Guidance on the use of Keepnets

Where to Use

The Long Pits? Herons Lake? At other club’s venues if there own rules are not available?

Pleasure Angling? Matches?

Investigations suggest a minimum length of 3metres/10 feet. Circular frames 45cm/18in diameter. Oblong frames 35cm/14in X 45cm/18in. All sizes approximate and subject to commonsense interpretation.

As per legal requirements for soft knotless mesh, plus ‘rubber’ nets and carp sacks.

At least 2/3 of net length to be totally immersed. Sunken part of net should be fully expanded, not collapsed. Avoid where possible full nets in shallow water on hot days.

No fish over 2kg/41b to be retained for longer than necessary to arrange a photograph, or for the fish to recover sufficiently to be returned to the water.

It is possible that several large fish could easily damage a quantity of smaller fish if all crammed together into an overfilled net.

Where possible, specimen weight fish to be kept individually until photographed/weighed

Match arrangements to allow for large individual fish to be weighed on capture.

Suggested maximum weight of 25kg/501b per net, as evidenced by rules at some commercial fisheries, and by the rules of the national Fish O’Mania competition (recent winner at Barford Lakes disqualified under this rule).

Many commercial fisheries and angling clubs insist on the dipping of all nets (and footwear). This is obviously easier where there are entry gates, inside which dipping tanks can be positioned relatively safely. Dangers to children, pets and others if chemical tanks are easily accessible must be considered, if installed at waters such as Dungeness Pits and Herons Lake for voluntary use.