Fishing in Scotland - Angling and Coarse Fishing Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park has some of Scotland's best lochs and rivers for salmon fishing and angling, as it is usually known in the UK. Before you arrive, it's a good idea to be familiar with the terms and the seasons.

Terms to Know Before You Go About Fishing in Scotland

Angling is the term usually used for sport fishing for salmon and various kinds of trout and sea trout.The seasons are limited, a licence fee is charged and on some lochs you must fish from a boat rather than the shore.

Coarse fishing is fishing for other species (in this region generally pike and perch) with live bait and either a rod and reel or a long pole. There is no season and usually no permit fee for coarse fishing.

Ghillie is the term used for a Scottish fishing guide. It comes from old Gaelic for man servant. If you have never fished for salmon in a Scottish Loch it is wise to hire a ghillie. But be prepared to shell out for an experienced ghillie.

Fishing Seasons

Salmon The season runs from March 15 to the end of October on the Rivers and from February 11 to October 31 on the lochs. Loch Lomond and Loch Tay are particularly favored for their salmon.

Trout Brown and rainbow trout can be caught during the salmon fishing season but no sea trout can be taken before April 1.

The Cost and Rules of Fishing in Scotland

If you're used to paying for a state fishing licence and just dropping your line in where ever you like, fishing in Scotland will take some getting used to. The costs and the rights to fish in various waters are controlled by landowners, fishing associations and other groups.

So, for example, you could pay £5 a day to fish for salmon, sea trout, brown trout, roach, dace, chub, perch or pike on the River Edrick - but be careful not to catch salmon, sea trout or brown trout on a Sunday.

On the other hand, expect to spend £140, plus a £25 joining fee to try your luck fishing for salmon or sea trout on Loch Lomond. Fishing in Breadalbane and the Trossachs is less expensive. And if you are keen to try for a salmon, you can have a go there, on the River Tay - one of Scotland's best salmon rivers - for between £25 and about £65 per rod.

In some places you can fish from shore, in others not. In some places wading is not allowed, in others engines are not allowed. Fly fishing may be all that is permitted in one place. Coarse fishing with live bait can be free ….or not.

It's a complicated business. The best information about fishing on particular rivers or lochs is available online from Visit Scotland, the official Scottish Tourist organisation.
Loch Lomond area fishing information
Breadalbane and The Trossachs fishing information