There are many rivers within Scotland that will have your heart racing at the thought of catching the salmon of a lifetime, or catching a wee wild brownie on a size 22 dry fly in beautiful surroundings.
Whether you are walking along a river bank with your rod in your hand and an eye on the water, or climbing some hills to get to your fishing location on a small brook, Scotland has some fantastic scenery, wild life and lovely rivers meandering through heather covered lands.
Even if you are not having a great days fishing, you can sit back and relax with your packed lunch and watch the deer roaming the hills, eagles and hawks soaring the skies and all manners of wild life to admire.
Fishing is not just about catching fish it is about being one with nature and your surroundings, so the more you are in tune with your surroundings the more you will enjoy your days fishing and if you do catch your fish it is an added bonus.
North Scotland
Aline: - The Aline is an attractive river, three miles long, with easy access for the fisherman. It flows out of Loch Arienas and, soon after, is joined by two tributaries which flow from the Black Glen and the White Glen (Gleann Dubh and Gleann Geal).
Permits from: - The fishing is normally let in association with holiday cottages on the estate. Contact Ardtornish Estate, Morvern, By Oban.
Alness: - One of the smaller east coast rivers, the Alness, or Averon, flows for ten miles from Loch Morie to the Cromarty Firth at Alness.
Permits from: - The Alness Angling Club
Beauly: - One of the great Highland rivers to be harnessed for Hydro-electric power, the River Beauly is born out of its tributaries, Affric, Cannich, Glass, and Farrar.
Information about fishing the River Beauly can be found at www.beauly-angling-club.co.uk
Borgie: - The River Borgie runs through lochs Coulside, Loyal and Craggie, before continuing its attractive course to enter the sea in Torrisdale bay.
Permits can be obtained from: - the Borgie Hotel and the Ben Loyal Hotel, which issues fishing permits, at very reasonable rates from £25.00 per day,
Brora: - The Brora is an excellent spring salmon river, fishing well from its opening at the beginning of February through to May.
Permits from: - The Royal Marine Hotel, Brora. Telephone: 01408-621252
Carron: - The River Carron is a spate river which flows eastwards joining the Kyle of Sutherland at Bonar Bridge in Easter Ross. Good spring fishing on the Lower River and summer sport on the upper beats.
I would highly recommend the Carron,.an excellent river and setting with some monster salmon, undergoing a full re-stocking programme too so funds go to help with this.
You can find it via the Attadale Estate website, but the main contact is a guy called Roddie MacKenzie on 07818 032368.
Conon: - The River Conon, the largest of the Easter Ross-shire rivers, fed by tributaries Orrin, Blackwater, Bran and Meig, Was once a fabulous Spring salmon fishing on the river. The best of the salmon fishing is now on the main lower river and on the Blackwater from July to September.
Permits from the following: - Sports and Model Shop,
Tulloch Street, Dingwall and the Dingwall District Angling Club
Croe: - The Croe is a small Kintail spate river flowing through spectacular scenery for four miles to the sea at Morvich,
The fishing is managed by The National Trust for Scotland and enquiries should be directed to the Warden, Morvich Farm, Inverinate, By Kyle of Lochalsh.
Dionard: - A productive north Sutherland River set in the magnificently wild scenery of the North West highlands. While the loch itself has a good reputation for sea trout, the river produces good numbers of salmon and grilse in the summer, as well as the more numerous sea trout.
Enquiries should be directed to the Cape Wrath Hotel, Durness.
Ewe: - The salmon and sea trout fishing on the river Ewe is owned by Inveran Estate, and let, usually with accommodation, to weekly tenants throughout the season, with four rods fishing. The best of the fishing, in July, is well booked in advance but occasional rods may be available at a cost of up to around £1000 per rod per week, depending on time of year.
