ANGLERS can look forward to hooking shoals of super trout in Northern reservoirs and rivers at the start of the fishing season later this month - thanks to foot-and-mouth.

After months of being starved of their sport, with waterways declared out of bounds because of the epidemic, which saw the slaughter of thousands of sheep and cattle, experts are predicting the best fishing season for many years.

The reason is that thousands of rainbow and brown trout have been left untouched for most of last year in reservoirs and rivers in areas hit by foot-and-mouth restrictions.

According to Northumbrian Water's fisheries manager, Don Coe, this has made them slimmer, fitter and much more difficult to catch.

In the Derwent Reservoir, near Consett, alone there will be an extra 8,000 trout waiting to be hooked when the season starts on March 22.

Mr Coe said that all the trout which Northumbrian Water has bred at its fish farms - 50,000 at Lartington in Teesdale and 30,000 at Fontburn in Northumberland - were fed twice a day.

"They tend to put on puppy fat and they have a nasty habit of nibbling at each other's fins when they are in confined spaces," he said. But when they are left undisturbed for a long period in open water, like last year because of foot-and-mouth, they tend to lose weight.

"The result is a much slimmer, sleeker fish, used to fending and foraging for itself. They are in much better condition and better looking. They will also be much more difficult to catch."

Mr Coe, who is one of the experts on BBC Radio Newcastle's highly successful Howes Fishing programme, said that a 2lb trout left undisturbed in a reservoir could lose as much as quarter-of-a-pound in weight.

He estimated that there would be about 8,000 fish left untouched in the Derwent from last year - and another 35,000 would be introduced to the reservoir during the season, which ends on November 30.

"Responsible anglers throughout the region were deeply saddened by the effects foot-and-mouth had on the farming community and other people dependent on the countryside for a living," said Mr Coe

"They were happy to see the necessary steps taken of closing down reservoirs and rivers to help contain the disease.

"Now that there is finally light at the end of the tunnel, we regard what could be one of the best fishing seasons for many years as a reward for that consideration."

Railton Howes, who has presented the weekend show, Howes Fishing, on BBC Radio Newcastle since 1987, said: "Some of these waters have not been fished for nearly a year because of foot-and-mouth. The result is that hundreds of anglers can look forward to trying to catch lean, hard, fighting fish."

l Northumbrian Water has published a free 18-page pocket-sized guide, with information for the trout and coarse angler planning visits to its ten premier North-East fisheries this season. For copies, ring (01434) 250312. They can also be found at fishing tackle shops and angling clubs