Banbridge Angling Club Limited is a company limited by guarantee and complies with company legislation in Northern Ireland. The Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled prior to the end of January each year. The Club’s News Journal containing the AGM Agenda and the Club Officers’ Annual Reports is issued to Club members in advance of the meeting. It is also available to view and download from this website on the Publications page. The Club’s general rules are set at the AGM and these are stipulated in the Rules and Constitution booklet. The Club also sets the rules with regard to the River Bann, Corbet Lough and the Boat Angling facilities on the Corbet Lough at its AGM. The current General Rules, River Bann Rules, Corbet Lough Rules and Corbet Lough Boat Angling Rules are set out below. In addition the current Corbet Lough Rules and the River Bann Rules are contained in the Club’s Competition Sheet. The elected Committee may amend Rules and introduce new Rules to address arising situations. These changes are subject to ratification at the next AGM. The Rules are applied by the Club’s volunteer Bailiffs, Officers and members on behalf of the Club. The Club has a Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy and Procedures in place. Robert Weir is the Club’s Designated Safeguarding and Welfare Officer and a number of Club volunteers have undertaken Safeguarding Awareness training. Robert is also the Club’s Data Protection Officer. The Club is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has a Data Protection Policy and a Privacy Notice in place. These documents can be viewed on the Publications page of this website.

The current Rules are as follows:

General Rules 2024

Anglers are strictly prohibited from either directly or indirectly selling, trading, exchanging or providing any fish caught on Club waters in return for goods or services for which you would reasonably expect to pay a fee. The penalty for anyone breaking this rule will be expulsion from the Club. The Angler will retain the right to reapply for membership the next season.

River Bann Rules 2024

1. River Bann will open on 1st March.

2. Bag limit – A daily bag limit of two trout may be kept.

3. Minimum keepable trout size – 200mm (nose to fork of tail)

4. Maximum keepable trout size – 300mm (nose to fork of tail)

5. In August, September and October any trout greater than 450mm (nose to fork of tail) may be kept subject to the two fish bag limit.

6. No maggots or grub fishing.

7. No ground baiting.

8. Anglers spinning must use baits with a single barbless hook or single de-barbed hook. No treble or double hooks permitted. The angler may fish catch and release with all fish being released undamaged. 

9. Once an angler has caught and dispatched the bag limit of trout on the River Bann they must stop fishing.

10. It should be noted that the retention of salmon is subject to Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) regulations in force at the time of capture.

11. The lighting of fires is prohibited.

12. Strictly no litter must be left along the river bank or where cars are parked.

13. Leave gates as you find them (either open or closed).

14. Anglers to note separate Competition Rules. These can be obtained from the Club’s Competition Sheet and/or the Competition Secretary.

Note:- Banbridge Angling Club encourages all anglers fishing the River Bann to fish responsibly by using single barbless/debarbed hooks and to fish ‘catch and release’ to help conserve the indigenous wild brown trout.

Corbet Lough Rules 2024

1. Lough will open on 1st March.

2. Fishing hours from March to May and September to October inclusive will be 8:00am to 11:00pm. June, July and August will be 8:00am to midnight. Anglers to be in the car parks outside of these times.

3. Methods will be orthodox fly fishing and spinning only. Maggot fishing or ground baiting strictly not permitted.

4. Orthodox worm fishing will begin on 1st July.

5. Anglers will be confined to one hook only when worm fishing. No droppers.

6. Two rods may be carried but one rod must be completely unassembled at the Lough – No reel mounted.

7. Rods unattended or left in charge of other anglers while assembled is strictly prohibited.

8. Spinning is permitted from the Newcastle side of the Lough only.

9. Bag Limit – Bag limit for all methods is two Rainbow Trout.

10. Brown Trout – All Brown Trout caught must be carefully released regardless of angling method.

11. Fly Fishing – Anglers who are fly fishing are permitted to dispatch two Rainbow Trout and continue fishing catch and release. All fish must be returned undamaged.

