Northumbrian Water – the leading provider of stillwater game fishing in Northern Europe – expects a minimum of 135,000 quality rainbow trout to be introduced in weekly stockings throughout the coming season.
Despite the rising economic challenges, not least for fish food and fuel, fishing permit price rises have been pegged at just £1 with an eight-fish full ticket now costing £23, a concessionary £21 and a four-fish ‘credit cruncher’ priced at £16.
Building on past successes of encouraging young people to have a go, Northumbrian Water is making family fishing even more affordable. The age limit for free fishing with an adult has been raised from 17 to 18 years so now two youngsters under 18 can fish for free and share the bag limit catch with a full paying adult.
Anglers are also urged to strike and join the growing 6,000-strong loyalty card fishing family and catch a £3.28 discount bargain every time they have a day out. Fish seven times to get an eighth day free. Unused loyalty credits automatically carry into the next season and club members also get regular free newsletters and monthly special offer deals on tackle, clothing and bait.
To sign up for a loyalty card call 0845 155 0236.
Don Coe, Fishing and Waterside Parks Leisure Operations Manager, said: “We have a great season lined up for our customers and will continue to invest in the future and attract newcomers to the sport with our popular ‘Try It’ sessions under qualified angling instruction.
“Our emphasis is on having fun while fishing and encouraging people to join our fishing loyalty ‘family’ is a big part of that. We also intend to reward those who join our family club with more and more benefits.
“The future of fishing is in the hands of the younger generation and we are doing everything we can to encourage them. We are proud that more youngsters and adults are getting hooked on fishing.”
To request a free copy of the new-look 24-page angling guide, packed with information for any method (multi bait), fly and coarse anglers, ring 0845 155 0236, or by email at go.fishing@nwl.co.uk, or download here.
The guide features all the premier stocked trout reservoirs – Derwent in County Durham; Fontburn and Kielder in Northumberland; Grassholme and Hury in Teesdale; Scaling on the edge of the North York Moors and the coarse lakes at Whittle Dene in the Tyne Valley.
There’s information about the wild brown trout waters of Balderhead, Cow Green and Selset and there are tips and information from Northumbrian Water’s own angling expert, Teesdale ranger Andrew Scott, who is a gold-medal winning England International.
Fishing opens at all reservoirs from Saturday March 12 except the wild brown trout waters of Cow Green, Selset, Balderhead and Blackton which open on March 22. Brown trout caught at Kielder and Derwent must be returned before May 1 and after October 31.
Try it days have been extended to Derwent, Fontburn, Grassholme and Scaling Dam and summer evening sessions added between 6.00pm and 9.00pm. Everything required is provided under expert tuition and sessions make excellent gifts.
For the competition angler there is a full calendar of 18 dates to choose from throughout the region headlined by the annual WaterAid fundraisers once again generously supported by world class Alnwick-based tackle company Hardy Greys.
Northumbrian Water’s partnership with Hardy Greys has so far raised a record breaking £30,000 for its adopted international charity WaterAid – saving more than 2,000 lives in Africa.
There are three fly fishing boat heats this season at Kielder (April 17, May 22, June 26) and a final on July 17, there’s a bank event at Derwent on May 15 with separate competitions for bait and fly anglers and there’s the coarse challenge at Whittle Dene on August 29.
Top notch anglers can qualify for the final fish-off for the English national team at the Kielder regional eliminator on
June 12 and where teams of six anglers can also take part in the prestigious national Airflo International on June 18.
Kielder and Scaling Dam have been added to Derwent and Hury as TroutMasters waters this season. Every month the captor of the biggest fish will be automatically entered into the national TroutMasters fly fishing competition and win the coveted cloth badge and earn a place in the fish-off finals.
Full details of all the other prize and cash competitions at Derwent, Fontburn, Hury, Grassholme, Scaling Dam and at Kielder Water & Forest Park can be found on the full page calendar in the guide.
And for the day angler who fancies a flutter there will be special daily put-in-a-pound pools and the chance to win hundreds of pounds by catching a unique specially-stocked trout.
