Fishery
All island based anglers must show evidence of membership of a recognised angling club for access to the Eishken Estate lochs. This rule does not apply to bona fide tourists from outwith the island.
River/Area
Legal requirements
Some regulations are law and must be strictly adhered to. Scottish law forbids fishing for salmon on Sundays; it is also customary practice on most of the islands within the Outer Hebrides that no other fishing takes place. The salmon and sea trout season varies depending on the fishery, but the brown trout season starts on 15th March and ends on 6th October. It is illegal to sell any rod-caught salmon while fishing in the Outer Hebrides, or anywhere in Scotland.
Due to Scottish Government legislation, please be aware that all Fisheries in the Outer Hebrides have been given individual conservation gradings by Marine Scotland Science. The proposed 2018 salmon conservation gradings for the Outer Hebrides can be viewed on the individual Fisheries "Booking Conditions" page. This is a follow on from the Spring conservation rules. Foul hooking is strictly prohibited.
Catch & release
Scottish salmon and sea trout stocks have declined throughout the country over a number of decades but recent years have been encouraging with some areas showing a steady increase. Most fisheries now encourage anglers to adopt a sensible approach to the number of fish kept, with most fisheries also introducing bag limits for sea trout, as well as adhering to Category regulations (see above).
Although the Outer Hebrides have been fortunate in not suffering significantly, it is through careful management and conservation methods that we will continue to enjoy the pleasure of fishing for these wonderful fish. Anglers are asked to show constraint and adhere to any catch and release policies, and where possible, return as many fish and in the correct manner. Hands should be wet before handling fish, fish should be landed as soon as possible and returned to the water quickly. Anglers are requested to return all coloured fish unless unavoidable.
'The laws of nature demand we live only on the surplus granted to us, and never to touch the substance' said one of the former proprietors of the Eishken Estate, Lewis. How true a statement and more so in today's climate.
Gyrodactylus salaris
Gyrodactylus salaris (GS) is a parasite which infects the skin, gills and fins of salmon, trout and some other types of fish in freshwater. It is less than half a millimetre in size, so small that it is barley visible to the naked eye. Despite this, it can cause serious damage in some strains of Atlantic salmon.
The effects of this disease are so serious that salmon stocks have now been lost completely from more than 20 Norwegian rivers, with the particular race of salmon in affected rivers being lost forever. Gyrodactylus salaris does not occur in UK rivers but experiments carried out in Norway have shown that our salmon, like those of Norway, are killed by the parasite. It is therefore essential that the parasite is not introduced into UK waters.
To help ensure that the Outer Hebrides remains GS free all Fisheries in the Outer Hebrides require that anglers sign and present a declaration form to confirm that if they have fished abroad their kit has been thoroughly disinfected. Click here for a copy of the declaration form.
To help prevent an outbreak of Gyrodactylus Salaris anglers MUST disinfect their fishing equipment after fishing foreign waters. Gyrodactylus Salaris has had catastrophic effects on some foreign rivers and could easily be transmitted to rivers and lochs here without the correct preventive procedures being taken. All fishing tackle with no exception, should be disinfected, and if it has not you must inform the fishery management immediately on arrival.
Anyone wishing an information booklet on either catch & release or Gyrodactylus salaris should contact the Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust on 01851 703434
FishPal
1. Once you have booked you cannot change your dates or number of rods (the only exception is when you book through the help desk, have notified us of any mistakes within 7 days of the date of making the booking, and provided proper evidence that the mistake is the help desk's and not your own).
2. If you need to change your rod or days, they can be booked separately if you need extra ones and they are available. If you need less rods or days, or decide not to come after all, then we can try to relet them for you, but cannot guarantee to do so. There is a £10 + VAT charge for trying and if successful a further 10% letting fee + VAT.
3. You cannot sublet the fishings you book without our permission and then only by private arrangement and at the same prices and conditions as for this booking. No agent other than ourselves or the fishery manager may be used to help obtain a sublet.
4. Rods may not be shared on any one day without prior permission of the ghillie or fishery manager, which is often refused and should never be relied upon.
5. In Scotland it is illegal to fish without written permission, so you must bring this confirmation, or a copy of it, with you when you fish.
6. Charges: All bookings are subject to a booking charge which will vary according to the amount being booked. The exact charge will be clearly displayed on the very first booking page once you have set what you are wishing to book. There are no charges for processing debit cards. Credit cards can not be used unless you confirm that you are a non EU angler and will be surcharged by 2.5%.
7. Please note that in line with general practice, we cannot give refunds for fishing spoilt by inclement weather or poor water conditions.
8. You must ring the ghillie, or other contact set by the fishery, at least two days before you come, so he knows that you are coming and that you know where and when to meet him. Please remember that for salmon fishing it is customary to give any ghillie a tip at the end of your fishing.
9. You must report full details of any fish caught to the ghillie or other contact provided by the fishery promptly.
10. We have asked fisheries to provide lifejackets or buoyancy aids of a design that will not impair your ability to fish in comfort. We strongly advise you to wear one when using a boat or when wading in strong or deep water. If you don't, you are doing so at your own risk. If you are not happy with the equipment provided, or any other safety issue, please ring us immediately, so that we can arrange for the situation to be rectified. A general guide to safety can be seen by going to this page
11. If you have any problems with the standard of service provided on the fishery, please tell the ghillie or fishery manager straightaway and if you don't get a satisfactory response, please contact the office immediately, so we have time to act before you leave. Failure to do so will severely hamper any chances of us obtaining fair redress for you.
12. To help prevent an outbreak of Gyrodactylus Salaris which has had catastrophic effects on some foreign rivers, all rods fishing must complete a Gyrodactylus declaration on arrival at the fishery. This states that either you have not used your fishing tackle abroad in the last three months, or you have done so and had it properly sterilised, or you have done so and NOT had it sterilised. In the latter case, you must agree to sterilisation taking place before you start fishing, and accept that there may be some delay in getting this organised. A copy of the declaration form can be seen by going to this page and more information on Gyrodactylus by going to this page
13. All bookings are also subject to the conditions set by the relevant fishery.
14. The booking system and its management are at all times acting only as an agent for the fishery. All letting contracts are therefore between the fishery and the person taking the fishing.
15. The system management and/or the fisheries reserve the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.
16. You need to bring your own fishing equipment (rods, reels, lines, flies etc) unless you have specifically agreed with the fishery well in advance that they supply this for you.
17. You need to be reasonably healthy and mobile to access most fishings. If you are not, you must notify the fishery or ourselves before you book, to ensure that you can be looked after safely and properly.
18. Anglers are reminded that parking of cars should be in designated parking areas and is always at the anglers own risk.
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