The A to Z of Where to Fish For Wild Brown Trout in the Lochs of Scotland, Sutherland
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Rivers | Lochs | Reservoirs
Sutherland
For the angler who loves fly fishing in wild places for wild untamed trout Sutherland offers fantastic opportunities. From boyhood I have travelled to Sutherland to explore the lochs large and small, trekking into the hills with an Ordnance Survey chart to try some obscure blue spot among the hundreds on the map, never knowing what I would find, often finding magic, never finding disappointment. Then the fishing was pretty much free, today you should find out who controls the fishing, permits still cost very little for so much fishing.
My days of yomping over peat bogs are in the past I fear but the hills still have a magnetic attraction. Go to it, a brace of hard fighting wild brownies is reward enough for the privilege of being in the quiet solitude of the Sutherland mountains.
Bruce Sandison's book 'Angling Lines' contains information about permits, access, best fishing spots, best flies, safe wading and boating, it's a must read for anglers looking to visit Sutherland. Click HERE to read the review.
Loch List
Aline (Lochs Arienas and Doire na Marst) | Assynt Angling Group | Durness Limestone Lochs |Lochs Craggie, Dola, Tigh na Creige | Loch Doilet | Loch Duinte |Loch Eilt | Loch Horn |Loch Loyal | Loch Migdale Trout Fishing
Moidart Hill Lochs | Loch Muidhe |Loch Sheil | Loch Shin Reay Forest Estate | Rhiconich Hotel Fishing | Scourie Hotel
Aline (including Lochs Arienas and Doire na Marst) Permits 2007 £25 per day for the river and £7.50 for the lochs (Large trout in lochs, 16lb record with a 12lb fish to the dry fly as well as salmon and sea trout). Permits Fish Morven, St Andrews, Lochaline, Morven, PA34 5XT. Call 01967 421690.
Assynt Angling Group the Assynt Angling Club and 8 local landowner have joined together to offer access to 150 lochs in the area including 20 with boats. The fishing is for wild brown trout and ferox with 5 lochs offering salmon and sea trout fishing. Trout average 6 to 12 ounces with a few fish over the 4lb mark taken every year. This is fishing in the raw, no stockies. Permits from a number of sources in the area cost from £5 per day with no extra charge for the salmon and sea trout fishing. For more information log on to www.assyntangling.co.uk
Durness Limestone Lochs this area rightfully has a famous name in the trout angling world. A geological gem from the angling perspective resulted in a large area of limestone being exposed around Durness, consequently the waters around the area are alkaline, a rich and fertile environment where trout grow fit and large in the gin clear waters as nature planned for them . The record stands at 14.5 lbs and 2 to 4 lb fish are a regular occurrence, not one of them has seen a feed pellet. Croispol is the most prolific having on average the smaller (about 1LB), fish while Lanlish is dour but produces the very large fish. Contacts; Cape Wrath Hotel has fishing on Borrelaidh (Borallie), Caladail, Croispol and Lanlish, call 01971 511212; Durness and Kinochbervie AC have a boat on Croispol, permits from the Oasis Camp Site, Durness, call 01971 511222.
Lochs Craggie, Dola and Tigh na Creige wild brown trout fishing on hill lochs near Lairg. It is 20 odd years since I last fished these cracking good lochs. My last visit was a memorable hour on Dola when the trout came on to medium olives giving me 5 trout of 1.25 to 1.5lbs in prime condition to a dry olive, an unforgetable lucky break. Tigh na Creige at that time was full of tidlers but I believe that has changed and Craggie has always been excellent. Park House Sporting, Station Road, Lairg, IV27 4EH, call 01549 402208.
Loch Doilet brown trout on a bonny we loch near Strontain, permits from the Strontain PO.
Loch Duinte Bettyhill AC have fishing for wild and stocked brown trout, one boat available, permits from The Store, Bettyhill, call 01641 521207.
Loch Eilt brown trout with some sea trout, boat only, call Colin Clarke on 01687 470327.