Garry: - The character of the River Garry, and its fishing, was greatly altered by the impoundment of its waters, in the nineteen fifties, for the production of hydro electricity. Prior to this, the Garry was one of Scotland’s best spring salmon fisheries, renowned for its large spring salmon, averaging about 18 pounds, which were in the river from opening day on January 15th till the end of April.
Permits from: - info@invergarryhotel.co.uk or Telephone 01890 501 206 (int) +44 1809 501 206
Gruinard: - The Gruinard River flows from the four mile long Loch Na Sealga to enter the sea in Gruinard Bay, Wester Ross. The Gruinard produces around a hundred salmon in a season and some sea trout, with the sea trout numbers greatly reduced in recent years. The fishing is let privately and is unlikely to be available.
The river is let with self catering accommodation and fishing for five rods at a cost of around £1500 per week. Enquiries should be directed to Letterewe Estate, Achnasheen.
Halladale: - The River Halladale is, for most of its twenty mile length, a rather sluggish salmon river. The Halladale relies very much on rain to give good sport, and the rule, as on most other northern rivers, is fly only.
Email info@strathhalladale.com http://www.strathhalladale.com
Tel/Fax
01641 571271
Miss Audrey Imlach
The Estate Office
The Strath Halladale & Sainn Partnerships
The Kennels
Forsinard Lodge
Forsinard
Sutherland
KW13 6YT
Helmsdale: - A great salmon river, the most productive in the north of Scotland. The best of the fishing, however, is strictly preserved and inaccessible to most. The fishing is divided into twelve beats, six above the falls of Kildonan and six below, with one top beat and one bottom beat available to two rods each day, allowing a total of twelve rods to fish.
Permits from: - Visitors may obtain permits for the Town water at a cost of £26 per day until the end of June and £35 thereafter. Weekly tickets until the end of June are £100 and £140 thereafter. Family day tickets are available at £30 rising to £35 and family weekly tickets are £150 rising to £175 these can be obtained from the Helmsdale Angling Association
Kirkaig: - The River Kirkaig is an attractive river but the rough and rocky nature of the river makes for very challenging salmon fly fishing.
The fishing on the Kirkaig is owned by Assynt Estate. Permits available exclusively from the Inver Lodge Hotel Tel. 01571 844496.
Laxford: - The River Laxford is regarded as one of the more productive rivers in northern Scotland but it is fished privately and therefore of little interest to the visiting angler.
Extremely difficult to get beats on this Salmon River but try Findlayson Hughes, Perth Tel 01738 630926.
Lochy: - Lying in the shadow of Ben Nevis, The River Lochy is an attractive salmon river, flowing the nine miles from Loch Lochy to Loch Linnhe near Fort William. Salmon and sea trout fishing.
Salmon fishing for 4 rods from £900 p.w.
CKD Galbraith
Lynedoch House,
Barossa Place,
Perth
PH1 5EP,
Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1738 451600 Fax: +44 (0)1738 451900
Naver: - The River Naver flows the eighteen miles from Loch Naver to enter the sea at Bettyhill. It is one of the most productive, and exclusive, of Scotland’s salmon rivers,
The lower beat, however, is reserved for the local angling club and a limited number of daily permits are available to visitors. Enquiries should be directed to the Altnaharra hotel.
Oykel: - The Oykel is the best of the Kyle of Sutherland rivers. Excellent Spring fishing on the lower river, with sport on the upper river throughout the summer months.
There is a long waiting list for fishing on the lower river and fishing on the upper river, handled by the Oykel Bridge Hotel, is also popular. Loch Ailsh is owned and managed by the Assynt Estate, along with part of the upper river.
Shin: - The Shin is a good salmon river; it is an attractive river which can still produce good numbers of salmon, however, it is very popular and can be difficult to obtain a permit to fish.
For further information and permits contact :
The Overscaig House Hotel
Loch Shin, Sutherland
Scotland, IV27 4NY
Telephone : +44(0)1549 431203
E-mail : fishingscotland@overscaig.com
Website address is : www.overscaig.com
or permits can also be obtained from
The Sutherland Sporting Company, Main Street, Lairg, Sutherland. IV27 4DB
(Fishing, shooting, outdoor/sporting clothing and accessories.)
