The government has announced some good news for anglers

The cost of fishing reservoirs has been frozen this year.

The reservoir angling season begins on March 10.

Licences cover fishing at six reservoirs - Ballure, Clypse, Cringle, Kerrowdhoo, Sulby and West Baldwin - for the season to January 31 2019.

A licence for the whole season costs £208 for adults and £78.80 for a youngster aged 14 to 18, the same price as last year, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has announced.

Day and week licences are also frozen in price.

Under-14s must carry a licence but can get them free of charge.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ’The island’s outstanding natural beauty and well-stocked reservoirs attract many local and visiting anglers.

’By freezing licence prices this year, we are making sure angling remains attractive and affordable.’

The reservoirs are stocked with rainbow trout by Troutlodge, which leases the DEFA’s hatchery at Cornaa.

The DEFA says it closely monitors the size and condition of trout that go into reservoirs.

All rainbow trout stocked this season will be at least 2lb in weight and, for added interest, 2,400 larger ’trophy’ fish will be placed in reservoirs.

Licences are currently on sale and can be bought via www.gov.im, from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and from the DEFA headquarters in St John’s.

Season licences at a concessionary rate, for those 65 and over or registered as disabled, can also be bought at post offices but are not available online as eligibility must be proved.