So where are we to fish for trout in Scotland? No matter where you are in Scotland, from Canonbie to Cape Wrath, from Lerwick to Lanark, you will never be far from a trout. There are literally thousands of trout fishing waters in Scotland, from the smallest trickle of a mountain burn to the mighty River Tay, the tiny highland lochan to the wide expanses of Loch Lomond or Loch Ness. In nearly all of them you will find trout, from the lively quarter pounders of the peaty lochan to the powerful two or three or more pounders of the fertile waters of the Don, Tay, Tweed and Clyde.

Select an area by clicking on the map above

Trout fishing in Scotland is generally inexpensive. Whatever your taste, a few pounds, sometimes none at all, will get you a day's trout fishing in many parts of the country, if you know where to go and who to ask. The problem facing anglers, however, is that recent legislation has, over much of the country, forbidden wild trout fishing without the permission of the land owner, and, except in areas where the fishing is managed by angling clubs and associations, it is often difficult to find out who owns the fishing, whether fishing is permitted and where to buy a permit. So where to fish? - let's look at what is available. I have divided the country into four main regions - all have some great trout fishing to offer, some of it more accessible than others.

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The detailed maps on this website have been reproduced with the permission of Collins Bartholomew. In addition to the information provided here, I would recommend that anyone planning a fishing or walking trip in Scotland should equip themselves with a compass and the appropriate Ordnance Survey map. The most useful of the O.S. maps for the fisherman is the Landranger series, scale 1:50,000. For each of the lochs and rivers listed here, I have given the relevant O.S. Map number.

For a comprehensive guide to fishing on the lochs and rivers of Scotland, I would recommend that you invest in a copy of Bruce Sandison's excellent book:

Rivers & Lochs of Scotland: The Angler's Complete Guide 2013/14

Where to Fish for Wild Scottish Brown Trout

The North

The counties of Sutherland, Caithness, Ross and Cromarty, lying to the north of the Great Glen, are unsurpassed for wild trout fishing. There are thousands of lochs, enough to see even the keenest fisherman through several lifetimes. In parts of Sutherland, there seems to be more water than land. Assynt, Scourie, Durness, Altnaharra, Gairloch, Torridon are just a few magical names to conjure with...... for information on the trout fishing in the north of Scotland, click here

Trout Loch Fishing

Forsinard Flyfishers Club is a new fly fishing club with membership open to all. Seasonal membership is very reasonably priced, which covers all bank fishing with no further cost, although fishing sessions must be booked on individual lochs online via the website. The club has 41 lochs available for members to bank fish and boats are available for members on 10 lochs with a minimal charge applying.

Central Scotland

The mainland from Stirling to the Great Glen has great variety to offer the trout fisherman. Classic loch fishing on world famous Loch Leven; boat and bank fishing on Carron Valley Reservoir; lochs Venachar, Katrine and Lubnaig in the beautiful Trossachs; Ba and Laidon on wild Rannoch Moor; great river fishing on the Don, Tay, Tummel and Spey; or the wild lochs and burns of Argyll and Inverness. Something for everyone...... for information on the trout fishing in central Scotland, click here

The South

From the Campsie Fells through the busy Central Belt to the heather clad hills of Galloway, from lowland Ayrshire to the Cheviots, southern Scotland has some great fishing to offer. The renowned trout of the Clyde and Tweed; the Solway rivers of Annan, Esk and Nith; the upland lochs of the Renfrew Heights, Pentlands and Lammermuir Hills...... for information on the trout fishing in the south of Scotland, click here

The Islands

Last but by no means least, there is the wonderful trout fishing to be found on the Scottish islands. Lochs galore in the Outer Hebrides - Lewis and Harris, the Uists and Benbecula; World class trout fishing on the lochs of Orkney and Shetland and on the Isles of Skye, Mull, Islay and Jura...... for information on the trout fishing on the Scottish Islands, click here

How is one to choose?

For some help in that difficult choice of where to fish, see the links and map above for more information on the trout rivers and lochs of Scotland

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Trout and Salmon Fishing