guidance and interpretation to anglers and fishery providers. Our formal guidelines will be published following further consultation with colleagues at Sport England and DCMS once Parliament has debated the regulations today and passed them into law.

Overall the Angling Trust is pleased that ministers have recognised the value of allowing angling and some other forms of outdoor recreation to continue through the forthcoming lockdown period. However, the new rules are more complicated than we had hoped and anglers should be fully aware of what we can and can’t do in the next 28 days.

How to Fish

The regulations are clear and you can only leave home to fish with members of your own household, your support bubble or with one other individual. The Rule of Six is now effectively the Rule of Two for most of us. The tightening of the rules on ‘gatherings’ means that match fishing or any other organised fishing event is prohibited by law during lockdown. However, competitive fishing will be able to resume once there is a return to the three tier system of restrictions.

On this basis we can announce that all Angling Trust competitions are suspended for the period covering 5th November – 2nd December 2020.

Where to Fish

Angling is deemed a permissible form of ‘outdoor recreation’, and a lawful reason to leave home. It can take place, without time limits, within the provision allowing people  “to visit a public outdoor space for the purposes of open air recreation”.

A ‘public outdoor space’ is defined as an ‘outdoor place to which the public have, or are permitted, access (whether on payment or otherwise).’ We believe this clearly includes riverbanks, towpaths, beaches and stillwaters that can either be accessed freely or on the payment of a day ticket or subscription levied by the owner or leased to a publicly available fishing association. The government clearly intends for people to be able to take their outdoor exercise and recreation in the form of angling and these regulations allow this to occur.

Fisheries are not on the published list of businesses that the government has ordered to close and there is no reason that they should do so providing that they operate in accordance with the rules

It does not permit club outings or organised amateur sporting activities of any sort. All indoor or social facilities in any way connected with a fishing venue must close or refer to the relevant Government guidance. Fishing tackle shops, whether onsite or not, can only operate a ‘click and collect’ service.

Travelling to fish

Whilst the government have chosen not to write their travel guidance into law we are urging anglers to respect the advice which states that it is permissible to travel in order to:

“to spend time or exercise outdoors – this should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)”

Put simply, you can travel to go fishing but long journeys should be avoided ‘wherever possible’. Sea anglers should focus on their local beaches and fishing marks and freshwater anglers should not be travelling hundreds of miles in search of fishing during lockdown. It is up to the individual to apply common sense and act within the spirit of the government’s guidance. You absolutely cannot leave home to fish if you have Coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating.

Added after clarification was given by the Angling Trust - Travel to a venue in a vehicle with someone from outside a social bubble or outside a person’s household is not allowed, you can however meet up with someone at a venue following social distancing rules.

How long to fish

There are no limits on the time that can be spent on outdoor recreation which means that anglers are able to continue fishing into and through the hours of darkness providing the other rules are observed.

Fishery Management

Essential fishery management work, which clearly cannot be undertaken from home, can continue as can any necessary, socially distanced working parties fall within the provisions for ‘voluntary work’. Appropriate risk assessments must be in place and numbers should be sensibly managed.

Summary

This is going to be an extremely difficult period for everybody and as anglers we must recognise that we are fortunate that our chosen form of recreation can continue even though there are restrictions on what we can do. The Angling Trust made the case for fishing based on the health and wellbeing benefits that angling offers coupled with the importance of reducing pressure on other open spaces by allowing us to continue to safely enjoy the social isolation and peace that fishing brings. It is incumbent on us all to continue to act responsibly and to fish safely, fish locally and respect the Rule of Two.

Source and gratitude for the guidance to Angling Trust 

 

The A1 Pits will be opening tomorrow (13th May) at usual time. Fishing only, no recreation. Please remember we are not a camp site we are a fisheries, so please adhere to the government guidelines. Below are both our rules and the rules from the angling association to try and keep everyone safe. please adhere to these rules. Thank you.

Please Note: this is Anglers ONLY no visitors or guests

How To Find Us

From the A1. Exit A1 at the B6325 / Newark. 

