Fishing in Manchester: 282 Waters, Nearest 0.6km

Looking for somewhere to fish near Manchester? The water around Manchester is mixed — 139 rivers and 104 lakes among 282 named waters within 20km. The closest is Rochdale Canal, 0.6km out — and 21 more sit inside 5km.

What you can expect to catch near Manchester

What's realistic here follows the water you've actually got in range, and it varies by type:

Rivers (139, closest 0.7km) — Expect chub, roach, dace and perch through most English rivers, with barbel in the faster, gravelly stretches and pike in the slower ones. Upper reaches may hold trout and grayling.
Lakes (104, closest 0.8km) — Carp, tench, bream and roach dominate most stillwaters, with perch and pike where there's baitfish to support them.
Reservoirs (26, closest 5.9km) — Many reservoirs are stocked with trout and run a permit season; the coarse ones tend towards big bream, roach and pike.
Canals (13, closest 0.6km) — Roach, perch, bream, gudgeon and skimmers make up most canal catches, with pike and increasingly carp for anyone targeting something bigger.

Fishing the water around Manchester

On rivers, read the flow before you cast. Fish hold on the seam where fast water meets slow, in the crease behind obstructions, and under undercut banks. Approach from downstream where you can — fish face into the current, so you'll be behind them.

On stillwaters, features do the work: margins, islands, weed edges, drop-offs and any wind-blown bank. Plumb the depth before committing to a spot, and remember the uncomfortable windward bank is usually where the food ends up.

Before you go

You'll need an Environment Agency rod licence to fish for freshwater species in England, and that's separate from permission to fish the water itself — most venues also need a day ticket or club membership. Check both before you travel, along with any close season on rivers.

Every named water within 20km

282 in total, closest first — a live slice of the 500,000+ waters in CastLog. Photograph a catch on any of them and the app names the species, estimates its size, and logs the spot and conditions automatically.

Rivers near Manchester

River Irwell · river · 0.7km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
River Irk · river · 1.4km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Moss Brook · river · 2.1km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Corn Brook · river · 2.4km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Platt Brook · river · 3.9km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Gore Brook · river · 4.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Boggart Hole Brook · river · 4.7km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Moston Brook · river · 4.8km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Leigh Brook · river · 4.9km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Chorlton Brook · river · 5.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Shaw Brook · river · 5.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Fallowfield Brook · river · 5.9km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Lord's Brook · river · 6.3km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
River Mersey · river · 6.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Barrow Brook · river · 6.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Bradley Brook · river · 6.8km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Lumb Clough Brook · river · 6.9km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Boardman Brook · river · 7.0km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Kickety Brook · river · 7.1km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Folly Brook · river · 7.7km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Ousel Brook · river · 7.8km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Wince Brook · river · 7.9km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Bent Lanes Brook · river · 8.4km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Taunton Brook · river · 8.4km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.
Old Eea Brook · river · 8.5km from Manchester centre
Typically chub, roach, dace and perch, with barbel in faster water and pike in slower stretches.

+114 more within range — open CastLog to search the full list.

Lakes near Manchester

Dale Street Basin · lake · 0.8km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
South Bay · lake · 3.2km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Central Bay · lake · 3.4km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
North Bay · lake · 3.8km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Medlock Valley · lake · 4.3km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Trafford Park Lake · lake · 4.8km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Boggart Hole Clough Fishing and Boating Lakes · lake · 5.6km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Debdale Lakes · lake · 5.9km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Heaton Park Lake · lake · 6.2km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Chorlton Water Park · lake · 6.3km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Blackfish Pond · lake · 6.4km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Sale Water Park · lake · 6.6km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Peel Moat · lake · 6.7km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Jacksons Pond (Reddish Angling Club) · lake · 7.3km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Goldfish Pond · lake · 7.3km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Alkrington Lake · lake · 7.4km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Monton Bait & Tackle · lake · 7.6km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Reddish Vale Mill Pond · lake · 7.9km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Top Mill Pond · lake · 8.0km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Reddish Vale Fishing Pond · lake · 8.1km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Bottom Mill Pond · lake · 8.1km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Crime Lake · lake · 8.1km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Littlemoss A.C. · lake · 8.4km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Spring Dam · lake · 8.9km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.
Old Warke Dam · lake · 9.0km from Manchester centre
Typically carp, tench, bream and roach, with perch and pike where there is baitfish.

+79 more within range — open CastLog to search the full list.

Reservoirs near Manchester

Gorton Lower Reservoir · reservoir · 5.9km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Gorton Upper Reservoir · reservoir · 6.4km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Heaton Park Reservoir · reservoir · 6.9km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Audenshaw Reservoir Number 2 · reservoir · 7.6km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Audenshaw Reservoir Number 1 · reservoir · 7.7km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Sykes Reservoir · reservoir · 10.3km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Newcombe · reservoir · 10.9km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Blackleach Reservoir · reservoir · 11.6km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Knott Hill Reservoir · reservoir · 12.1km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Stonepit Reservoir · reservoir · 12.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Arnold Hill Reservoir · reservoir · 12.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Godley Reservoir · reservoir · 12.8km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Walkerwood Reservoir · reservoir · 14.8km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Brushes Reservoir · reservoir · 15.4km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Lower Swineshaw Reservoir · reservoir · 16.4km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Swineshaw Reservoirs · reservoir · 16.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Higher Swineshaw Reservoir · reservoir · 16.6km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Hollingworth Reservoir · reservoir · 16.8km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Arnfield Reservoir · reservoir · 17.3km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Dove Stone Reservoir · reservoir · 18.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Dovestone Reservoir · reservoir · 18.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Bottoms Reservoir · reservoir · 18.5km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Yeoman Hey Reservoir · reservoir · 19.3km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Horse Coppice Reservoir · reservoir · 19.6km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.
Valehouse Reservoir · reservoir · 19.6km from Manchester centre
Often stocked trout on a permit season; the coarse ones hold big bream, roach and pike.

+1 more within range — open CastLog to search the full list.

Canals near Manchester

Rochdale Canal · canal · 0.6km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Ashton Canal · canal · 0.9km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
River Medlock · canal · 1.2km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal · canal · 1.5km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Bridgewater Canal · canal · 2.6km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Manchester Ship Canal · canal · 3.4km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Waters Meeting · canal · 4.9km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Peak Forest Canal · canal · 9.4km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal · canal · 9.5km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Huddersfield Narrow Canal · canal · 11.5km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Macclesfield Canal · canal · 15.6km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Warburton Park Brook · canal · 16.3km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.
Leeds - Liverpool Canal · canal · 19.1km from Manchester centre
Typically roach, perch, bream and gudgeon, with pike and carp for anyone going bigger.

Find these waters in CastLog