Beautiful scenery, solitude, and four strains of hard fighting trout make Stocks Reservoir northern England's premier mixed fly fishery. Run by Ben Dobson and his enthusiastic team, Stocks offers superbly conditioned stocked Rainbows, Blues, Browns, not to mention a small head of perfect little browns too. A combination of factors ensure consistant sport on Stocks right through the season (Feb - Nov). Sitting high up in the Forest of Bowland, being relatively deep, and also being fed and drained by the river Hodder Stocks rarely suffers the peaks and troughs that lowland waters can. Fish are there to be had, come rain or shine on all but the most extreme days of the season. Buzzers, nymphs and lures kick the action off in early spring, with a swing towards more imitative and suggestive fare as the weather warms up and a plethora of terrestrials are blown on from the surrounding unspoilt hills and woodland. Nymphs, dries and wets invariably account for the best bags once summer is under way. 2017 will be my 29th season fishing Stocks, so why not take advantage of all that time and experience and allow me to help you get the most from your day on Stocks?
Your host plays a lively one. Image courtesy of Colin Riach
The Dalehead Dabbler - A Stocks Classic