Loch Horn near Golspie offers fishing by boat and off the bank for brown trout. Permits from Lindsay and Co hardware store in Golspie, call 01408 633212.
Loch Loyal a large loch, at 4 miles long and half a mile wide and up to 200 feet deep on A 836 near Tongue. Generous stocks of wild brown trout. Permits from the Ben Loyal Gotel, Altnaharra Hotel and Borgie Lodge Hotel.
Loch Migdale Trout Fishing, wild trout fishing in a beautiful setting near Bonar Bridge. Average size 3/4lb with fish to 4lbs taken and the occasional salmon. Mayfly in July with generally good fly life. Contact 01863 766242, boat, bank and float tube.
Moidart Hill Lochs 30 loch holding good trout, fished Loch nam Paitean twenty years ago, getting there now would kill me, but the view is sensational! Call Kinlochmoidart House on 0196 7431609.
Loch Muidhe is the main loch of 4 controlled by Rogart AA. The lochs are Loch Muidhe which has wild and stocked brown trout ranging from half to 1.5lbs; Loch na Cinnemhuin; Lochan Preas nan Sgaithenach; Loch Salachaidh. Loch Muidhe fishes best in a south or westerly breeze with traditional highland flies and can give good dry fly fishing in the summer. Permits from the Post Office/ Store in Rogart, call 01408 641200.
Loch Sheil boat only for salmon and sea trout and brown trout, contact Ian on 07900 387150 for guided fishing on this very large loch (£55 per day, £30 per half day, equipment included) or the Glenfinnan Hotel has a boat free of charge to guests, call 01397 722235. Boats from D MacAuley, Dailea Farm, Acharacle call 01967 431253 or Mrs Dunan, Langal Farm call 01769 431229. An outboards is essential as Sheil is a very big loch, try the dap if there is a breeze, oh and have tonnes of Avon Skin So Soft because the midges are awful.
For guided fishing on lochs Morar, Sheil, Arkaig and Lochy call Billy Neil on 01397 712476 mob 017917529341.
Loch Shin Lairg Angling Club administers the fishing on the loch which has a good head of wild trout and ferox and the occasional salmon. There are so many good spots on the loch, the bay where the Tirry enters the loch near Shinnes can be special, where the river Fiag enters the loch two thirds of the way up the loch on the A838, and I had a sensational day fishing from the power station opposite Overcraig when I lost count of the fish I caught, some times two and three at a time, amazing good fun.
Traditional patterns work so well here, wet Greenwells, Black Pennel, Bloody butcher, and March Brown size tens or even 8s.
The Lairg club also have the fishing on; Beannach Loch, Loch Beag na Fuaralachd, Loch Crask, Loch Camasach, Loch Alaskie, Loch an Ulbaidg, Loch Dubh Cul na Capulich, Loch a'Ghiubhais, Loch a'Ghriama (Loch Graham). For permits and boat hire call 01349 853112. Some of the hotels may have boats for hire as well, try Overcraig Hotel for boats in the top of the loch.
Reay Forest Estate fishing for brown trout on hill lochs on this extensive estate, contact Estate office, Achfary, By Lairg, Sutherland, IV27 4OQ, call 01971 500248.
Rhiconich Hotel Fishing fishing for salmon sea trout and brown trout in 10 surrounding lochs including; Loch Croacach (bt 6 - 8oz), Loch Tarvie (bt 12oz), Asir Mor (bt occasional salmon and sea trout), Lady Loch (loch na Callisch) bt & st, Number One (bt 6 - 8oz but fish up to 2-3lbs), Gharbet Mor (bt and st good sea trout in summer), Key Loch (bt dour but fish are big 1lb+), Gull Loch, Loch na Thull (bt and st and ferox). Contact 01971 521224. Rhiconich Hotel, Rhiconich, Sutherland, IV27 4 RN.
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 are 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 amount of submerged rocks). Salmon from June onwards, mostly grilse. If that's not enough the scenery is awe inspiring.
