Hi everyone, first post here. My name is Sean and I'm from Southern California and help run a large California fishing forum. My friend and I are heading to the UK in one month and we have no idea where we're going to fish or where we're going to stay. Our plan is to stay in London for 2 days and then head up to Scotland for fishing, because from what I understand, England and Wales will be closed for fishing, other than the canals and private ponds. So my question to all of you is where should we fish? We want to spend VERY LITTLE money (I'm a college student and poor) and want to fish for salmon, trout, and carp. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Oh and if this is the wrong forum, I apologize, a moderator can move it if necessary.

Just realized this should be in Destination Fly Fishing forum, my mistake.

England and Wales are not closed!!!!

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Richard Jackson
Fly fishing instruction and guiding in the heart of Devon
www.devonflyfisher.com

They're not?? I heard from another board from multiple people that they are.

It's the close season for coarse fish, or at least it is on the rivers, although you'll be able to fish most stillwaters.

The trout season started a few weeks back though and will be in full swing by the time you get here!

So where should we fish then?

That’s a difficult one to answer. Our fishing, over here, is expensive by your standards. I have fished a bit in the States..in PA and am still amazed that your fishing is, effectively, free after the licence fee.

Our rivers are quite difficult to get onto. They are nearly all in private or club hands. Our still waters are easy to get onto but will cost you anything between $30 and $50 a day.

However, there is one organisation where you can obtain decent river fishing in lovely surroundings at a reasonable price and that is in Wales. The Wye and Usk foundation is the place to go. They are very helpful people and I suggest you email them with your requirements.

Scotland is easier I think but I know little about access to fishing up there.

The Wye and Usk Foundation:

http://www.wyeuskfoundation.org/

Anyway have a great trip..if I can help any more, let me know.

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Roy

If you are after coarse fish then England is your best bet (others will have much better knowlege than me) - however as you have already gathered it is the close season for coarse fish so it rules out most (all?) rivers and some of the less comercial still waters. The commercial fisheries (stocked) tend to remain open. No doubt there are exceptions to all this.

I think you are correct to head for Scotland if you want some reasonably priced wild trout fishing (but being Scottish I would say that), also there is no close season on coarse fish but there is not that much coarse fishing about (as there are not many coarse fish), apart from Pike.

I'm mainly a river angler the places I'd recommend are (permits usually around £5 per day):-

The upper River Tweed (around Peebles, Scottish Borders)
The River Braan and River Tay (around Dunkeld, Perthshire)

There are other spots like the Nith and Annan in the Southwest of Scotland and the Don and Deveron in the North East of Scotland but I don't know so much about them.

I'd also try to do some Loch fishing, there are plenty of lochs that you can just walk into the hills and fish. Don't expect mosters though, three to the pound is the average sort of size. Given you've never been here before I'd go for Rannoch Moor and fish Loch Ba or Corrur and fish Loch Ossian or even Loch Rannoch itself. Ba and surround lochs are free. Ossian and Rannoch require permits but are cheap (£3 for the season on Rannoch). Access to these spots is reasonably simple but accomodation is harder to come by there are some hostels / bunk houses but there is plenty of space for camping. There are loads more places in Scotland to fish though, look at Assynt and Caithness or if you fancy the Islands - Lewis, Orkney or Islay.

There is also plenty of Salmon fishing availabe but it tends to be at a price. Main runs tend to be at the back end but you would probably have a better chance of a fish from the Eastern and Nothern rivers (Tay up) at that time of the season.

When you do Edinburgh (and I recommend that you do), the little Water of Leith runs right through the heart of the city and has free fishing for Trout and Grayling and is well worth a few casts.

PM me if you want any more info. I'm happy to help.

Norm

Roy you beat me to it.

Dementedfish trout fishing season in Wales is 3rd March to 30th Sept.

Frank

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Frank Williams APGAI

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