Sea Trout Licence Districts - confusing!

Ok, so I want to buy a 2011 salmon/sea trout licence and as I only fish Donegal I want the single district. However I am confused as to what jurisdiction each district falls into Here is the info from the Inland Fisheries website:

B Licence - €58 (including €29 conservation stamp)

This type of licence entitles you to fish for salmon and sea trout in a specific district within Inland Fisheries Ireland. The drop down menu will display the relevant districts where you intend to fish. Anglers may only use the B licence in the district for which it has been purchased.

Districts

Eastern River Basin District (Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin,)
South Eastern River Basin District(Wexford ,Waterford)
South Western River Basin District (Lismore, Cork, Kerry)
Shannon River Basin District(Limerick)
Western River Basin District (Bangor, Ballina, Sligo, Galway, Connemara, Ballinakill)
North Western River Basin District(Ballyshannon, Letterkenny)

What I can't understand is whether Letterkenny and Ballyshannon are separate districts, or whether they fall under the umbrella of "North Western River Basin District" ? When buying online you have to choose either Letterkenny or Ballyshannon and the areas I want to fish cross over between the two - does this mean I need a full state licence for all districts?!

The wording on that website is bloody confusing!!!!!

Ok from some further digging it looks like Ballyshannon and Letterkenny are classed as separate districts:

http://www.fishinginireland.info/salmon/salmontagging.htm

Why on earth do they call it the "North Western River Basin District" if in fact it contains 2 separate districts. Stupid wording!

looks like your right about the two different districts,i think it would be safer to buy the full licence.anyway you dont know where you'd end up fishing,so safer to have the full licence.

It's fecking worse than that.

Apart from the Letterkenny district and the Ballyshannon district, if you fish the Finn system as far inland as Finntown in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht, you'll need a Loughs Agency licence.

That's 3 seperate licences to cover one County. How on earth do you explain that to a casual tourist who might fancy throwing a line as he's touring around the county?

Best thing to do is get the annual Loughs Agency licence, then get the extension for the IFI. Believe it or not, that's about €30 cheaper than doing it the other way around.

Madness piled on top of stupidity.

Yeah Ger I will definitely be needing the Loughs Agency as well, sure they cover the Culdaff area as well. As you say, it's sickening the way the whole thing works.

Though, I was under the impression it worked out cheaper to buy the INI licence and then Lough's Agency would endorse it for the cost of £1? Can you elaborate on how it works out 30 euro cheaper to do it the other way around?

Dunno what the costings are for 2011, the IFI licences are being reduced in price a bit.

But traditionally, it's been cheaper to buy the Loughs Agency licence first, then get the extension for IFI areas.

Must have a chat with John McLaughlin, he'll know.

Good man, sure pass on any info if you get it

Managed to speak with both INI and Loughs Agency this morning, who confirmed that Donegal is split into 2 districts (Ballyshannon and Letterkenny), and that a single district licence will only cover one or the other. In order to fish Donegal and also the Lough's Agency area, this leaves the angler with 2 options:

Option 1 - All Ireland plus Loughs Agency

First buy the Loughs Agency Licence for £16, and then buy INI All Ireland Licence at a discounted price of 76 Euro.

Option 2 - Single District plus Loughs Agency

First buy the INI Single District Licence for 58 Euro, and then get it endorsed by the Loughs Agency for £1

For my circumstances I think I will just go with option 2. What a completely __ up system we have though and as tanglerat says how could that ever encourage any kind of angling tourism to the north west?!

Letterkenny rivers-

Fisheries - Owenea, Owentocker, Gweebarra, Gweedore (Crolly), Crana, (Open); Isle (Burn), Mill, Clonmany, Straid, Owennamarve, Swilly, Donagh, Culoort, Lackagh, Leannan, are closed for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm)

Tullaghobegly, Ray, Braky, Clady Glenagannon, Glenna are Catch & Release in 2011.

Ballyshannon rivers-

Fisheries - Duff, Drowes, (Eany, Brown Tag Required), Glen (Open);
(River Eske, Brown Tag Required) , (Owenwee, Yellow River Catch & Release), (Oily, catch & Release), Murvagh, Laghy (Stream) Bungosteen, Erne are Closed for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) Abbey, Ballintra

how could that ever encourage any kind of angling tourism to the north west?!

Not forgetting the fact that your not even getting your monies worth at that with half the rivers being closed

If you're going option 2, be sure you get the Letterkenny district. You'll need it for where I'll be taking you....

I spoke with John the other day. He'll got IFI all-districts for €120, which can be extended to LA areas for €1. (But not till Feb...)

Or, if you can wait till Feb, he'll have the LA licences for £16, which can be extended to all IFI districts for €76.

So €120 +€1 or £16+€76, to cover all IFI districts and LA waters. I know which choice I'll be making!

I bought the Letterkenny district yesterday and will just extend it for the foyle once they become available. Will see how I get on with that this year! Decided to scrap my DCAL and FCB permit/licence, had them the past 2 years and waste of time tbh.

apart from the price of the licence, there is then the mater of the price of permits for certain rivers, its just a never ending money pit