Fishing In Scotland......

[James Riordan]

Something for everyone

There truly is something for everyone when it comes to Fishing in Scotland. From Loch’s to Lakes (we have one in Scotland called Lake of Menteith), Rivers to Reservoirs & Harbours to Holes in the Ground !!!!

I’m going to start with my current passion which is fishing for Pike on Loch Awe.

Scotland is home to some of the best Pike fishing in the world, from the Highlands in the North all the way down to the Borders in the South, there are plenty of waters that contain these hard fighting predators.

My favourite water to fish for Pike & Trout is Loch Awe. I often think it’s called Loch Awe simply by how it leaves you. In awe !!!

Not only at the size of the Loch but the sheer contrast in beauty that surrounds it. The most striking feature is without doubt Kilchurn Castle situated at the head of the Loch. You will also no doubt catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife that inhabit the area.

If you're in the area you may want to simply fish for the day. There are numerous spots easily accessible from the road, just park up & fish on. You may also want to make a trip of it. There are numerous hotels, B&B's, caravans & lodges/cabins situated around the loch. The most popular hotel is probably situated at Portsonachan on the East side of the Loch, the Portsonachan Hotel.

If, as I do, you choose to camp when fishing Loch Awe, this hotel is also happy to cater for non-residents & even provide a takeaway service that's slightly better than McDonalds.

There are literally hundreds of places where you can set up camp around the Loch side. For me nothing beats being round a camp fire when away fishing.

Just a few things if you are camping. Please put out your fire before you leave. There's plenty of water around so there's no excuse. Also, please remember to dispose of your rubbish & basically leave the place as you found it. It's our countryside after all.

About Loch Awe, some 24 miles long and quite narrow, Loch Awe forms a considerable catchment area for the many feeder burns flowing from the surrounding mountains. Water quality is high and the fish population thrive in this rich, natural feeding area. The many bays vary in size and depth and each has its own particular attraction – shallow, sandy, rocky, reedy.

Loch Awe boasts some very large pike. They are wild and extremely wide ranging in their hunt for food. The current record for Loch Awe stands at 35.5 lb. Pike fishing is open all year and can provide some excellent summer & winter sport – mainly in the larger reedy bays either from the shore or by boat. The most popular method is dead bait – such as mackerel, herring, lamphrey or eel section, sardine, sprat, smelt – set on a wire trace and using two or three treble hooks (size 6, 8 or 10 depending on the size of the bait). Only live bait caught in Loch Awe can be used.

Spinning is also an acceptable method, using lures again set on the required wire trace. Another more recent and successfully method is fly fishing from a boat or bank, with a standard fly rod, slow sink or sink tip fly line, long leader, short wire trace, and 2–4" long streamer type dressing (white or orange) Maribou on size 6–8 or 10 hooks tied in tandem. Trolling for pike is restricted to the trout season (15 March to 6 October) and only with pike plugs or 5"-minimum lures on a wire trace.

Loch Awe has also always been famous for its wild brown trout, having broken the British rod-caught record four times over the last decade. It is, however, its reputation for good mixed bags of 8oz - 3lb trout that still attracts the majority of anglers. The brown trout season runs from 15 March to 6 October. Methods of fishing vary, and whilst fly is generally accepted as the best method, many anglers use worm or maggot (either ‘ledgered’ or on a float). Spinning with lures (Mepp, Rapala, Toby) is also successful, but it is always advisable to fish on the light side – up to 6lb test.

Flies should be of the wet variety (10–16), of standard or loch pattern and in harmony with the months applicable to hatching flies. Irish patterns also do well, and for the angler wishing to lose him/herself in the many bays ‘nymphing’ can be very rewarding. Escapee Rainbow Trout from the two fish farms on Loch Awe also provide some good fishing and should be fished in the same manner as brown trout.

Other species of fish you can hope to catch on Loch Awe include Char, Perch & Roach.

Permits for trout, coarse and pike fishing on Loch Awe on behalf of the Loch Awe Improvement Association are available from Loch Awe Stores or from the local bailiffs who patrol the loch. Day permits cost £6.00, 3-day permits £12.00, weekly permits £20.00, and season permits £60.00 (juveniles and concessions half-price).
Boats can also be hired from Loch Awe Boats.

Fishing on Loch Awe is not only for the purist or well-seasoned angler. Whether you are experienced or a novice, young or old, Loch Awe has a great deal to offer.

(Main source of fishing info, Loch Awe web site...thanks)...

[Fiona]

I am not even going to try and follow James' post but here are some sites which I found very helpful when trying to organise fishing in Scotland. I knew nothing of Salmon fishing, thinking it a bit elitist but managed to organise a day out for my hubby's birthday on the Tweed and must have been fairly successful because he is still talking to me.

They cover all river fishing, not just Salmon, Greyling, Sea Trout etc as well.

Fishing on the Tweed

Fishing on the Esk

Fishing on the Tay

Fishing on the Don

Fishing on the Dee

Fishing on the Spey

These sites give all the information you will need, except perhaps the exact location of that 20lb der, it provides the beat locations, the conditions of the water, the recent catches, the water levels and you can check availabitly and in most cases book online.

[pogofish]

Just thought I'd add a couple of other useful sites:

Two forums & info where you will find many informed & enthusiastic folk who will nearly always be happy to help.

Wild Fishing Scotland Forum:
http://www.wild-fishing-scotland.co.uk/

Very informative resource for getting right away from it all.


Fishing the fly. Aberdeenshire based & covers more managed waters/fisheries but again, the forum holds a wealth of experience.

http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/

[Willie_Dunn]

Thanks for the tip pogofish.
Maybe you could post on their forums telling them about our site and then the fishermen can review b&b's or hotels near good fishing spots?

W

Just thought I'd add a couple of other useful sites:

Two forums & info where you will find many informed & enthusiastic folk who will nearly always be happy to help.

Wild Fishing Scotland Forum:
http://www.wild-fishing-scotland.co.uk/

Very informative resource for getting right away from it all.


Fishing the fly. Aberdeenshire based & covers more managed waters/fisheries but again, the forum holds a wealth of experience.

http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/

[pogofish]

It would probably be more like bothies, camp spots & boathouses I have known! Especially on the wild forum. Hardy bunch!

[Willie_Dunn]

It would probably be more like bothies, camp spots & boathouses I have known! Especially on the wild forum. Hardy bunch!

We will prob be adding them onto our site in the future so you never know

[James Riordan]

We will prob be adding them onto our site in the future so you never know

Willie, I'm away fishing again tomorrow down to Loch Ken near Castle Douglas. Camping this time, but I'll review it when I come back mate. Been lots of times before, but I'll base my review on how it fishes this time.

[Cliff]

Willie, I'm away fishing again tomorrow down to Loch Ken near Castle Douglas. Camping this time, but I'll review it when I come back mate. Been lots of times before, but I'll base my review on how it fishes this time.

If the weather there was warm & sunny as per the forecast I'd imagine bites will have been in short supply?

Or is it a myth that the fishing improves as the weather gets wetter?