Fishing in Scotland
What months are best and what species to target ?
January - March
Its all about Grayling! The Lady of the stream!
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Scotland in January is cold, wet and windy and with only about 7-8 hours of sun light, fishing is always going to be for the hardiest of anglers. However the Grayling can feed on the most difficult of days and I find the worst the weather the better the fishing. Grayling live in the most beautiful parts of the river and in winter tend to live in the deeper pools where they can rest and the food is not to difficult to get. So right through January, February and the beginning of March the Grayling fishing is at its best.
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Rainbow Trout are also an exciting prospect as many of the fisheries are open all year so if the weather is really bad or the rivers are in flood you can still get a good days sport and try and catch these had fighting fish. The colours on over wintered Rainbow Trout can be stunning in the colder months and most of the venues are easily accessible from boat or the bank.
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Pike are never too far from my mind. Depending on weather conditions these fish have been spending there time on the bottom and basically trying to feed on the easiest of meals, which normally means dead baiting on the bottom for them. The window of opportunity can be slim in these months with the pike feeding only in the height of the day when the temperature goes up a few degrees or the sun comes out briefly. I think the excitement of Pike fishing in the winter is not knowing when you get a bite if its a 2lb fish or a 20lb fish that's what keep me on the bank in the coldest of days.
March - October
Brown Trout Season has begun! 15th March - 6th October
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Its been a long winter and everyone just want to catch wild brown trout! Yes its here and we can get out on boats and tie on small delicately tied flies and hopefully catch amazingly spotted trout! Middle of March till end of May typically fishes best when the water is still relatively cold. However early morning rises and late evening still produce fantastic sport right through the season and with so many lochs to choose from it really is fantastic.
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There is also a small window just after the Pike have spawned in early March to late April depending on water temperature when the jack pike go crazy for just about anything but if you haven't tried it Pike fly fishing can be amazing. Typically I use a 9 weight rod with matching line and a large bait imitation fly the takes can be savage and the Pike often strip the reel to the backing.
When the water starts to warm up you have to start thinking about early morning and late evening sessions when the Trout are on the feed. Dry fly fishing is what we all want but you have to time it just right and be up with the lark as the rise might only last until the Sun starts peaking up on the horizon. As soon as it does the Trout can go down to the deeps for the day where its not as bright and the water temperature is more constant. All morning and evening session start in May and continue into September with session typically starting at 6am till 11am or 5pm till 10pm however if the fishing is good we won't be going home!
October - December
This is when everything has one last chance to fatten up for the long winter so fishing can be excellent. This in my opinion is when you need to really get out in all weathers and keep going. Rainbow trout and Pike are the main species with a lot of the stocked lake really now fishing very well and the warm evening rises can be excellent even till early November. Pike fishing is also really starting to get good. With some of the big lochs a must if you want to catch that fish of a lifetime. October, November & December are really a take your chance, when the weather is good get out and when its 50mph winds, rain, snow and hail maybe don't go out on the boat but bank fish!
When the weather is bad there are plenty of small still waters around Edinburgh that are open all year. With hard fighting Rainbow Trout they are always a challenge and incredible fun as on the coldest of days you know the fish are not too far away.
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