Reservoirs being stocked as the angling season begins

Yorkshire Water is to add 12,000lb of trout – the equivalent weight of a male killer whale – to its reservoirs in the Washburn Valley, between Otley and Harrogate, as part of its annual restocking programme to cope with the demands of the fishing season.

Anglers have welcomed the news, saying fishing is an increasingly important part of the Yorkshire tourist economy.

Stuart Minnikin, 42, of Skipton, who has led guided fishing trips across the Washburn Valley for the past seven years, said: "Fishing is a real lure to people visiting the area and it is of crucial importance to keep the reservoirs adequately stocked.

"The rivers around here tend to get more attention but the reservoirs are a real tourist attraction, the fishing is great and the scenery is just superb.

"We get a lot of visitors here and it is definitely welcome news.

"Whenever they restock the water they always put a couple of big ones in there as well so it will make for another interesting season's fishing."

The restocking will mean around 8,000 rainbow trout and blue trout are put into the Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs, which cover an area of nearly 300 acres.

The largest rainbow trout caught in the two reservoirs weighed in at a 14lb in 2006.

Colin Winterburn, warden for Yorkshire Water's Washburn Valley sites, said: "There are plenty of rumours that monster trout are to be found in the reservoirs and this record looks unlikely to stand the test of time.

"We are all looking forward to a great season ahead."

The fishing season begins on Thursday March 25 and runs until November.