Telephone : 01549 402229 Fax : 01549 402229
Thurso: - The upper section of the river, above Loch More, provides extensive and valuable spawning grounds for the Thurso salmon. It is, however, on the main section of the river, from Loch More to it outflow at Thurso, that the fishing interest is focussed.
For full information and about fishing the 26 miles of river visit: - http://www.thursoriver.co.uk
Ullapool: - The Ullapool is the name given to the river which flows from Loch Achall to the sea in Loch Broom.
The River Ullapool flows to the West, is fed by Loch Achall this is a good river for sea trout, brown trout and salmon. Permits are required and available from Tackle shops . dt £15 (upper beat) and £5 (lower beat).
Permits from: Lochbroom Hardware,
Shore Street(01854 612356).
Wick: - The Wick River, although the second largest salmon fishing river in Caithness, is quite narrow. Similar to the Halladale with long stretches of sluggish water. This slow water makes for difficult fly fishing and is often fished with worm, very much the exception on the northern rivers, a method which accounts for about half all salmon caught on the river.
The Wick Angling Association controls the salmon and sea trout fishing between Loch Watten and Wick, with more than twenty pools available. Permits are available to visiting anglers at around £20 per day.
Permits from:
Hugo Ross, Tackle Shop, Wick.
Central Scotland
Add: - In the nineteenth century, catches of 1000 salmon a season were reported from the River Add. By the mid twentieth century, this had been reduced to around 200 salmon a year. Today a good year would see the catch reach double figures.
Permits from Fyne Tackle, Lochgilphead
Tel: (01546) 606 878
Allan: - An excellent small river, it has good trout fly fishing and, in recent seasons, much improved salmon and sea trout fly fishing
Permits available from Dunblane Post Office.
Avon Waters:
Contact Details -
Alan Scott
Secretary
Upper Avon Angling Association
33 Hills Road
Strathaven
Lanarkshire
ML10 6LQ
Mobile 07771 981 671
see also
Permit info
Our Waters.
We look after and manage the fishing on Glengavel Reservoir.
On
the Avon Water (River Avon) we have the fishing rights upstream from
Craig Bridge on the Strathaven to Sandford / Lesmahagow Road (B7086) on
the south bank (left hand side looking upstream) & from Browns
Bridge on the Strathaven to Muirkirk Road (B743) both banks upstream to
the source.
Awe: - This famous river, linking Loch Awe with the sea, produces some 400 salmon a year. Weekly and daily permits available
Permits from Inverawe Fisheries
Inverawe
Taynuilt
Argyll
Dee: - The River Dee in Aberdeenshire is one of the "big four" salmon rivers in Scotland, the others being the Spey, Tay and Tweed. The Dee has gone through a difficult time in recent years but can still provide some of the best salmon fly fishing in Scotland.
For information on fishing the Dee and permits check out http://www.fishbritain.co.uk/Dee
Deveron: - The Deveron is an excellent salmon and sea trout river, with annual catches in excess of 2000 salmon and around 1500 sea trout. The river also has a reputation for quality brown trout fishing. Indeed the Deveron is known for producing large fish of all three species.
For information on fishing the Deveron and permits check out http://www.fishingthedeveron.co.uk
Don: - The Don is a unique river. It has a reputable standing with the angling fraternity, not only for salmon and sea trout, but also as one of the finest wild brown trout rivers in Europe.
For information on fishing the Don check out http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Don
Eachaig: - The River Eachaig runs the four and a half miles from Loch Eck to the Holy Loch in the Firth of Clyde. It is principally a sea trout fishing river of some note, producing around 300 sea trout, some of them of impressive size, and anglers catch a further 50 or so salmon in a season.
