Preparations under way for angling as reservoirs restock

Yorkshire Water will be overseeing the re-stocking programme with 10,000 rainbow trout due to be added to fisheries at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over the coming months.

From Friday next week, the Washburn Valley reservoirs will be open for fishing seven days a week between 7.30am and one hour before sunset. To date, the largest rainbow trout caught in the Washburn Valley reservoirs came in 2006 when a 14lb specimen was landed.

Bird enthusiasts will also have something to look forward to with the return of migratory birds to the Washburn Valley.

Among the species will be fish-eating osprey taking advantage of the valley’s plentiful supply of food throughout the coming months.

The warden for Yorkshire Water’s Washburn Valley sites, Colin Winterburn, said: “After a slow start owing to the cold weather, the Washburn Valley is now buzzing with animal activity, with lots of species flitting around as they begin their preparations for the start of the breeding season in April.”

Information on fishing, tuition, equipment and competitions is available on the internet by logging on to www.yorkshirewater.com/recreation