Donegal teen gears up for world fly fishing championships

A young angler from Donegal is preparing for the experience of a lifetime after securing a place on the Ireland youth team for the International World Fly Fishing Championships.

Seventeen-year-old Zack Barnett, from Porthall, Lifford, will travel to Idaho Falls in the USA later this summer to compete at the prestigious event.

Fishing runs in Zack’s family, with both his father and grandfather sharing a passion for the sport. His journey began at Birchwood Fishery, where he received his first lesson in fly fishing. After landing his first catch, he was instantly hooked, taking his training rod home and never looking back.

Recognising his natural talent, the Foyle River Catchment Outdoor Group (FROG CIC) stepped in to support his development, helping him establish himself as a respected angler within the Irish Trout Fly Fishing Association (ITFFA) and the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland (TAFI).

Zack will be joined on the Ireland squad by fellow FROG members Jacob Griffin and Lewis Porter from Tyrone. The trio honed their skills on local waters, including the Mourne, Derg, and Finn rivers. Their spots on the national team were secured after two qualifying events organised by TAFI, where they faced tough competition from 25 other young anglers across Ireland. These took place on the River Suir in Tipperary and at Ardaire Springs Angling Centre in Kilkenny.

FROG representative Damien Devine reflected on their remarkable journey, saying:

"The climb to the top of the tree in the angling journey of these youth angling representatives is something myself and Joseph Owens could never have imagined at the outset.

"They came along to us at a very tender age, some without even the basic equipment at that time.

"However, in the early days of casting lessons, it was very noticeable that there was a hunger from them and a support network from their guardians, which was pointing towards greater heights.

"With many angling titles and success in the last few years, the world stage now awaits the new generation of Irish youth anglers.

"All our coaches at FROG CIC are so privileged to have played our part in steering these fine young men towards their dream of international representation."