Enquiries about the fishing should be directed to the Coylet Hotel, Loch Eck, Dunoon.
Earn: - The River Earn is an attractive medium sized river, the Earn offers trout, grayling, sea trout and salmon fishing throughout its length, some through fishing clubs like those in Crieff, Comrie, Auchterarder and Dunning.
Findhorn: - The River Findhorn is a most attractive salmon river, with a succession of deep pools and fast runs throughout its length. Up to 1000 salmon will be taken in a season with sea trout mainly in the lower beats.
For information on fishing the Don check out http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Findhorn
Fyne: - The river Fyne at one time, as recently as 1989, produced in the region of 250 salmon in a season, despite the severe impoundment of its waters for the production of Hydro Electric power. Sadly, recent years have seen a dramatic decline in stocks of migratory fish on the river.
Permits available from Fyne Tackle, Lochgilphead Tel: (01546) 606 878.
Lomond: - The Loch Lomond system can produce up to 1500 salmon and a similar number of sea trout, from the loch itself, which at twenty one miles long and covering an area of 17,500 acres, is Scotland’s largest loch.
For information on fishing the Lomond check out
http://www.loch-lomond.net/fishing/permits.html
Lossie: - The River Lossie can, in suitable conditions, provide some excellent salmon and sea trout fishing, with something in the region of 100 salmon caught in a season and up to 400 sea trout.
Permits are readily available from the Tackle shop in Elgin.
Nairn: - The River Nairn offers some fine salmon, grilse and seatrout fishing. Permits can be obtained from Pat Fraser's on the High Street in Nairn. Ten miles away the River Findhorn can be fished on the lower stretches of the water around the town of Forres, and permits are available. Thirty minutes away the River Spey offers some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in Scotland.
Permits can be purchased from Allen's Tackle Shop in Boat of Garten or from the Strathspey Estate Office in Grantown-on-Spey
Ness: - The River Ness is a big river, carrying the water from its large catchment on the five mile journey from Loch Ness to Inverness and out into the Moray Firth. One of the most productive salmon rivers in the north of Scotland, the Ness produces six to seven hundred salmon in a season and some 200 sea trout.
For information and permits for the town water and the estuary sea trout fishing, contact J Graham, Tackle Shop,
Castle Street, Inverness
North Esk: - The North Esk is a fine east coast salmon river. The river runs south east for a distance of 35 miles to enter the North Sea north of Montrose. The North Esk can produce about 1000 salmon and grilse in a season.
For further information on fishing the North Esk visit http://www.elfisheries.co.uk
Orchy: - The River Orchy flows out of Loch Tulla for a distance of about ten miles to Loch Awe. One of the most attractive rivers in the west highlands, the Orchy is a significant part of the Loch Awe system, not only in terms of salmon fishing, but as the main spawning stream. The annual catch on the Orchy is in the region of 300 salmon.
Permits from Loch Awe Store Lochawe, Dalmally, Argyll, PA33 1AQ
Tel/Fax 01838 200200
Email frances.baird@btconnect.com
http://www.loch-awe.com/stores
South Esk: - The South Esk is a longer river than the North Esk, offering more in the way of publicly accessible fishing. The best months for salmon, given rain, are August, September and October with June and July producing the bulk of the sea trout.
For further information on fishing the South Esk visit http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Esks/
Spey: - The River Spey is probably the most famous Salmon River in the World. In its lower course, downstream of Grantown, it is a fast flowing river, providing miles of perfect, and highly sought after, fly fishing water.
For further information on fishing the Spey visit http://www.river-spey.com/tickets.html
Tay: - The largest of Scotland’s salmon rivers. The Tay fishing is not what it once was but can still produce somewhere in the region of 10,000 salmon in a season.
For further information on fishing the Spey visit
http://www.tayfishingperthshire.co.uk/enquiries-and-reservations/enquiry-form.htm
Teith: - The River Teith is undoubtedly the best Salmon River with some very sought-after beats providing excellent spring and autumn salmon fly fishing.
