Outdoors
Fishing A
rgyll is one Britain’s most popular angling destinations. Cast off from the quiet banks of one of our spar-
kling rivers, with the backdrop of a moun- tain and nothing but an osprey hovering overhead for competition, and you will see why. There is quality as well as variety to the fi shing options here, with opportunities for loch, river and sea fi shing and the chance of catches that can range from salmon to pike and brown and ferox trout, sea trout and char. The environment presents rich challenges and rewards for the most experienced anglers, but it’s also a good pace to get started, with lessons available for begin- ners and charter boats and guides on hand to take you to the best spots and help you improve your catch. If you’re looking for a setting to match the quality of the fi shing, the rivers Awe and Orchy both offer picture-book wild Scot- land, though, as the area’s head bailiff Ewan MacLellan explains, weather condi- tions will be crucial to your experience: “People planning for a trip will often ask me what the fi shing is going to be like months ahead,” he says, “but it’s impos- sible to say. The Orchy and the Awe are both spate rivers, so they are at their best immediately after a heavy rainfall. That’s what anglers need to look out for.” Though some local fi sh stocks have be-
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come depleted in recent years, there are positive signs of recovery, and anglers are welcome during the March to Octo- ber fi shing season, on the understanding that they follow a ‘catch and release’ ap- proach. “We want to encourage people to come and fi sh. There are many beautiful locations here, with plenty of affordable fi shing,” says Craig MacIntyre, manager of the charitable Argyll Fisheries Trust, which protects the re- gion’s wild fi sh populations. “Most anglers care about fi sh and the en- vironment, and we need people like them who are willing to put time and resources into preserving it,” says Craig. “Many peo- ple are starting to change the way they fi sh and are happy to let fi sh go. “Catch and release is defi nitely the most important thing that visitors can do to help the fi sh populations. As long as that’s done properly, it’s no problem for people to come fi shing.” As loch fi shing destinations go, you don’t get much bigger than Loch Awe, Britain’s longest freshwater loch and a haven for anglers with its islands, castles, and range of habitats. The loch recently hosted a sector of the world fl y fi shing champion- ships, and is often the source of record- breaking trout catches. It is well known for its coarse fi shing, particularly pike, as well as eels, roach and perch. Nearby sea lochs, Loch Fyne and Loch
Etive are scenic wildlife havens, with plen- tiful fi shing opportunities. Though Loch Fyne is no longer teeming with the herring for which it became known, fi sh is still big business, with pollack, cod and sea trout among potential catches. Because Loch Etive is infl uenced by a two way tidal falls, it is fi lled with a mix of fresh and salt water, which ensures a remark- able ecosystem and fi shing opportunities to match. It’s home to a particularly wide selection of fi sh and one of few places where it’s possible to catch brown trout and pollack on the same line! Try sea fi shing along the Argyll coastline, or venture out to the Hebrides for an ocean experience to contrast the inland sport. With numerous sheltered inlets and bays, as well as the open sea, the infl uence of the Gulf Stream and unpolluted coastal waters ensure rewarding territory. Wherever you are in the West Highlands, there are local fi shing clubs and organisa- tions that can help you to fi nd out more about the options – but it is important to make sure that you have the correct pa- perwork. Permits for fi shing on Loch Awe, the River Awe and the River Orchy can be bought locally, including at Loch Awe Stores, or you can book some fi shing in ad- vance via the
www.fi shpal.com website. For more information go to www.lochawe. org,
www.fi shing-argyll.co.uk,
www.ar- gyll-fi
sheries-trust.co.uk
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