Where to fly fish for salmon and sea trout in Scotland

SpinFish Fishing Finder for places where you can fish for salmon and sea trout in the wild rivers and lochs of Scotland. Find information about hundreds of salmon fishing beats and day ticket waters or where you can fly fish, spin or bait fish

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Contents

Salmon and Sea Trout

Wild Brown Trout in Rivers, Lochs and Reservoirs

Northern Ireland

SpinFish Wildlife Photo Gallery

Editorial Comment

Zen and the Art of Angling

Go Fishing with Charlie Whelan

Golf Guide for Anglers

Salmon and Sea Trout Season Dates UK & Ireland

Fly Fishing Around the World

Articles:

Strict Controls on Salmon Fishing in Ireland See Rivers Closed for Fishing

The Wheelyboat Trust

Scottish Record Rod Caught Freshwater Fish

The Scottish Game Fair, Scone Palace, Glastonbury come to the Game Fair as torrential rain turned the ground to slurry on Sunday

The Royal Highland Show 2007

Weird Creatures Discovered in Scottish Loch

Deveron Days and Spey Day Tickets

Useful Fishing Facts to Know Before You Start to Fish in the UK.

Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, the bill will soon be law, but does it do enough to address the issues of fish farming and Gs?

SANA Annual General Meeting, The SANA AGM was held on the 11th March 2007, presenting those in attendance with some ominous news.

Six Flies For the Highlands The only flies you need for fishing in the Highlands, they make a deadly combination

A Cast of Thousands

What to do When a Salmon Takes the Fly Part 1

What to do When a Salmon Takes the Fly Part 2

A Clash of Interests

Seals, Luv 'em or Hate 'em

Cormorant, Why do Fisheries Have to Put up With Them?

Kelts

Scottish Fisheries Board Salmon Catch Statistics, 1955 - 2004

Book Reviews

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Angling News:

24 Carrot Fishing Rods

The Gyrodactylus salaris Threat

Go on, Go on, Go on, The Irish Drift Nets are Gone!

Tay Ghillies

Features:

Loch Whinney by Coldingham

The Berwick Angling Association Beat on the Whiteadder at Allanton.

Loganlea Trout Fishery

Markle Fishery

SANA, Scottish Anglers National Association

Fishing Reports:

Angling Rambles:

When Everything Goes Tickityboo!

Haunted of Grantown on Spey

Back Issues:

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A Fish

The Autumn Run on the Dulnain, Autumn 2003.

Catch and Release, Don't Play with your Food!

Ray's Fish

Where to Fish for Salmon and Sea Trout in Scotland

It may be that readers will say I am exaggerating the significance of salmon fishing in Scotland but I have to say that Scotland is the home of fishing for Atlantic salmon offering the best fishing you will find any where. Big boast, well it was easy to find statistics to prove that Scotland is where you will find the best fishing. Over 95,000 rod caught salmon in Scotland last year and the figure is rising! I have had enough of the doom and gloom merchants urging people to go to Kola or Alaska. These are feast or famine venues where hoards of fish run the rivers in a short window of opportunity between Arctic winters. Not so in Scotland where you can find fish running 52 weeks of the year making fishing here truly rewarding and challenging.

Much as I enjoy visiting fisheries I have to say they they spoil the expectations of anglers who have become accustomed to landing a shed loads of fish on every visit. No wonder such anglers find themselves disillusioned when salmon fishing. I've gone months without an offer far less a fish and enjoyed every minute of it. If it is numbers you want go to Kola, you will get them in their 6 week or so season. If its consistent quality fishing from January to November that you are looking for, fish in Scotland, the fish are there to challenge your skills making them all the more special when a red letter day comes along. We have the lot, rivers like the North Esk or Tay offering great spring fishing if you don't mind freezing, just a bit. Prolific rivers like the Spey or Tweed where you will find fishing in places as good as they get or the lesser known gems like the Don, Deveron, the rivers of Ayrshire or the spate rivers of the west coats. Fishing Finder where to fish directory for Scotland has lists hundreds of places to fish and they don't have to cost the earth. Over 500 fish off the Association water at Grantown last year alone for £45 a day, 1200 fish of the Nairn AA water. There were 12,000 fish off the Tweed last year, near the same off the Tay, 10,000 of the Spey and 7000 off the Deveron, the Dee is on the up and up, even the Clyde is producing fish. There is a lot of fishing out there in places that are magical, loaded with fishing lore, just have a look to find what's on your doorstep.

If you do one thing this year you should learn to Spey cast with a single handed or double handed, it will change your angling life, for further information e-mail Alistair Huskie at huskie@spinfish.co.uk

Rivers | Lochs

Salmon and Sea Trout Rivers

For essential background information about fishing in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales click HERE

For salmon and sea trout season dates click HERE Alness

Alness Angling Club has stretches on the upper and lower Alness.10 miles of fishing, the river produces 2 to 300 fish per annum.

Novar Estate, 6 beats with 4 rods each on a rotation basis, call 01349 831062.

