Manchester Anglers’ Association

Founded in 1878 as a fishing and literary society, Manchester Anglers’ Association (MAA) is one of the oldest fly fishing clubs in the country and home to one of the most spectacular wild trout fisheries in England. The Association owns approximately 12 miles of the headwaters of the River Ribble in the limestone uplands of North Yorkshire, running through Gearstones, Selside, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Studfold, and down to Helwith Bridge. The fishery sits in the shadow of Pen-y-Ghent and the Ribblehead Viaduct, in scenery that is hard to match anywhere in the UK.

The Ribble here is an alkaline spate river offering rewarding wild brown trout fishing, with the occasional salmon for those that ascend Stainforth Foss. In a bold and historically significant move, the club voted to stop stocking the river in 2006, choosing instead to rewild the upper Ribble in partnership with the Ribble Rivers Trust and the Wild Trout Trust. More than a decade on, the result is a thriving population of native, golden-yellow-brown wild trout and a near-100% catch-and-release ethic among members.

The Association also owns a 4.6-acre hill tarn above Horton, complete with lodge, boathouse, and boat. Membership is open to experienced fly anglers and to those keen to try the sport for the first time, male and female alike. The historic clubroom remains at the Golden Lion in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, where the original rod rests still survive in the entrance hall.