Visiting Stirling

Fishing

Long before you arrive in the Stirling area you will be greeted by a skyline of hills and mountains down which streams and burns tumble to the lochs nestling in almost every glen. These diamond blue waters are the habitat of wild brown trout, sea trout, salmon and in many cases coarse fish, while terrestrials of the hill and forest include deer, otter, pine marten, eagle and the ultimate fisher - the osprey

The season for salmon and sea trout fishing extends from February through to October on the Rivers - Devon, Allan and Forth. The Scottish brown trout season is from 15th March through to 6th October, with many rainbow trout fisheries open all year and since there is no close season for coarse fishing, you are not restricted to summer visits to enjoy the best of this area's angling.

Excellent coarse fishing, can be found at the Union Canal near Falkirk and south of Oban where the Lochs Awe and Lomond produce specimen pike and perch.

There are fine trout fisheries on the outskirts of the ancient burgh of Stirling while just to the north-west of the Trossachs provide not only the 'jewel' Lake of Menteith but a string of brown trout lochs set in the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Forest Park with parking and picnic places and inexpensive bank fishing. Traditional Scottish boat fishing for trout is readily available in magnificent surroundings in Clackmannanshire at Gartmorn Dam in Alloa.

Around the town of Falkirk, the River Carron is perhaps the 'jewel in the crown', as salmon have been re-introduced and are thriving.

List of Fisheries

The following lists some very local fishing spots within a 12 mile radius, but there are many others if you want to travel a little further.

  • Carron Valley Reservoir (By Denny) - Brown trout
  • Castle Hill Reservoir (By Muckhart)  - Brown trout, rainbow trout, pike, perch
  • Cocksburn ReseviorR (Bridge of Allan) - Brown trout
  • Crook of Devon Fishery (By Kinross) - Brown trout, rainbow trout
  • Cromlix Estate - Near Dunblane in the countryside of Perthshire
  • Gartmorn Dam (By Alloa) - Brown trout
  • Glenquey Reservior (By Muckhart) - Brown trout
  • Glensherrup Trout Fishery (By Dollar) -Rainbow trout, brown trout
  • Loch Coulter (By Denny) - Brown trout
  • Loch Leven - Brown trout, rainbow trout
  • Lower Frandy Reservior (By Muckhart) - Brown trout
  • River Allan (Bridge of Allan) - Salmon, sea trout and brown trout
  • River Carron (By Denny) - Brown trout, sea trout, salmon, grilse
  • River Devon (Clackmannanshire) - Brown trout, salmon, sea trout
  • River Forth (Stirling) - Salmon, sea trout, brown trout
  • Wellsfield Farm Fishery

A Few Regulations that require attention

For other than coarse or sea fishing, rods must be hand held and not propped on a stick or rod rest for that would be a set line, which is illegal in Scotland. Only one rod may be used for each fishing permit paid for. On waters under a Protection Order it is an offence to fish without paying for a permit. Fishing for or taking salmon and sea trout is prohibited on Sunday.

Safety Regulations

Before going to fish in isolated lochs or rivers, always tell someone responsible your intended route and projected time of return.

While boat fishing always wear a properly fitting life jacket or buoyancy aid.

Do not stand up or move about in the boat while fishing.

Code of Conduct

Please consider others and observe the angler's code of conduct

Always:

  • fish upstream of other fishing anglers
  • wait your turn to fish a pool from its head
  • remove your old line, cans bottles and all litter from the river bank
  • stay about 15m from the next angler and 30m when they or you are using a fly
  • respect the property, access and privacy of people who live on or by the fishery.

Please help to conserve spring salmon stocks (Feb, Mar & Apr) by returning, unharmed fish more than 30” in length and use barbless hooks. Please return all hen fish in October.