12. Spinning – Spinning will be catch and release using baits with a single barbless hook or de-barbed hook. No treble or double hooks permitted. Anglers who are spinning from the shore are permitted to dispatch two Rainbow Trout and continue fishing catch and release. All fish must be returned undamaged.

13. Worm Fishing – All Brown Trout caught using worms must be released undamaged. All Rainbow Trout caught using worms must be dispatched. Two fish bag limit. Once bag limit is attained anglers must dismantle their rod and detach the reel.

14. Anglers must use front entrances only when entering or leaving the Lough.

15. The wearing of chest or waist waders is permitted, but anglers are prohibited from exceeding thigh wader level.

16. Lighting of fires is prohibited.

17. Strictly no litter must be left at the Lough, or where cars are parked. First offence under this rule will mean expulsion from the Club.

18. Any fish dispatched at the Corbet Lough must be kept by the angler for inspection and must not be given into the possession of anyone else whilst the angler is still at the Corbet Lough. This is to include the car park at the front of the Lough.

19. Net to be used for landing all fish.

20. The three stands on the Banbridge shore are for disabled anglers use only.

Note:- Worm fishing at Lough is confined to Club members or holders of concession day tickets from 1st July.

Note:- Corbet Lough Boat Rules apply.

Corbet Lough Boat Angling Rules 2024

1. A maximum number of three persons per boat is permitted. An adult can accompany two children between the ages of seven and 19, provided all are members of the Club. Only two of the three are permitted to fish at any time. No more than two adults per boat are permitted.

2. At least one adult to each boat. Adult to be responsible for Juveniles under 19.

3. No Pleasure Boating is permitted, boats reserved for anglers only.

4. The use of Drogues is permitted.

5. The use of Anchors is permitted. These are provided with the boat. However, due to the varying depths of the Lough their use is limited.

6. Boat anglers must give way to shore anglers. Shore anglers are given precedence at all times.

7. Boat anglers may stand in the boats while fishing for short periods and while netting fish.

8. Designated departure and landing point is the boat jetty only, with exceptions to this rule under Bailiffs instructions (See Rule 16).

9. One adult member of the original hire party to remain with the boat during the period of hire.

10. Anglers are held responsible for all equipment hired and used. Life jackets are provided with boat hire and it is strongly advised that the life jacket is worn at all times during the period of hire. Any deliberate or accidental inflation of life jackets must be reported immediately to the boat lodge attendant on duty. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

11. Fly fishing only from boats is permitted.

12. Trolling of flies from the boat is prohibited.

13. Boat anglers must strictly observe the time limits as set out on their period of hire, i.e. the boat must not leave the boat jetty prior to commencement time and must moor to the boat jetty no later than the stated finishing time.

14. Anglers are responsible for ensuring that their boats are left clean and litter free at the end of each hire period.

15. The use of electric fish finding equipment is prohibited.

16. If required, a boat must return to the shore at any point if so requested by a Bailiff or Club Officer.

17. The wearing of chest waders in boats is permitted.

18. Anglers are permitted to dispatch a 2 Rainbow Trout bag limit and continue fishing catch and release until the end of their boat hire period. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED TO ANGLERS WHO CEASE FISHING PRIOR TO THE END OF THE BOAT HIRE PERIOD. 

Note:- Boat anglers should note that all other Corbet Lough Rules apply.

Anglers in breach of any of these rules may be cautioned. Club Membership Cards / Day Tickets may be retained and the matter referred to the Committee for any action deemed appropriate.

Fish Conservation and Protection of Water Quality

If an angler comes across illegal fishing activity or a water pollution incident on Club waters they should note the date, time, location, description of individuals involved, description of vehicles including vehicle registration numbers. Report illegal fishing activity and such incidents immediately to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Inland Fisheries on 0800 807 060. Please also notify a Club Bailiff or a Commttee Member.