For the avid trout fisherman the Scottish Highlands is a mecca for Wild Brown Trout fishing. There are thousands of lochs to explore for the visiting angler over this vast area. Couple this with its remote locate location, beautiful scenery and the magnificent wildlife you then truly have all the ingredients you need for that perfect trout fishing holiday.
We at Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland have partnered up with the famous Scourie Hotel located in the Northwest Highlands and are able to offer some fantastic Wild Brown Trout fishing on over four hundred hill lochs. These lochs vary in size and character greatly. Some are easily accessible and close to the road whilst others can involve a walk over the moorland, which makes the more remote lochs even more special and gives that almost untouched feeling. A number of the lochs have boats, which make some difficult spots easier to access. Some of the lochs are set in some of the most dramatic backdrops with towering mountains and cascading waterfalls whereas others are located close to the sea and whilst fishing these lochs the fresh sea air from the Atlantic Ocean makes you feel alive!
The trout in these lochs vary greatly in size and appearance. When it comes to size the fish range anything from around half a pound up to seven or eight pounds. The fish are extremely hard fighting and even the smaller fish can put up a great tussle. Invariably the larger fish are often more difficult to catch which adds to the charm as many anglers like a challenge. Some of the biggest fish are caught from the more remotely located lochs and this is understandable, as many of these lochs remain untouched due to accessibility. However for the dedicated trout angler it is often on these lochs that not only the biggest fish are caught but also the largest catches are made.
As already mentioned the trout can vary greatly in appearance from loch to loch. Some of the trout can be very dark in colour with bright red spots and this often due to the peaty nature of the water in the loch. Other lochs produce much lighter coloured trout almost buttery colour. The contrast in fish colour from loch to loch is quite amazing.
In addition to the fantastic trout fishing there are a number of sea lochs, which anglers can explore. These are lochs, which are connected to the sea by a small stream or river. The great advantage of fishing these sea lochs is that anglers have the chance given the right conditions and the right time of year to catch Sea trout as well as salmon. Nothing brightens up your day more as an angler than catching a hard fighting bright sea trout fresh off the tide.
An example of one of the famous lochs in the area where anglers can fish for Sea Trout and Salmon is Loch Stack. This vast expanse of water is set in a beautiful valley and offers the most spectacular backdrop to a day’s fishing. Loch Stack is connected to the sea by a river and given adequate water in the river during the summer months both salmon and Sea trout run from the sea through the river and into the loch. This can make the loch the perfect ambush point!
The Scourie Hotel has been a trout-fishing mecca for anglers for generations. It has drawn fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. The family run hotel has very comfortable and spacious rooms and the food is excellent. The restaurant uses locally sourced seasonal food, which goes down a treat after a hard days fishing.
Probably the most famous part of the hotel is fantastic bar and lounge where beautiful casts of many of the big trout caught from the lochs adorn the walls. You can literally spend hours looking at these magnificent fish whilst enjoying a drink and imagining what it would be like to catch such stunning fish.
The bar at the Scourie Hotel is the meeting point for anglers on an evening after a day’s fishing. It is here where great stories are exchanged and tales told of the days fishing. There is a real buzz of anticipation of what the following day’s fishing may have in store. The Scourie Hotel is therefore the perfect base for the visiting angler where all needs are catered for.
In terms of tackle for fishing the lochs usually a single-handed trout rod six or seven weight is more than adequate. A variety of fly lines is always good to have. Usually a full floating line, a sink tip as well as an intermediate fly line would cover almost all eventualities. When it comes to leaders nylon with a breaking strain of around six pounds is usually adequate but in some lochs heavier nylon is often advised. Wet flies usually work well and famous patterns like the Bibio, March Brown and Black Pennel all produce the goods. Given the right conditions Sedges as well as dry flies can also produce decent numbers of fish. The great thing is that we at Salmon Fishing Holidays Scotland can provide all the tackle you need as well as an experienced fishing guide for your trout fishing experience at Scourie.
The best times to visit Scourie are usually anytime from June through to the end of August. Being located so far north it can take time for the water temperature in the lochs to warm up and for the fish to start feeding so therefore mid June or July is often a safe bet. Earlier in the season the fish can be more aggressive as they are looking to feed so sometimes can be easier to catch.
For those who would like to combine trout and salmon fishing it is better to visit later in the season. August and September can often be the best months especially for salmon fishing. This because later in the summer there is often rain and this can encourage the fish to run the rivers and streams after a lift in water and enter the lochs.
With some of the best Wild Brown Trout fishing in the UK, magnificent scenery, fantastic hotel accommodation and over four hundred magnificent lochs to explore a trip to fish the Scourie hill lochs is a truly unforgettable experience.
