WILD BROWN TROUT FISHING IN THE NORTH ASSYNT ESTATE
Explore the Unknown Lochs
The Assynt Crofters made History in 1993, by buying the North Assynt Estate.
Over 100 Crofters set out on the first-ever Crofting Community Buy-Out of their land, and with enormous popular support, donations, and grant aid, they succeeded. The Estate, which extends to some 22,000 acres of hill and croft land, has around 200 Freshwater Lochs all containing natural wild Brown Trout: some of which also have Salmon and Seatrout runs.
​
The Loch Fishings is a very valuable resource to the Crofters’ Trust, and all of the income from Angling is used to assist with the further development of the Fishings and the Estate in general.
Since the purchase of the land, we have carried out a restocking Programme, under guidance from the West of Sutherland Fisheries Trust, of the Manse/Tuirc Loch Water System. Two Hundred Thousand Seatrout Fry have been released into the feeder streams and lochs in this network, over a four-year period.
We welcome Anglers to the area and offer you some of the finest and most interesting Wild Brown Trout fishing in the Highlands of Scotland. All we ask of you is to purchase a permit as a gesture of goodwill before you fish. By so doing you will be contributing to the long-term development of the North Assynt Estate, which will make it a better place for you and for the people who live here, alike.
Our permits are not expensive and can be purchased from several different outlets in the area. Children fish FREE of charge.
The Lochs
Two hundred or so; some of which have Salmon & Seatrout runs, all containing natural wild Brown Trout, and some with the occasional Char. The fish vary in size from very small to very large, but on average they weigh in around 3 to the pound. The great fun and challenge of fishing here is that you have to find the lochs where the big fish are.
Fish one loch, go over the hillock and fish the next one, there are lochs around every corner, and behind every mound, it is truly a Fisherman’s Paradise.
Fishing on the North Assynt Estate cannot be compared with fishing the Rainbow Fisheries of Central and Southern Scotland, where large stocked fish are the norm. If your expectations are not of large fish all of the time, then we can assure you that you will not leave here disappointed. There are plenty of big fish lurking in the depths, in many of our waters, but they are not easy to catch.
Apply patience, stealth, and skill, and you may be rewarded by landing, one or two, or maybe more of those elusive, Leviathan fish.
Our charges are £10/day for bank fishing. £30 per week or £45 season. Children fish free
Boat hire is £15 per day
Contact details: To book phone 01571 8755298, office open 9 - 2 every weekday, Easter to October. Outside these times leave a message and we'll get back to you.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Loch Achonachie Angling Club controls Salmon fishing on the Upper Conon and Upper Blackwater rivers in the Ross-shire Highlands and wild Brown Trout fishing on both of these rivers along with Loch Meig, Loch Achonachie, and Loch Scardroy.
Loch Achonachie is over one mile long and up to 400 yards wide. It lies on the River Conon and is impounded as part of the Conon hydroelectric scheme. It is deep in places – particularly on the old river channel running down the north shore. There is a small island in the middle of the old river channel at the west end where the river enters and also a small island in a shallow bay on the south shore. It is largely surrounded by forestry plantations but recently there has been extensive harvesting.
Salmon from June onwards when the water temperature is high enough to encourage the fish to run through the Borland Lift in Tor Achilty dam, and they will continue to run into September. There is also a good stock of brown trout – some growing to very large sizes and fish of over 6lbs have been caught. The Club is augmenting the stock with fish of around 1lb each year.
There is also a natural head of perch with some very large pike which have been recorded well into double figures
Amongst our waters, you can also find fine Sea Trout, Arctic Char, Perch, and Pike. Details of permit prices and membership costs are available on their website.
The season in all our waters extends from 1 April to 30 September inclusive for all species.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Loch Meig is a long, narrow, hydroelectric loch lying on the river Meig and impounded by Curin Dam at the east end. It is two miles long lying east to west and approximately 350 yards wide. It is largely surrounded by forestry plantations though some harvesting of the trees is ongoing. At the west end of the loch, it widens out to form a comparatively shallow bay with a depth of around 10 – 12 feet (depending on water levels).
Predominantly brown trout averaging 1lb in weight but there are bigger fish running into double figures. Loch Achonachie Angling Club which administers the fishing, augments the wild stock with around 800 – 1,000 brown trout every year. These range in size from 1 ½ to 4 lbs.
There is also a natural head of perch, some of which grow onto to a large size of well in excess of 3 lbs.
Salmon and occasional sea trout enter the loch from June onwards but as per Fishery Board rules, these must be returned unharmed.
This is a fly-fishing-only loch, best tackled from the boat – although good bank fishing can be had on occasion at the west end where the river enters. The west end is generally the most productive area but fish can be found all over the loch – particularly when fishing the margins on a long drift.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Loch Scardroy lies on the course of the River Meig and although it is part of the Conon Hydro-Electric scheme, it is a natural loch with no dam. It is a large body of water over 1.5 miles long, approximately 450 yards at the widest point, and more than 50 meters deep. The surrounding hills to the east and west form a natural wind tunnel and the loch can often be wild and stormy. An outboard motor and drogue would be essential if boat fishing
Predominantly good quality brown trout (of Loch Leven descent) average ¾ lb in weight but there are bigger fish. There are Arctic Char in the depths and ferox trout which feed on them.
Salmon enter the loch from July onwards but as per Fishery Board rules, these must be returned unharmed.
Fly fishing and spinning are allowed on this loch, but no bait fishing whatsoever. There can be good sport from the bank but boat fishing gives the most productive results. Fish can be taken all around the margins where the shelf drops off or next to the weed beds at the top of the loch where the river enters. There are isolated patches of weed in a few of the bays going down the loch also and these hold fish.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scourie Hotel
Scourie
Sutherland
Scotland, UK
IV27 4SX
Tel: 01971 502396
Email: stay@scouriehotel.com
This really is the place to come for exciting trout and salmon fishing in Scotland. The Scourie Hotel has fishing available on around 300 lochs and lochans, split into 46 hotel-controlled beats. All of these, with the exception of Loch Stack, More, and the River Dionard, are absolutely free to hotel residents staying 3 days or more. Scourie really is Scotland’s Fishing Hotel.
The hotel has fly fishing available on around 300 lochs and lochans, split into 46 hotel-controlled beats. The names of all hotel residents wishing to fish are put onto the fishing roster, known as the Board, in order of arrival at the hotel. Each evening, after dinner, the fishing is allocated according to the order on the Board.
Guests are free to choose any beats not taken by those above them on the Board. Each day the name at the top of the Board moves to the bottom and everyone else moves up one place. Should you chose not to fish every day, your name will still progress up the Board.
Access To Loch Stack is from the roadside as are some of the hotel brown trout lochs. It is fair to say that most of the better brown trout lochs involve a fair amount of walking, although most of it is fairly easy and along established paths. On average, you could expect to walk from three to eight miles in the course of a day’s fishing, although there are beats that will involve less walking and some which require more.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________