Permits obtained from: - James Bain Tackle Shop 76 Main Street Callander
Tel: +44(0)1877 330218
Tummel: - The main section of the Tummel of interest to the salmon fisherman is the lower section from the outflow at Faskally Dam at Pitlochry to the junction with the Tay at Logierait. There are 22 named pools on this lower section, fished by a total of twenty rods.
For various fishing permit options for the Tummel visit http://www.fishingnet.com/River_Tummel.htm
South Scotland
Almond: - The Cramond Angling Club offer approximately two miles of single bank fishing on the River Almond. The beat is located about 4 miles to the North West of Edinburgh City Centre. There is a good access to the river, with car parking being right on the river bank, and local bus routes are just a few minutes away.
Main target species are brown trout and sea trout. Salmon have also been caught although in quite a small numbers. Normal methods of angling include fly fishing and spinning, bait fishing is permitted at certain times of the season. Catch and release particularly for salmon is highly recommended.
Permits can be obtained from the Cramond Post office or you can join the Cramond Angling Club for £20.00 per year for further information visit www.fishalmond.co.uk
Annan: - One of the best salmon and sea trout rivers in the south of Scotland, the river Annan is a spate river flowing southwards for 35 miles past Moffat, Johnstonebridge and Lockerbie,joined on its way by several tributaries such as Moffat Water, Evan Water, Kinnel Water, Water of Ae, Water of Milk and Mien Water before entering the Solway at Annan.
For all fishing permit options visit http://www.riverannan.co.uk/all.htm
Ayr: - The Ayr is the largest of the Ayrshire rivers running from its source near New Cumnock the thirty nine miles to Ayr. The Ayr is a spate river but drawing water from a larger catchment area than neighbouring rivers. Spates, therefore, tend to last a bit longer, falling off in days rather than hours. In a good season 500 salmon might be taken and a few sea trout.
Permits to fish this river for salmon and trout on the Girvan stretch can be obtained from the Carrick Angling Club by phoning 01465 712 122 or from Wright’s Hardware store on Dalrymple Street/Girvan. Permits for the Girvan start from £30 per week.
Border Esk: - The Border Esk is formed by the meeting of the Black Esk and White Esk near Bailiehill. Renowned as one of the best sea trout rivers in the country, the Border Esk also has a good run of salmon through the latter part of the season.
For further information visit:- http://www.elfisheries.co.uk/elfisheries/
Clyde: - The River Clyde is one of Scotland’s great rivers. The upper river has long been highly regarded as a trout and grayling stream, with some of the nicest fly water you could imagine. In addition, salmon and sea trout fishing is now improving on the lower river.
Fishing permits: Annual membership of Avon A.C. available at reasonable rates. Enquiries should also be made directed to fishing tackle shops in the area.
Cree: - The Cree runs from Loch Moan to the Solway Firth below Newton Stewart. Salmon and sea trout can still be taken in the lower section of the river, which has some good fly fishing water.
Fishing permits can be obtained from Galloway Guns and Tackle shop,
Arthur Street, NewtonStewart. Tel: 01671-403404
Doon: - The River Doon is an attractive and productive salmon river flowing 23 miles from the Galloway hills to its outfall just south of the town of Ayr.
For further information and fishing permits visit http://www.skeldonestate.com
Ettrick: - The River Ettrick flows for 15 miles to join the Tweed at Selkirk. The Ettrick is joined by the main tributary, the River Yarrow, one and a half miles upstream of Selkirk. Both rivers flows through magnificent wild moorland. The Tweed Foundation has done a good deal of work on habitat improvement on the Ettrick and Yarrow in recent years and the runs of salmon are improving, with around 100 salmon caught in a season, most of them in October.
