BRITISH PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP RULES 2007

1. The match is open only to anglers who have qualified through a recognised current ACA qualifying match. Proof of qualification, by means of an entry ticket, must be produced on the day of the final.
2. All anglers fishing the pike final will be issued with a clear set of rules before the match commences.
3. Only fish caught by fair means will be weighed in. The competition is for pike only.
4. All juniors below the age of 16 involved in the championships must be accompanied by a responsible adult, parent or guardian.
5. Anglers must make every effort to employ suitable tackle to play and land Pike in excess of 20lb that will not cause undue stress when landing the fish. Hooks should preferably be semi barbed or barbless.
6. Each angler must allow stewards to carry out a tackle and bait check if requested at any time.
7. Anglers entering a Pike match should have suitable equipment to retain their Pike until a steward can weigh them in. This should be ideally either a Pike tube or Carp sack. Keepnets will be allowed for the 2007 Pike Final, and thereafter all competitors must use a Pike Tube or Carp sack to retain pike. GAFFS AND STRINGERS ARE STRICTLY BANNED.
8. All runs should be dealt with promptly in an effort to avoid gorge tactics.
9. All fish must be returned alive.
10. Stewards should ensure that no Pike are retained for more than 30 minutes wherever practically possible.
11. Anglers may fish with no more than two rods at a time, although any number of rods and tackle may be assembled on the bank ready for use.
12. LIVEBAITING IS NOT ALLOWED. ANYONE CAUGHT WITH LIVE BAITS IN THE VICINITY OF THEIR PEG, EVEN IF EVENTUALLY INTENDED AS DEADBAITS, WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. Anglers may fish only with deadbait or any legal kind of artificial lure. Any number of deadbaits may be brought to the match but freshwater fish must be chemically preserved (this can be achieved by soaking overnight in a strong salt solution before freezing). No unused baits may be left on the bank or thrown into the water after the match.
13. Fishing must not begin before the starting signal at 10 am and must cease at 3 pm. An angler who is playing a fish when the final signal is given will be allowed up to 15 minutes to land his catch. No fish hooked after the final signal will count.
14. Stewards should be contactable by all anglers fishing the match by holding up a yellow flag to be supplied to each angler before the match commences.
15. No angler will pre-bait their swim before the start of the match.
16. All Anglers entering a Pike match should be in possession of the proper unhooking tools. This should include, as a bare minimum, forceps and an unhooking mat.
17. The draw will begin at 7 am with fishing from 10 am to 3 pm. The start will be signalled by section stewards, but competitors hearing the signal are asked to inform anglers at adjacent pegs.
18. The organisers - Angling Times, WAA, ACA & stewards - reserve the right to relocate competitors to alternate pegs if the conditions require it.
19. No angler with litter at his peg will be weighed in and all cars must be parked only in designated parking zones, shown on a map at the draw.
20. Each competitor will draw a peg number from which to fish. He should position himself not more than one yard from the peg in either direction and on no account fish further than the mid-point between his and his neighbour's peg. Moving from your allocated peg to place baits or land fish is not permitted.
21. Able-bodied anglers must strike, play and land their own fish. Junior and disabled anglers must strike and play their own fish but assistance with landing and unhooking is allowed - commonsense must prevail.
22. All competitors may obtain assistance from stewards to unhook fish and anyone experiencing difficulty should immediately try to summon assistance.
23. Stewards or competitors should report breaches of the above rules to the organisers. Only after consulting with Angling Times, in conjunction with the ACA, shall the steward have the power to disqualify a competitor.
24. Angling Times and the ACA reserve the right to alter the prize list at any time and to award any prizes as they see fit.