Almond (Lothian), Crammond AC have sea trout and brown trout, occasional salmon on 2 miles single bank near Edinburgh. Permits from Crammond P.O. or Crammond Inn.

Allan Water The Allan Water, Bridge of Allan is a productive salmon water for its size with nearly 900 fish taken in 2002. Permits are available from the Post Office, Bridge of Allan and cost £10 per day, a limit of 8 guest tickets issued each day. For more information call 01786 824284. Email allanwaterangling@hotmail.com

Aline (Lochs Arienas and Doire na Marst)

Permits for 2007 £25 per day for the river and £7.50 for the lochs (There are large trout in lochs, 16lb record with a 12lb fish to the dry fly as well as salmon and sea trout). Permits from Fish Morven, St Andrews, Lochaline, Morven, PA34 5XT, call 01967 421690.

Annan

The river Annan in the western borders of Scotland is an exceptionally accessible river with fishing for salmon, trout, sea trout, grayling and course fish available throughout its length. The river rises near Moffat and flows approximately 35 mile to Annan on the Solway Firth offering a full spectrum of fishing throughout the year. There is some spring fishing for salmon in the lower Beats in February, March and April followed by exceptional trout fishing through April to July with fish to over 5lb taken on the dry fly. From June to August there are sea trout and from September to November the main salmon fishing takes over. The Annan is a 'back end river' with the best runs in the Autumn. It is also a spate river so it is worth watching the weather when choosing to make a visit. The received advice is to check water levels before booking, the upper river can be falling and fishable even when the lower river is out of sorts (check out the SEPA website for river levels, see the home page). For bookings log on to www.riverannan.co.uk

Awe Back to top

Jamie MacGrigor can arrange beats on the Awe, call 01866 844226 for further information.

Inverawe Fisheries, fishing on the river Awe, guide price £15 to £40 per day, £60 to £210 per week, call 01866 822777.

Ayr

The river Ayr rises near new Cumnock and flows 39 mile to the sea at Ayr. It has a very large catchment area and as a result spates tend to last for days. Fishing is at its best from July through to October with an average of 500 fish taken each year, the best of the fishing in Sept and Oct. The river is mostly controlled by angling clubs and permits are available from Gamesport Tackle Shop, 60, Sandgate in Ayr 01292 262822. Ayr Angling Club have fishing available contact the club secretary Andy Cannell on 01292 268633 or email ayrac@tiscali.co.uk

Beauly

Beauly Angling Club, 10 named pools in and around the town of Beauly, email the.president@beauly-angling-club.co.uk

Lower River week lets available on 5 rod beats, contact Rettie & Co on 0131 624 4074.

Bervie

Laurencekirk District Angling Association, fishing on the North Esk, Bervie and Luther for salmon and sea trout. Contact Eric Greig on 01674 840613.

Borgie Back to top

This relatively short highland river near Tongue can produce about 300 fish a year. Fishing can be arranged through the Borgie Hotel, 01641 521332 or log on to www.riverborgie.co.uk for details of other beats.

Brora

Brora Angling Association, a limited number of permits are allowed on the Association water from the harbour to half a mile upstream, cost £10 per day. March, May and September are the best months for salmon, May, July and August are the best months for sea trout. Low water conditions suit this beat best. Call 01408 621373 for more information.

Sutherland Estate also has fishing on the river contact the Estate Office, Duke Street, Golspie, call 01408 633268.

Loch Brora, salmon, sea trout and trout fishing on Loch Brora, £25 per day (boat only) call 01408 621373.

The Junction of the Isla and Deveron at Avoche Carron

One of the best salmon rivers in the NE Highlands.

Alladale Estate offers fishing on the upper river mostly for grilse. Best June to August. Contact Alladale Estate, Ardgay, Sutherland, IV24 3BS, call 01863 755338.

Cornhill Beat, just two miles from Bonar Bridge and the Dornoch Firth. 1 mile left bank fishing for two rods, a spring beat, contact CKD Galbraith on 01738 451600 for bookings.

Dounie Fishings consists of one and a half miles double bank plus a further half mile opposite Cornhill, 22 named pools, 2 beats for 2 rods with a resident ghillies, contact CKD Galbraith on 01738 451600.

Park House Sporting, Lairg, call 01549 402208.

Cassley Back to top

Lower Cassley, It is worth noting that the Cassley Falls are a major obstacle on the river restricting salmon to the lower mile below the falls until water temperatures reach 50 degrees or above with sufficient water for the salmon to surmount the falls and move into the main length of this 15 mile long river.

Rosehall beat, last two and a half miles of the river just before it enters the Kyle of Sutherland at Rosehall. 2 beats, 29 named pools, exciting Highland water, three rods per beat, fly only. £600 to £1500 per week. CKD Galbraith, Lyndoch House, Barossa, Place, Perth, PH1 5EP. 01738 451600.

Park House Sporting Lairg can arrange fishing on the Cassley, call 01549 402208.

