THE Skipton Angling Association has been preparing for the start of the new trout season with the first restocking of its main trout water, Embsay Reservoir, last Saturday.

A total of 200 rainbow trout were released into the 12 hectare, 15 metres deep water. Most of the fish averaged around the 900g (2:0:0) mark but a decent proportion went up to 1,360g (3:0:0) and a few probably touched 2,270g (5:0:0) or thereabouts.

With the brown and rainbow trout already in the reservoir, there should be enough available to ensure the new season kicks off to a good start on opening day, Friday, March 25. The water is presently closed to all types of fishing and association bailiff, Richard Tordorf is undertaking daily patrols to ensure no one jumps the gun.

Skipton AA members should note that all subscriptions must be paid no later than March 24 and failure to do so could incur a £10 re-joining fee and a late start to the fishing season.

River anglers may continue fishing at the moment until the coarse fishing closes from March 15. The brown trout season commences on March 25 but to protect coarse fish, only the worm, minnow, fly and spinning lures may be used until the coarse fishing season reopens on June 16.

Members of the Skipton AA and Bradford City AA should note that the River Aire is now a catch and release water and all fish except pike up to 2,270g (5:0:0) must be returned to the water alive and as quickly as possible. Pike may be retained for eating purposes and the Skipton AA has placed a limit on their removal at just one fish per day.

Recently, the river has once again been affected by wet weather with further flooding or high water levels over last weekend.

Whinnygill reservoir at Skipton has been a useful standby but most anglers have generally caught only brown trout, the coarse fish being difficult to entice. Some of the trout have been very good fish to upwards of the 1,360g (3:0:0) mark which augers well for the new brown trout season.