5
Fishing in Scotland
Fishing

Loganlee reservoir Edinburgh Fishing in Edinburgh and the Lothians is second to none. Most of the sea fishing side is carried out from the shores of the City of Edinburgh and those along the East Lothian Coast. The main points are Cramond, Seafield and Portobello in the Edinburgh area and any of the small fishing villages that hug the sea in East Lothian. Boats can be hired from many of the fishing ports like Dunbar, but these tend to be working trawlers booked by sea angling clubs from around the country. Usually on a Sunday. Normally if you just turn up there will be a spare place in the boat. But that is not guaranteed.  Most of those boats are for commercial deep sea fishing and trawling.  So the hire of tackle is a bit of a hit and a miss

A useful source of information can be obtained by a booklet called Fish in Scotland issued free of charge from visitscotland.org, you can even book accommodation etc, there or by searching here. Another way to gain first hand info is to contact the clubs listed here. The ones listed under the heading Central and East are the ones most likely to bear fruit. A list of trout fisheries and reservoirs are given below. This list covers the area of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Keep in mind that in Scotland you do not require a rod licence, but if you cross the border into England, a you will require one there. In all cases you will require a permit. Normally obtained at the venue.

 You can fish all the year round for Rainbow trout, Grayling etc but you cannot fish for Brown Trout during the close season and most fisheries ask you to return the brown trout. Most fisheries operate on the system of a given price on the number of trout you wish to kill, and catch and release. In other words release all the fish you catch and the cost is very much cheaper. As example Rosslynlee Fishery operates on this type of permit. Some of the reservoirs are very large, like Loganlea as seen on the photograph on the left, and boats can be hired. Keep in mind reservoirs supply public water and you will be held responsible for any contamination regarding the law.

 Do be aware of safety and the weather in the hills, it can be unforgiving. Even in the height of the summer. Be aware of this if you have very young children or the elderly with you. Some of the trout taken from these waters are in excess of 10 lbs. So make sure the old Kodak brownie is packed to show all asunder the one that didn't get away. Some of the fisheries listed only allow fly fishing, while ohers allow bait and fly fishing. Tight lines.

In Scotland, 65 reservoirs and lochs previously managed by the water authority have been taken over by angling clubs, commercial companies, and individuals. It is up to the new managers to stock the water with fish, sell permits, provide facilities and manage the fishing. The reservoirs which will come under new management include: Carron Valley, Glencorse, Clubbiedean, West Water, CrossWood, Castlehill, Hopes, Whiteadder, Harperrig, Megget, Talla, Fruid and Loch Turret. Scottish Water said it had made the decision so that anglers in Forth Valley, the Borders, Edinburgh, and the Lothians did not lose the valuable fishing resource of mainly brown and rainbow trout.

Scottish Water

Rosslynlee  Fishery
+44 1968 679606
Markle Fishery 
+44 1620 861213
Bangour
01506 811335
Loganlee Reservoir
01968 676 329
Harperigg Reservoir
01506 881510
Gladhouse Reservoir
07771 897 333
Rosebery Reservoir
01875 446 638
Allendale
01506 873 073
Morton Fishery
+44 1506 883295
Linlithgow Loch
01506 671753
Beescraig Fishery
01506 846679
Crosswood Fishery
079177 94963
Tweedale Millenium
+44 1620 810009