Fishing

Salmon, trout and grayling fishing on rivers and lochs around Pitlochry, Perthshire in the Highlands of Scotland, including the River Tummel and River Garry, and Loch Bhac and Loch Kinardochy.

Salmon Fishing
15 Jan to 15 Oct (not Sundays)

River Trout
15th Mar to 6th Oct

Loch Trout
15 Mar to 6 Oct

RIVER TUMMEL (PORTNACRAIG PITLOCHRY BEAT)

The River Tummel is a large river, noted for its spring salmon, and also with runs of summer salmon and grilse. The 5yr average is around 150 fish. The Portnacraig Pitlochry Beat(new for 2009) extends from a marker post about 100 metres below Pitlochry Dam down to the road bridge at Aldour and is double bank offering fishing for 6 rods per day,3 on either bank with anglers swapping banks at 12.30 each day. The 2010 ticket prices range from £27-£57 per day. Advance booking recommended, particularly for mid March to mid June. Day tickets only cover up to 5 pm, and worm fishing is not allowed at any time.

RIVER GARRY (RUAN RUARIE BEAT)

The River Garry is a medium sized, spate river. The Ruan Ruarie Beat is at the Pass of Killiecrankie. East bank only. Four anglers per day. The 2010 ticket price is £20 per day. Salmon have to ascend the Pitlochry Salmon Ladder at Pitlochry Dam to reach the beat. Generally sufficient have done so by late April to make fishing worthwhile. From then on to the end of the season, the beat can provide excellent fishing for the runs of summer salmon and grilse. Advance booking recommended. Worm fishing is not allowed at any time.

RIVER TUMMEL (LOWER TUMMEL BEAT)

The Lower Tummel Beat extends from Moulinearn to Ballinluig, and can be fished from either bank. It fishes well for spring fish and can offer good sport for grilse throughout the summer. Fly fishing is recommended with spinning restricted to high water conditions.Four anglers per day. The beat is available during January and February and further weeks in the spring and summer will be posted on the Fishtay site. Worm fishing is not allowed at any time.

RIVER TUMMEL Pitlochry to Ballinluig

This stretch of the River Tummel is a large river with excellent hatches of fly in the spring, and in the summer evenings. Because it is a big, fast-flowing river the fish are inclined to stay down for most of the time. Don't be discouraged. In the early weeks of the season, try bouncing weighted nymphs along the bottom, but even short-lived hatches of Dark Olives and March Browns will bring them up, so be prepared to fish dry fly as the day warms up. Fishing a team of lightly dressed spiders in the streamier water can also prove successful, early on. Through June and into July, daytime fishing can still be good if you can match the hatch, but by then the late evenings really come into their own. Stay out late and look for most fish to be feeding on emerging sedge flies in the faster, "popply-flowing" water. The trout fishing becomes slower during August but picks up well again as the water cools down in September.

Brown trout and grayling fishing is fly-fishing only, with fly rod, reel and line during the trout season (March 15th- October 6th). Outwith the trout season, grayling fishing is permitted with either fly or specified bait (worm, maggot or sweet corn). There is a 12” minimum size limit for fish that can be retained, and no more than two fish may be retained in a day. Only leaders and lines of up to 3 kg breaking strain (6.6 lb) may be used.

RIVER TUMMEL Clunie Dam to Linn of Tummel

This stretch of the River Tummel is a small river, as much of its natural flow is diverted to serve Clunie Power Station. There are nice rocky pools and runs, but anglers must be prepared to explore to get the best out of this water. Brown trout. Fly only. There is a 10” minimum size limit for fish that can be retained.

LOCH BHAC (12km North West of Pitlochry near Queen's View)

Rainbow and brown trout. May be fished either by boat or from the bank. Fly only. There is a 10” minimum size limit, and no more than 6 fish per boat (2 or 3 rods fishing) may be retained (3 for bank anglers and single anglers in a boat).

LOCH KINARDOCHY (16km west of Pitlochry near Tummel Bridge)

Brown trout. Only boat fishing available to visitors. Fly only. There is a 10” minimum size limit, and no more than 10 fish per boat may be retained.