Hi
Had put myself on the list for a season ticket for the Allan Water this year, which is the nearest river to me being near Stirling. I have had a stroll up a few sections and spoke to a few ( Salmon Anglers) a the tail end of last season and they were quite enthusiastic about it as a river, but the season ticket is quite pricey (£130) in comparison to places like the Clyde or even the Tweed- a bargain at £30 albeit a bit of a drive and not practical day to day for me.
Obviously the attraction for me is
a) its a river
b) its 10 minutes from my door
c) I can go any time it suits and not be shelling out or chasing down permits.
Further I think the permit covers Salmon and Sea Trout- I would maybe have a go for a ST but I have never fished for Salmon and won't be buying any Salmon specific gear- so if I caught one it would be more luck than strategy!

From the point of view of the above it will probably pay its way- even if I fished one evening a week for the season that's only about £6 a visit and minimal petrol outlay- and I will probably fish a lot more so better still.

All that said- if it fishes poorly I may get despondent and not get my moneys worth- I intend to return all/any fish caught.
Any views on it in the context of a Brown Trout river before I commit?
thanks
Kenny

The AWAIA used to stock with browns.but Not sure if it still does.
A S/h 9'6''-10' 7-8# is perfectly adequate for the Allan in all but huge water.and it will work well for the Seatrout.
Where do you get a season ticket on the tweed for £30.??
Normally 1st Allen salmon run after the 1st heavy rain middle to end of july.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Think you misunderstood me Jim.
A Trout ticket for the season on the Tweed is £30- I bought one yesterday while I was down for a day looking for the ladies- but its not a place I would ordinarily be able to go at the drop of a hat: 120 mile round trip. As is the Clyde.

I am only interested in fishing for Brown trout really- but what I was saying was the £130 permit I think covers for all fish, migratory and non migratory. For a Salmon Angler its maybe good value- my question was is it worth it for a trout angler like me?
I reckon it probably is ( based on the fact I don't need to shell out for fishery permits or travelling huge distances) but never seen anything saying what the fishing is really like
Have you fished it?
for Brown Trout that is- not sure if there are Grayling in there- possibly are as its connected to the Forth and there are Grayling up the Teith further up.
Kenny

It is not a good trout water.There are no grayling.Maybe better down in the glen. but really would not recommend you spend £130 for brownies.it would be a serious waste of money.IMHO.
Why not try the Avon At linlithgow.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I could look at that- I have to compare costs over the course of a season Linlithgow is about 15 miles away so thats a 30 mile round trip each time I want out So thats a fiver.
Will look into that and see whats on offer
Thanks for the advice- its a pretty **** area round me for river fishing considering the amount of available fishing- generally. Just want to be able to go somewhere without constantly shelling out even if its just for a few hours. Guess I will have to flit! How will I break that to the missus? LOL- We're off to the Borders!

The Lower Carron has a good head of wee(and not so wee) brownies thats only about 4miles from you.

Jim

__________________
The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

If there is no brown trout permit then they are surely flouting the protection order. Has anyone ever been convicted for fishing with fly/trout weight gear on a Scottish river where no trout fishing is offered? I seriously doubt it.

Eh? What protection order? There is no such thing on the Allan.

In that case there's no problem so long as you've got the neck to stand up for your rights.

Whats that then- are you suggesting that you can fish the river without a permit provided you are only fishing for trout?
This page specified the rules of the association:
Rules and Regulations
and this the permit details
Permits

I read it that its a one permit fits all set up - so for trout only its a bit pricey (well maybe "a bit" is a bit of an understatement.
It looks a nice wee river though from my visual recce.
I was looking at it purely from the point of view that its near me and if I was having a couple of hours a couple of times a week and at weekends it would be worth it ( in comparison to a couple of hours on Swanswater which is right on my doorstep- much as I like the place and its great with my son, I want to fish C&R for Brownies in rivers if at all possible). But if the trout fishing is not up to much maybe its not worth that even.
The River Carron looks to be an option though, I gather hunting around the web it runs through some not terribly salubrious areas which might be a bit off putting.
It looks to be reachable from the back road out the village here- up past North Third- I need to go recce it and see maybe at the weekend.