At roundabout, take the THIRD exit onto B6325. 

Turn LEFT onto Church Lane. Through the village then straight after the railway lines turn Right into fishery. 

Access to the River is by the same route just keep going past Pit 6 and take the right hand fork.

For Sat Nav's or Route Finders, enter the postcode: NG23 6EQ 

Contact (Bailiff) Steve on Tel:07970209433

Rules And Information

SOUTH MUSKHAM FISHERIES RULES

• The use of permanently fixed leads or bent hooks are not allowed.
• Unhooking mats should always be used for any fish.
• Rods must not be left unattended.
• Minimum breaking strain of reel line is 12lb.
• No peanuts on any of the lakes, no tiger nuts to be spodded out on any lake, all particles must be prepared correctly under no circumstances should dry particles be used . 
• No fish to be taken away or introduced and no fish to be transferred to other waters on the complex, without permission of the owner. 
• All litter, even the smallest items are to be taken home, and anyone found with litter near them will be held responsible for it and will be banned.
• Junior anglers on site under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times. 
• The use of bait boats is strictly prohibited at any time. 
• Open fires are not permitted anywhere on the fishery. The use of barbeque equipment is. however it is your responsibility to ensure the ground is not burnt. 
• All embers and remnants of the barbeque must be removed from the fishery. 
• All fishermen must hold an Environment Agency rod license, or two licences if three rods are being used and must obey the Environment Agency by-laws including close season regulations (river only). Environment Agency Bailiffs are welcomed onto the complex on a regular basis. 
• People enter the site for the purpose of fishing only, and are on the property at their own risk. 
• Fish care, please ensure the return of all fish as soon as possible ensuring fish have sufficiently recovered before release, especially with Barbel during warmer months when oxygen levels are low. Please see Barbel Society Handling Code
• The use of breakaway type sea fishing leads are banned.
• No braided mainline except spod and markers.
• Shockleaders must be used when fishing at range.
• Firearms/Guns - Shooting is strictly prohibited on the A1 Pits complex. At NO time, in NO situation, should anyone bring a firearm to the site. 
• Anyone found with a firearm of any description will be banned immediately! 
• Please respect the boundaries on the A1 pits side of the river not fishing on the opposite side, this is an issue especially near the 'sunken barge' but not exclusively 

Complex Prices

Prices for Fishing:

Lakes

• £15 Per Day
• £20 Per 24 Hours
• £35 Per 48 Hours
• £50 Per 72 Hours
• £95 Per Week - 6 Days 7th Day Will Be Free
• Fourth Rod £5 Per Day
• Caravans £10 Per 24 Hours

River Trent

• £10 Per Day
• £15 Per 24 Hours
• £25 Per 48 Hours
• £35 Per 72 Hours
• £45 Per 96 Hours

Contact (Bailiff) Steve on Tel:07970209433

About Us

ABOUT US

11 years ago my brother who although having lost a leg loved to fish the A1 pits and River Trent died suddenly at the age of 45 from a heart attack, he had set up a forum to help fishermen come together and share tips, help and captures several years before, at the time I wanted to pass the forum to someone who also loved the place but all I got was some sharks wanting to take it to use to sell and promote products for their own interests having little or no interest in the place.

I finally decided to continue it myself as the only options I had were to pass it to people willing to jump into a dead man’s shoes to turn a profit, or close it which I know my brother wouldn’t have wanted, the only other people who wanted to unfortunately didn’t have the technical ability to run a server and maintain the forum software.

I have never made a profit from it or tried to on the contrary while the forum was running it was costing me in the region of £1000 a year, I finally closed the forum part of the website due to people wanting to use the Facebook group more and posts had dropped off to the point it was too high a cost to pay for something hardly used apart from gleaning information.

I have never received a penny from the owners of the A1 Pits nor have I ever asked as I never wanted the forum/group to feel censored or obligated not to allow something to be posted or demand something negative be removed, I hope this clears things up for a few people who didn’t know.