Crieff Angling Club

Crieff Angling Club - Rules and Guidance for Anglers River Earn

This leaflet has been produced to bring together in one place, for easy reference, all the rules and guidance that apply when fishing Crieff Angling Club waters on the River Earn. We hope that Club members and visitors will find it useful. It includes a number of conservation-based recommendations made by the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board (TDSFB). These are not mandatory but the Club supports conservation & strongly encourages anglers to follow them.

Please follow the rules and enjoy your fishing! Permission to fish

• Club members are not allowed to fish unless they are carrying their signed membership card on their person.  Country members must also carry their ID card on their person.
• Anglers using a Complimentary Membership are not allowed to fish unless they are carrying the relevant Complimentary card on their person.
• Visiting anglers are not allowed to fish unless they are carrying a valid day ticket on their person and are using tackle permitted by that ticket.
• After fishing, visiting anglers must use the ticket to make a catch return (including Nil returns) and hand this in at the Garden Centre, Crieff Visitors’ Centre, Muthill Road, Crieff. (After hours returns can be posted into the Crieff AC letter box at the Garden Centre.
• Membership cards, ID cards and tickets must be produced for examination to wardens, bailiffs and Club members on request and without objection.
• Membership cards and day tickets are issued to an individual and are not transferable. Only Complimentary cards may be used by someone other than the person named on the card. Different species of fish Brown Trout
• Fishing for brown trout is permitted from 15th March to 6th October.
• The maximum number of brown trout that an angler may kill per day on the River Earn is four fish of a minimum size of 10 inches.
• Day Tickets - please read your ticket carefully before fishing, and note in particular that a brown trout day ticket gives permission for fly fishing only, in daylight hours, using a leader with breaking strain of no more than 4lb. The only exception is that after April children under 16 years may fish with bait.

Sea Trout

• Fishing for Sea Trout is permitted from 1st February to 31st October, excluding Sundays.
• Sea Trout inadvertently caught after 31st August must be released alive but are to be recorded on returns.

Salmon Fishing for Salmon is permitted from 1st February to 31st October, excluding Sundays.

• The taking of salmon parr or fry is prohibited.
• The Earn is a Category 3 river and all salmon must, by law, be returned to the water alive.

Grayling River Earn Crieff Angling Club 06/01/18 Page 1 of 3 . . . . Bait & fly fishing for grayling is permitted from 15th November to 15th January. Fishing for grayling is restricted to between dawn and dusk. Day ticket fishing for grayling is on Drummond Castle water only. Maximum line strength is 4lb and maximum bait hook size 10. TDSFB recommendation - Release all sea trout throughout the season Rainbow Trout  Any rainbow trout caught should be killed (irrespective of size) to protect native fish stocks.

Eels  Fishing for eels is illegal and any eels caught inadvertently must be returned to the water alive. Fishing tackle and methods

• Fishing is to be with single rod and line on Club waters only.
• The use of set lines, rod rests, lead core lines, live bait, diving minnows, prawns, shrimps and any other illegal baits & methods is prohibited.
• Floats are only allowed when grayling fishing between 15th Nov and 15th Jan.
• Only one hook is allowed per lure. Multi-hook lures may not be used. . Fishing with bait is allowed from 1st May, by single hook only, maximum size 1.
• Continuous fishing for more than 3 casts from the same position is not allowed. All fishing methods should be on the basis of two or three casts followed by a movement of two or three paces.
• A new arrival must not start to fish directly in front of a person already fishing without their permission, regardless of the bank.
• Day tickets for salmon & sea trout allow fishing from 00.01 hrs to 24.00 hrs (midnight). On request until the end of August, a sea trout-only ticket is available which allows fishing through the night.
• During September and October, all fishing is restricted to between one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
• Grayling anglers from 15th Nov to 15th Jan must not wade or cross the river.
• Tackle that has been used outside the UK must be disinfected before use on Club waters to prevent the spread of the disease Gyrodactylus salaris.
• Access and parking • Vehicles must be parked with consideration, in marked areas only, and not driven onto Estate land.
• Anglers should not make private arrangements for parking with farmers or landowners. Conduct
• Anglers are prohibited from taking with them any dog, ferret, gun or instrument for killing game.
• Damage must not be caused to fences, trees or any other property.
• Fires are not allowed. All litter and rubbish must be taken away. 
• All anglers should beware overhead power lines.
• Members are responsible for the conduct of their guests.
• Members bind themselves to report anyone breaking Club rules. Sanctions TDSFB recommendations
• Do not fish with worms before 1st June or after 31st August o If worm fishing, use either Circle hooks or Shelton release hooks. River Earn Crieff Angling Club 06/01/18 Page 2 of 3 . . . . . Anglers found breaking Club rules may be required to stop fishing and leave the water immediately. Breaking Club rules may lead to forfeiture of day ticket, loss of membership and/or a ban from Club waters. Activity which is illegal may lead to confiscation of tackle & prosecution. SANA policy for the protection of children and vulnerable groups applies. Members failing to make a return of fish caught, including nil return, by 10th November, cease to be members.