1. Only persons who hold a current Welbeck Lakes Fishery Permit, and for the sole purpose of fishing, are allowed at the Lakes.

Permit Categories are:
(a) Double Rod: the holder will be allowed to fish with two rods, both being in a bank coverage of not more than 3 yards.
(b) Single Rod: the holder will be allowed to fish with one rod only.
(c) Juvenile Rod: the holder (for this purpose anyone below the age of 16 on 1st June at the start of the current season) will be allowed to fish with one rod only. No juvenile will be allowed on the lakeside except accompanied by an adult (holding a permit) who will be responsible for the safety of such juvenile.

2. Anglers must carry their permit and their current Environment Agency Rod Licence with them for production on request to the Water Bailiff and/or other authorised Welbeck Estate personnel.

3. Permit holders may fish from the banks of the Great Lake, Carburton Forge Dam and Carburton Dam except for the following:
(a) The north bank of the Great Lake, north of the Chestnuts.
(b) The monument side of the Great Lake, north of the fence 200 yards south of Duck Decoy.

The perimeter of the Lakes must be kept to at all times.
The grass rides around the perimeter of the Lakes must not be obstructed at any time.

4. No anglers must enter Estate property before dawn or 7.00 am, whichever is the later and all fishing must cease by 9.00 pm or dusk, whichever is the earlier.

NO FISHING IS ALLOWED ON SUNDAYS.

5. Pike fishing IS allowed all season.

6. Permits will not be valid for the Great Lake on the day of the Annual Permit Holders’ Cup Match. The match will not affect permit holders’ access to Carburton Dam and Carburton Forge Dam.

7. No vehicles, including motorcycles and bicycles, will be allowed on to Estate property beyond the authorised car parks. When using Milnthorpe Lake Head anglers are requested only to park in the designated hard surface car park.

8. On no account whatsoever shall dogs be brought on to the Estate.

9. No fishing line or other item that would endanger wildlife is to be left on the banks.

10. Wire traces must be used whilst fishing for pike and eel.

11. All pike must be landed with landing nets. Gaffs are not to be used.

12. No tackle is to be left unattended.

13. ALL FISH (INCLUDING PIKE) MUST BE RETURNED TO THE WATER. ON NO ACCOUNT MUST ANY FISH BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LAKES.

14. Digging for worms or for any other reason is prohibited.

15. Use of live bait is not allowed. Use of hemp seed is not allowed.

16. Litter, including unwanted terminal tackle, MUST be taken away. Do not burn or hide it under bushes or trees. PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY – RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

17. In an effort to decrease fish damage and kills, anglers are encouraged to use barbless hooks.
Although as yet not compulsory, the use of barbless hooks is under consideration by the
Fishery and may be introduced in seasons to come.

18. Any fish diseased or suspected of being diseased should be reported to the bailiffs as soon as possible.

19. Pike Fishing Specific Rules

• Line must be a minimum of 18lb mono or 40lb braid.
• Traces must be a minimum of 30lb wire and at least 12 inch long when used for bait fishing or lure fishing.
• No hooks larger than size 4 should be used when bait fishing and they must be barbless on two points of the trebles with the barbed one in the bait.
• Micro barbed single hooks can be used on lures, but they must be barbless to allow easy unhooking from the Pike yourself.
• No free lining when bait fishing, a running lead must be used all the time.
• No fixed leads except when paternostering where the pasternoster link must be less than a quarter the strength of your main line.
• Adequate bite indication must be used all the time, preferably with some form of electronic instant bite indication is paramount.
• No slack lines.
• Set the hooks as soon as possible, NO ‘waiting to make sure you get it.’
• Never be more than 10 seconds away from your rods.
• No kebab rigs.
• Triangular landing nets must be at least 40 inches. Pan nets at least 30 inches, both preferable rubberised and deep to protect the fish and avoid hooking up on loose trebles.
• Strictly no gaffs to be used.
• Care must be taken when landing pike i.e. no dragging them across the floor of the net.
• An unhooking mat of at least 48 inches by 22 inch must be used to unhook all pike (the thicker the padding, the better).
• Strictly no gags used.
• Hooks are to be removed with care by using long forceps or purpose made pike pliers from a reputable firm.
• A large weigh sling must be used, no part of the fish should show when it is lifted off the ground and it should not bend with fish double. Carp retainer slings are perfect.
• All pike, 5lb and above, must be returned to the water gently in a weigh sling or landing net, taking care not to drag them on the floor.
• Do not ‘throw’ the smaller fish back.
• No bait fishing until 1st October, as pike quickly swallow baits in the summer.
• When lure fishing in the summer, unhook the fish in the water, if possible, as pike suffer oxygen deprivation in warm weather.
• If you cannot abide by the rules stated above, then please do not pike fish.
• If you are inexperienced, please do not fish on your own and ask one of the other members to help you.
• If you are caught flouting any of the rules stated above, you will be asked to leave the lakes until you have the appropriate tackle or experience.
• If you flaunt the same rule twice you will be banned for three months or may not be allowed to purchase a permit the following season.

20. Please report any outstanding catches to the bailiffs.

21. Should you see anyone contravening any of the Welbeck Regulations please point out the error of their ways!

22. The Welbeck Estate reserves the right to close the lakes for shooting or other Estate purposes on certain days or at certain times throughout the season. Any queries should be directed to the bailiffs.

23. The Welbeck Estate reserves the right to cancel, without repayment, the permit of any angler breaking the regulations or whose actions are considered to be to the detriment of the Estate.

24. The Welbeck Estate reserves the right to close any part of the lakes at any time for maintenance, repair or improvement work.