Fishermen are promised a bonus this season with fishing licence fees frozen and plentiful stocks in the reservoirs.

Severe flooding affected the government’s hatchery at Cornaa in December 2015, which stocks the island’s six reservoirs and exports rainbow trout eggs as well.

The new season runs from March 10, 2017 to January 31, 2018, and ahead of this stocks of standard two- pound rainbow trout as well as larger so-called ’trophy’ fish is taking place.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said the flooding had badly hit fish stocks creating a shortage last season, but he said Troutlodge, that runs the hatchery, had made huge efforts to redress this.

Licence fees are unchanged from last season, costing £208 for unlimited access to all six reservoirs during the season.

Licences go on sale on February 27 at gov.im, from the the Sea Terminal and from DEFA at St John’s.

Concession licences, for over 65s or the disabled, are available at post offices

Hatchery tours are on Saturday, March 4. Book on 685857 or [email protected]