Here in the Hebrides you can enjoy fishing for salmon, the king of fish, surrounded by some of the world's finest scenery. Indeed, salmon fishing in the Hebrides is world-renowned, not only for the scenery but for the sheer numbers of fish still running its rivers and streams. Bags of half a dozen or more fish can still be taken by a single angler in one day. This may seem a lot to most salmon anglers but catches like this can still be expected here in the Hebrides.

Salmon and sea trout in the Hebrides are mainly fished for in lochs, however, fish are also caught in rivers and river estuaries when conditions dictate. In the Southern Isles estuary fishing accounts for some fish; this is an exciting method of fishing for salmon and sea trout as the fish are wound up in readiness to take the river at the first opportunity. One estate on the west coast of Lewis records a third of its annual catch in saltwater, anglers wade out and cast into the sea as shoals of fish in search of their native rivers pass by, the anticipation in this type of fishing is overwhelming!

Where to fish the Hebrides

Into a good sea trout on a North Harris loch

Most of the salmon fishing in the Hebrides is to be found in Lewis and Harris but with salmon fishing also being available in the Uists. The Outer Hebrides have wonderful sea trout fishing with most fisheries having good runs of fish. The Uists come into their own when fishing for sea trout, here the sea trout fishing can be exceptional with larger than average fish caught annually, a lovely fish of 14lb was landed in 2002 in South Uist. The wild brown trout fishing in the Outer Hebrides is excellent, here the fish are as wild and spectacular as the surrounding you find yourself in. The shallow machair lochs of South Uist offer some of the best fishing where bags of 6 fish to 18lb have been landed as recently as 2003 - these are exceptionally good days though, but knowing this can give the angler a sense of anticipation that can be as exciting and thrilling as landing the fish itself.

The Hebrides has a wealth of opportunities for the freshwater angler and the majority of fisheries take bookings. Although this is usually by the week for salmon and sea trout fishing, a percentage of them also give day permits. Bookings for most fisheries are via sporting agents but some fisheries do take bookings if you contact them directly. Salmon and sea trout fishing is very popular in the islands and it is sometimes difficult to get the best weeks as they are booked well in advance, however, it is always worth getting in touch with estate managers as last minute openings do occur. Wild brown trout fishing in the Hebrides is so readily available that is it unusual to have to book in advance, although it's always wise to do so, if you want a particular water.

Where to fish the Hebrides

Loch Suaineabhal, headwaters of the famous Fhorsa Fishery

Middle section of Loch Langavat: the largest freshwater loch in the Outer Hebrides

Lewis & Harris

Lewis offers some of the best salmon fishing in the Outer Hebrides and is also regarded as having some of the best summer salmon fishing in Europe. Lewis has an abundance of fisheries that are sure to excite and satisfy even the most demanding of anglers. From Grimersta in the West to the Creed in the east, the choice of fishing is staggering and often makes it difficult for one to decide where to cast a line. The islands are shrouded in angling history with Lewis holding the UK record salmon catch as already mentioned in the 'About the Hebrides' page. There are approximately 30 fisheries offering either salmon, sea trout or brown trout fishing from about June to October, with some fisheries starting as early as March but this being primarily for brown trout. The fisheries are all unique in their own way and all have their own individual attractions, from loch and river fishing in remote locations in some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, to easily accessible fishing within walking distance of Stornoway, the capital town of the Outer Hebrides.

Harris is probably better known for the lochs and rivers of the Amhuinnsuidhe Castle Estate, formerly the North Harris Estate and commonly known in angling circles as Amhuinnsuidhe after the Castle which lies in one of the most remote and tranquil of all fishing destinations in the Outer Hebrides. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle was built in the late 1800s by the Third Earl of Dunmore and is Britain's most westerly castle. Amhuinnsuidhe is however only one of many excellent salmon and trout fisheries in Harris with fisheries scattered from just outside Tarbert in the north to Leverburgh in the south and each offering their own piece of Hebridean magic. Harris is picture postcard country, with stunning landscapes and miles of golden sandy beaches and all of which surrounds some of the best summer salmon and sea trout fishing available today.

Uists, Benbecula & Barra

When you look at the Uists, Benbecula and Barra on an ordnance survey map, they look as much water as they do land and a large percentage of this is freshwater. The islands are littered with freshwater lochs, and it's as easy for an angler to change loch as it is to change fly. The Uists and Benbecula have two large sporting estates, North Uist Estate and South Uist Estate, and almost all the lochs and rivers are under their management. Both estates offer exceptional sea trout fishing, with a lot of this taking place in estuaries, and later in the season in lochs and rivers. The sea trout fishing in the Uists is regarded as being some of the best in the country, with the Hebrides being fortunate in having good runs of fish. Although it's for sea trout the Uist are better known, they also have good salmon fishing available and this is via both estates.

In the Uists and Benbecula most lochs hold good stocks of wild brown trout and the angling opportunities are huge. The machair lochs of South Uist offer the best brown trout fishing of all the Hebridean islands and some of the best in the country. There are two angling clubs active in the Uists and both have access to a great selection of lochs.

The island of Barra has no salmon or sea trout fishing but has some good brown trout fishing, with Loch Tangusdale being regarded as the best.