Coe, tumbling down from the magical and mystical Glencoe is the river Coe, a small spate river offering salmon and sea trout fishing. Permits can be bought from the Red Squirrel Camp site call 01855 811256

Conon

Dingwall and District Angling Club have the lo.wer 2 miles of the river, best from July, some good sea trout. Permits from the Sports Model Shop, Tulloch St, Dingwall.

Loch Achonachie Angling Club has fishing on the upper river above Loch Achonachie and the upper beats on the Blackwater. Fishes best late on in the season. Permits cost £5 for the dawn to 4pm session and £5 for $pm 'til dusk. The club have been very progressive in providing access to parts of the beat for people with disabilities. Permits from Contin Filling Station, call 01997 421948.

Cowie Water

Stonehaven and District Angling Club have fishing on the Cowie, Carron and Bervie (not well regarded at this time). Visitor tickets are available from May to September fishing from the railway viaduct to the sea. Permits from DFS in Stonehaven.

Cree and Bladnoch

High Cree salmon, sea trout and good brown trout fishing, permits from Galloway Guns and Tackle

Kirchrist Fishings, salmon fishing on the river Bladnoch, call 0167 830336 or 078887 983557.

Corsemalzie House Hotel offer day and week tickets on their 4.5 mile beat on the Bladnoch and the river Tarff. The river is a spate river and while there are a few fish in the spring many to minnows and spoons the fishing doesn't take off until the first summer spates bring fish in. The fishing in September and October is consistently good. The Tarff has good brown trout fishing and some grilse and salmon in the summer. call 01988 860254 for further information and bookings.

Mochrum Park, have ten miles of fishing on the Cree, Bladnoch and Palnure Burn. The Bladnoch produces some spring salmon and all three waters fish well from June, with good sea trout fishing on the Cree and Palnure. Contact Mrs A. Haley, Foxen, Lanehead Hall, Lanehead Rd, Ripponden, Soyland, Yorkshire, call 01422 822148. Email mochrumpark@aol.com

Newton Stewart AA have salmon and sea trout fishing on a beat flowing through the town and on the Penkiln Burn which joins the Cree at the Brewery Pool. The club has completed extensive works on the beat improving the holding water greatly and a stocking programme has been started by the Galloway Fisheries Trust. Best pools are Brewery, Suspension Bridge, Doctor and Ghylls Poll, some good big fish from the tidal water. permits are £20 per day from galloway Guns and Tackle shop in Newton Stewart, call 01671 403404.

Cur

A small spate river in Argyll near Dunoon open 1st April to to £1st October with salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing available at £10 per day and £30 per week. Permits from Purdies in Dunoon, call 01369 703232.

Dee (Kirkcubright)

Aird Estate near Castle Douglas offer 3 miles of fishing on the Dee for salmon, sea trout and brown trout. The river is just setting out on the road to recovery with the Hydro Eclectic Company having initiated a restocking programme a couple of years ago, their view is that the potential of the river is 1000 fish a year while it has been producing less than a 100. Here's hoping the demise of the Irish drift nets will benefit the Dee. Call 01644 470207 for further information and permits.

Doon

A very productive river with some 1500 salmon recorded a year. The river enters the sea just south of Ayr after flowing 23 miles from Loch Doon. Like other Ayrshire rivers the Doon is primarily a back end river with the best of the fishing on September and October.

Dalrymple beats, permits from the Kirkton Inn, cost £10 up to the end of August and £20 for September and October, children accompanied by an adult half price, call 01292 560241.

Dalvennan Country Sport, have fishing on the Girvan, Doon and Stinchar, call 01292 531134.

Doonfoot, 2 miles of water, average annual catch 380, weeks available, call 07968 071554, prices £300 July, £420 Aug, £500 Sept Oct. They have a short but very productive season at Doonfoot - July to October. 3 fish max bag fly, spinning and worm permitted.

Skeldon Estates, 5 miles east of Ayr, cost £10 to £35 per day depending on the time of year, call 01292 560656.

Smithston Fishings, 8 miles from Ayr, 2.5 miles of which 1.75 are double bank. 5 year average 116 salmon and grilse. Contact Gordon Dawson on 01896 668104.

Doinard

Scourie Hotel, 25,000 acres of lochs, hill lochs and rivers to chose from, it will take you some time to explore, some lifetimes! There are 36 boats in different locations plus beats on Loch Stack and Loch More, six beats on the river Doinard with two beats available on application. There is salmon and brown trout fishing on the Duart system with sea trout appearing in recent years. Char can be taken on Loch Stack and Loch More (you must have a ghillie on Stack because of the dangerous submerged rocks). Salmon from June onwards, mostly grilse. If that's not enough the scenery is awe inspiring.

Dunbeath East coast spate river with salmon and sea trout just south of Wick let by Dunbeath Estate, call 01593 731308.

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Please note: the information displayed is gathered from a number of sources to save you time browsing the net, the information and prices are indicative of what was available when we searched for data. Please confirm details with the fishery before booking as Spinfish does not accept any liability for variations and changes to terms and conditions relating to any fishery listed.

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