Permits available from Rodgersons Newsagents,
6 High St, Selkirk, call 01750 20749.
Girvan: - The River Girvan flows the twenty five miles from Loch Bradan, past Straiton and Kirkmichael to the sea at Girvan. The river has a moorland character as far as Straiton, where it widens to form good holding pools and streamy runs. After a short sluggish stretch, the river then gathers pace again, flowing through the fine fishing water of Blairquhan.
Permits to fish this river for salmon and trout on the Girvan stretch can be obtained from the Carrick Angling Club by phoning 01465 712 122 or from Wright’s Hardware store on Dalrymple Street/Girvan. Permits for the Girvan start from £30 per week.
Irvine: - The River Irvine shares a common estuary with the River Garnock at Irvine. The river was heavily polluted but water quality is now improving and the river and its fish stocks are steadily improving, largely due to the work of the River Irvine Improvement Association.
Permits can be obtained from the following: For daily or annual permits contact Tam Campbell of the Dreghorn Angling Club at bigtroot@aol.com or go to and click on the Dreghorn A.C link.
Luce: - The Water of Luce forms by the joining of the Cross Water of Luce and the Main Water of Luce. The river produces a fair number of salmon, although sea trout runs are not what they once were.
Permits are available from various local hotels or by application to Mr J Greenhill,
20 Challoch Crescent, Stranraer.
Nith: - The Nith is the largest of the Solway rivers. It is arguably the most productive and varied of the rivers and offers excellent salmon and sea trout sport for anglers of all abilities and experience. Much of the fishing is available to visiting anglers on a day or weekly basis on association water and hotel and estate beats.
Stinchar: - One of the most attractive rivers in Ayrshire. The river has suffered from the effects of afforestation and water abstraction but is still one of the most productive salmon rivers in the south west of Scotland.
Demand for rods on the Stinchar is high, with the best of the beats books well in advance, but day tickets may be available. For information it might be worth contacting the Boar’s Head Hotel in Colmonell.
Teviot: - The River Teviot flows through rich farmland bordered by deciduous woodland, to join the River Tweed at Kelso. The salmon fishing is at its best from June onwards and around 700 salmon can be taken in a season, with an average weight of around ten pounds.
Kelso Angling Association offers trout permits to visiting anglers on the Teviot and Tweed at Kelso.
Tweed: - The great River Tweed is born at Wells of Tweed, 1500 feet up in the hills north of Moffat and flows eastwards for 100 miles to enter the North Sea at Berwick, picking up on its way the major tributaries, Yarrow and Ettrick, Gala Water, Leader Water, Teviot, Till and Whiteadder. Best known as an autumn salmon river, the Tweed has regularly produced over 10,000 salmon in recent seasons, plus substantial numbers of sea trout, some of the sea trout big fish caught by salmon fishers in the back end months.
Some beats fetching in the region of £4000 per rod per week. Fortunately, good fishing is nevertheless available on the river at reasonable prices. For further information, see the FishTweed website
Tyne: - The East Lothian Tyne is a small spate river, passing through Haddington and entering the Firth of Forth just north of Dunbar. The river is principally a brown trout river but with improving runs of migratory fish, in particular sea trout.
For further information on permits visit the following website: http://www.elaa.co.uk/Permit/Permits.htm
Urr: - The Urr flows for thirty miles from Loch Urr to its outflow into the Solway Firth near Dalbeattie. The Urr has a moorland character in its upper course but becomes rather sluggish, flowing through relatively rich agricultural land in its lower course.
Permits from Tommy's Sports,
King Street, Castle Douglas.
Whiteadder: - The River Whiteadder is a major tributary of the Tweed, flowing out of Whiteadder reservoir before being joined by tributaries Faseney Water, Bothwell Water, Monynut Water and Dye Water. Later the Whiteadder is joined by its major tributary, Blackadder Water. A further five miles sees the Whiteadder joining the tidal reaches of the Lower Tweed, two and a half miles upstream of Berwick.
Permits can be obtained form the following: