Outer Hebrides free fishing spots

[Mickeydredd]

So, I’m off to Barra tomorrow, then travelling up through Eriskay, the Uists, Lewis and Harris.

I’m taking the fly and spinning rods and hoping to get a couple of hours here and there on game fish.

Anyone know of any free/cheap fishing along the route, rivers/lochs/sea all an option

Cheers
MD

 

[Rake Aboot]

Did that trip on a motorbike a few years back , amazing awesome trip.

. No idea about fishing, there are hundreds of spots to fish so I’d likely have a go until someone said somit.

 

[distantcamera]

Did that trip on a motorbike a few years back , amazing awesome trip.

. No idea about fishing, there are hundreds of spots to fish so I’d likely have a go until someone said somit.

Bad idea in Scotland where the law allows the confiscation of all equipment involved in poaching, including the vehicle you used to get there! The Western Isles all have very active Facebook groups so I’d recommend joining some and asking there.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Bad idea in Scotland where the law allows the confiscation of all equipment involved in poaching, including the vehicle you used to get there! The Western Isles all have very active Facebook groups so I’d recommend joining some and asking there.

I live in Scotland bud. What happens is if someone takes issue with you fishing , they sell you a day permit lol.

If you’re using a rod and fly then the only criminal offence for trout is fishing a loch ( if it’s owned by just one person) or in a place with a protection order on it.

so what happens is you have to buy a day permit if you get caught.
No confiscation of anything dramatic.

Poaching is Salmon or sea trout.

 

[Camdig]

Just fish and when approached explain yourself and offer to buy permits.
You will only get i to trouble if you are actively targeting Salmon and Sea Trout.

 

[lochty]

Ask @caorach

 

[@theroedeerguy]

Just fish and when approached explain yourself and offer to buy permits.
You will only get i to trouble if you are actively targeting Salmon and Sea Trout.

Not quite true.

Make sure that you have a permit if you’re fishing on a loch or stank if you’re targeting trout, sea trout or salmon as per section 11 below.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to consolidate, with amendments recommended by the Scottish Law Commission, the enactments relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland.

www.legislation.gov.uk

For any salmon and sea trout fishing you’ll need a permit.

In tidal waters you’ll generally be fine without a permit so long as you’re not using a method of fishing commonly used for salmon and sea trout and targeting say mackerel or other sea species, even if you did catch a salmon, no issues as long as it was returned to the water unharmed.

 

[opticron1]

Similar to @Rake Aboot , we did the trip up the Western Isles from Barra to Lewis - in the good old days when Calmac actually had ferries that worked and you could tip up on the motorbike and just get squeezed on!
Started on Barra and fished Loch Tangusdale (permits from the local tourist board office at the time) - fished in my boxers as didn't have room for waders on the bike! Some lovely golden machair trout and not expensive. Moved up through the Uists to Harris and Lewis. Most of the time it was a simple matter of asking if there was fishing available - either free or cheap. If there was the chance of salmon or sea trout it tended to be quite well controlled, but some of the smaller hill lochs were easier to hunt down for nothing. These days it is easier to get in touch with the local Estate office or find out the local Angling Association and buy a weekly ticket or day ticket if possible. Some stunning scenery and some stunning fishing.
The sea fishing should be good at the moment with the chance of mackerel/pollack and coalies on the spinner......and maybe a sea trout or two, but they go straight back obviously!

 

[distantcamera]

I live in Scotland bud. What happens is if someone takes issue with you fishing , they sell you a day permit lol.

If you’re using a rod and fly then the only criminal offence for trout is fishing a loch ( if it’s owned by just one person) or in a place with a protection order on it.

so what happens is you have to buy a day permit if you get caught.
No confiscation of anything dramatic.

Poaching is Salmon or sea trout.

It seems you are correct. I also live in Scotland but I've only fished on rivers which flow into the Solway and I wasn't aware that the law only applies to the Solway. Every day is a school day!

 

[Bo Diddley]

TBF, usually the cost of tickets is very low, and they can cover more angling than you could do in a year.
Just do a bit of research before you set off.
Be sure to post a few pics if you catch some pretty Brownies

 

[palmer_mike]

Poaching is Salmon or sea trout.

There is quite a bit of salmon and sea trout fishing on the lochs in the outer Hebrides

 

[sauer]

Definitely one for @caorach as said above

 

[Camdig]

Not quite true.

Make sure that you have a permit if you’re fishing on a loch or stank if you’re targeting trout, sea trout or salmon as per section 11 below.

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003

An Act of the Scottish Parliament to consolidate, with amendments recommended by the Scottish Law Commission, the enactments relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland.

www.legislation.gov.uk

For any salmon and sea trout fishing you’ll need a permit.

In tidal waters you’ll generally be fine without a permit so long as you’re not using a method of fishing commonly used for salmon and sea trout and targeting say mackerel or other sea species, even if you did catch a salmon, no issues as long as it was returned to the water unharmed.

Has worked just fine for me all over Scotland, see a nice spot pull up start fishing, gillie comes along explain you were passing fancied a few casts and are more than happy to pay for day ticket, a gillie will know almost straight away genuine or poaching.
Most folks will say crack on have a lovely day.

 

[VSS]

Has worked just fine for me all over Scotland, see a nice spot pull up start fishing, gillie comes along explain you were passing fancied a few casts and are more than happy to pay for day ticket, a gillie will know almost straight away genuine or poaching.
Most folks will say crack on have a lovely day.

I like your style!
Basically you're saying it's ok to poach, provided you pay up with a smile if aprehended....

And if a ghillie doesn't come along?

 

[Camdig]

I like your style!
Basically you're saying it's ok to poach, provided you pay up with a smile if aprehended....

And if a ghillie doesn't come along?

I dont see any issues, there are literally thousands of little lochs scattered all over and if targeting trout to release them again what's the problem?
As above its not poaching until you target Salmon or Sea Trout.
If Gillie doesn't appear you have had a free day, if he does and you have an English accent that could be a disaster
You are talking £15 for a day permit on some of the better waters, some of the wee lochs nobody bothers.

 

[Rake Aboot]

I like your style!
Basically you're saying it's ok to poach, provided you pay up with a smile if aprehended....

And if a ghillie doesn't come along?

It’s not poaching bud