About - Embryo Angling

How does Embryo do this?

The Embryo Story

Embryo has two main objectives;

Firstly, to buy and lease our own fisheries. Our venues are run as affordable fisheries with local anglers in mind, with a focus on helping young anglers access the many benefits that angling can offer. Any profits made from venues will be re-invested into the next project.

Secondly, we help others protect their lakes from the increasing threat of otter predation. We have fenced numerous lakes since 2015. As well as using our own funds to fence lakes, we also offer a cut price fencing service and can supply fencing materials at a low cost. This is a viable long term project where the maximum amount of angling clubs and syndicates can benefit from the services.

Embryo is focused on the future of the sport. We have a close relationship with numerous stakeholders and work with these (and independently) to look at alternative methods of predation prevention.

The story (so far) in numbers

29

Lakes open

As of Summer 2023, Embryo has 20 different syndicate venues open as fisheries spanning from Yorkshire to Surrey, plus three exclusive booking lakes and a six lake (soon to be 8) day ticket complex in Norton Disney, Lincolnshire!

30+

Miles of Fencing

Since 2014 we have installed over 45km of otter fencing, this equates to crossing the ‘English Channel’ twice!

8

Funded fences

Embryo has paid out the full amount (or the ‘lions’ share) required to fence 8 lakes at no cost and with no ties to the clubs who run the lakes.

Behind the scenes

Meet The Team

Embryo is spearheaded by a relatively small ‘full time’ team of staff. Across the team there is a huge variety of skill sets but all with an underlying passion for the project.

Embryo relies heavily on the input and work by volunteers at the lakes. All of these people: Fishery Managers, Bailiffs to members on work parties have helped to create the successful lakes and operations we run today.

Danny Fairbrass

- Managing Director -
Danny formed Embryo to put something positive back into fishing and to meet the ongoing threat of predation head on! He has remained hands on and ensuring the project grows inline with his vision.

Matt Pettitt

- General Manager -
Matt joined in July 2014 and since then, he has been instrumental in setting up the entire operation from the ground up. His sheer dedication and hard work has seen Embryo grow to what exists today.

James Turner

- Operations Manager -
After joining in spring 2016, he's got his hands dirty both on the ground and in the office, becoming instrumental in setting up new venues, managing of fishery operations as well as contractors and suppliers.

Ryan Shaw

- Embryo Office Manager -
Ryan joined Embryo mid-way through 2018 to take over managing the memberships and enquiries for our ever-increasing portfolio of lakes.

Rob Willingham

- Website, Media and Memberships -
Rob deals with the memberships for our syndicate venues, maintains and updates the fishery galleries on our website, as well as looking after our social media. He has an eye for carp like no other and can differentiate fish at a glance!

Richard Holden

- Fisheries Officer -
Rich is an out and out big carp angler. He works on the ground at our fisheries maintaining and improving them, predominantly in the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area.

Jack Leddington

- Syndicate Fishery Manager -
A true grafter, Jack has a wealth of knowledge relating to Fishery Management and is in charge of maintaining our syndicate venues.

Ben Hodgetts

- Norton Disney Fishery Manager -
Ben is the main man on our Lincolnshire day ticket complex, Norton Disney. He ensures the general day to day operations of the site are running as smoothly as possible. He's generally found inside the lodge where there's little chance of him getting his hands dirty.

Callum Stocks

- Norton Disney Assistant Fishery Manager -
Callum is Ben's right hand man and can often be found taking charge of the real work on site! A proper grafter who is happiest when he's up to his digger cab in mud!

Jordan Edwards

- Norton Disney Fishery Team -
A hardworking and extremely valued member of the Norton Team, Jordan is a highly qualified and skilled excavator operator with many years experience under his belt.

Ben Swain

- Norton Disney Fishery Team -
Not afraid of a bit of hard graft, Ben is another valued and committed member of the Fishery Team up at Norton.

What is

Embryo?