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One of the UK’s best-known match fisheries is quitting opens

by Freddie Sandford |

Published on19th June 2026 at 9.35am

One of the nation’s best-known match fisheries has called time on all open competitions and is remodelling its business to accommodate the recent surge in popularity of family fishing.

Partridge Lakes has a rich pedigree in competitive fishing, and many of the best commercial fishery anglers inthe country, including Andy Bennett, cut their teeth at the Cheshire venue.

Despite it having been the ideal breeding ground for elite-level talent down the years, last week fishery bosses announced they were set to change focus after witnessing a steady decline in open match attendances.

“Numbers are down, and last year we made a good go of it, having a big restock and employing two more groundsmen,” owner Barbara Ikin told Angling Times.

“But numbers continued to drop and, with so much work behind the scenes required, from pegging to weighing in, we were losing money by putting the matches on.

So, with our head bailiff, Nel, set to leave after 16 years at the fishery, we felt this was the right time to go out on a high.”

Logan (left) Nel (Right)and Barbara (centre)

Club matches will still take place, and those who take part in Partridge’s OAP opens will still be catered for.

“Keeping the over-60s on board is important to us – we know how much ‘sense of community’ their match scene provides,” Barbara added.

“The regulars have got together and made a club, so they will still fish together.”

But for Barbara, the primary focus at the fishery will now be on day-ticket anglers, in particular families.

“We’ve seen a massive spike in the number of mums coming down with their kids and spending the day together on the bank,” she revealed.

“We plan to bring in beginner sessions, summer angling schools and on-site coaching.

“There have been rumours that we’ll be turning our waters into wild swimming lakes, as other fisheries have done, but we have no plans for that.

We’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved, but now it’s time for a new chapter,” she added.

The incredible Partridge Lakes

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