Stunning locations and excellent quality fish make the Island an anglers’ paradise.

That’s the view of Richard Ronan MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, who says a growth in sales of freshwater angling licences indicates the popularity of the sport is growing.

‘The Island’s superb sea and freshwater angling opportunities can further boost visitor numbers and the economy,’ the Minister said. ‘They also provide wonderful leisure opportunities for local people of all ages.

‘Sales of adult season licences for fishing the reservoirs have, during the first three months of this season, risen substantially compared with the last two years, and take-up of child licences and adult day licences is far better than we’ve seen for several years,’ said the Minister.

‘Last autumn, we signed a new five-year deal with Troutlodge for the lease of the Government-owned fish hatchery at Cornaa. The company releases thousands of rainbow trout annually into the Clypse, Kerrowdhoo, Ballure, Sulby, Cringle and West Baldwin reservoirs.

‘The quality of the fish is audited by fisheries officers and both they and anglers are reporting fish of excellent quality.

‘We are also investing in facilities. Access for disabled anglers has been improved at two reservoirs and two new fishing platforms will be installed at West Baldwin in the near future to improve access for angling during high water levels.’

Take-up of the free-of-charge children’s licences for fishing other waters such as rivers and streams has also risen, although sales to adults appear fairly static.

The Minister is keen to raise awareness of what the Island’s watercourses can offer anglers and said: ‘The annual sea trout run is already beginning in some of the Island’s rivers, while the main salmon run is due late summer/autumn, and there is excellent fishing available for wild brown trout throughout the season.’

Landowners’ permission is required to access rivers and streams but the Isle of Man Angling Guide lists locations where this permission can be assumed by anglers providing they possess a valid ‘other waters’ licence.

An updated version of the guide has just been published by the Department of Economic Development’s Tourism Section and includes information on where to buy licences and source equipment and tuition. It also features information on the wonderful sea angling available around the Island.

It can be downloaded free from the Visit Isle of Man website www.visitisleofman.com and copies are available at tourist information venues or from the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture on 01624 685857.

The current reservoir fishing season runs until 31st January 2016. The season for brown trout in other waters ends on 30th September this year, although holders of other waters season licences may fish for salmon and sea trout until end of October.

Further information, including angling regulations and licence prices, can be found on the freshwater fishing page of the Isle of Man Government website www.gov.im – click on Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture and then Fisheries Directorate – or by contacting DEFA.

Photo - An angler fishing at West Baldwin and of Clypse reservoir (credit: Geoff Thomas).