Manchester is better known for its football teams than its fishing opportunities, but to the north of this popular city there’s a thriving angling club which has transformed a series of park lakes in the area, catering to members of all ages and abilities.
Clubmate club Manchester AC, formerly known as GJ Fisheries, is managed by local angler Jamie Clayton, who has poured his heart into a series of lakes in the area over the past 10 years. Originally a carp-focused club, it rebranded as Manchester AC earlier this year to highlight not only the quality mixed-species fishing available on its waters, but also the strong community feel of the organisation.
Alongside offering free fishing to anglers aged 16 and under, and to serving military personnel, they have big plans for the future, as we learned on a recent visit to their scenic Rhodes Lodge complex.
A professional outfit
At Rhodes Lodge, Jamie’s efforts and experience are clear to see. Although the waters are ‘park lakes’, they’re a far cry from the inner-city concrete bowls often associated with the term. Mature trees surround the centuries-old ponds, offering seclusion. They boast some stunning carp – the 4.5-acre Big Lodge holds 160 fish, including plenty of ‘twenties’, but there are other species present, too.
“In the Bog Pond there are double-figure bream to 13lb, 9lb tench, crucians, and lots of smaller carp,” Jamie added.
Key to the ethos of the club is making fishing affordable and accessible. “This isn’t an affluent area, so we don’t want to price people out,” he said.
“We offer day tickets at Rhodes Lodge, which I encourage people to try before taking out a membership.”
Arguably the jewel in the crown is the intimate, weedy Perch Pond, which is a small syndicate water.
“It’s the talk of the carp scene in Manchester, as it’s home to some very special fish. The biggest is pushing 40lb now. Clubmate has also been a huge help with the administrative and digital side of things. This has allowed me to save time and focus on improving our waters.”
Exciting times ahead
Manchester AC’s work with juniors doesn’t end at offering them free fishing. The club recently acquired the lease on an old building next to Bog Pond, which Jamie intends to turn into a centre for fishing sessions with local kids and community groups.
“It’s been a battle, but the council has seen the positive impact of the work I’ve done. We can now turn it into a sort of classroom,” he said.
“It’ll have decking going down to the lake, so the kids can test out the things they’ve learned inside, or get back inside for a hot drink and a sandwich if it’s raining.”
Jamie has also been approached by schools, charities and groups in the area, who are keen to access their fishing facilities and services. “Once we open the education centre, we can give these local groups a base when they visit, and encourage more access to fishing,” he said.
Jamie has also just gained access to the fishing rights on a stretch of the River Irk that runs through the complex. “Brown trout, perch and grayling have been seen, and I’m cleaning it up to improve the spawning habitat,” he added.
“Work on there can also be part of the kids’ project, and we’ve got some land next to the lake that we want to turn into a garden, where those that aren’t interested in fishing can still spend time outdoors. We have great connections to other fisheries and we all help each other out. Fishing should be friendly and inclusive, and at Manchester AC, those are the values we stand by.”
To join or for more information on Manchester AC, please visit: www.manchesteranglingclub.clubmate.co.uk
Conversations with Clubmate
Welcome to the very first edition of Conversations with Clubmate, your new monthly read here in Angling Times. Each month we’ll chat about the big topics in angling, share handy advice based on the experiences of hundreds of clubs and fisheries, and tackle the topics you’re really interested in.
If you’re new to us, Clubmate is the online system designed to make life easier for clubs and fisheries. We understand that most clubs are run by volunteers, and that fishery owners often go above and beyond their day jobs – and let’s face it, admin isn’t exactly the fun part of fishing!
That’s why we’ve built tools that take care of the admin, things like managing memberships, selling day tickets, handling payments and keeping in touch with members. So you can spend less time chasing paperwork and more time on the bank. But this column isn’t just about features and tools, it’s about sharing what matters to the anglers.
We’ll be talking about the challenges clubs are facing, the creative ways fisheries are solving problems, and celebrate the success that shows what’s possible when people work together and the sport of angling becomes a community. We’ll also tie in with the seasons, whether it’s tips on handling the summer rush, advice on keeping fisheries running smoothly in winter, or highlighting the latest news we think is important to you.
Think of it as a friendly chat over a brew, a challenging conversation about the stuff that really gets anglers going and everything in between, with some useful advice thrown in for good measure.
So whether you’re running a small village club, managing a busy fishery, or just curious about where angling is headed, this column is for you!
