Best Pike Fishing in Scotland Near Edinburgh

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Scotia Fishing have access to some of the best Pike fishing in Scotland near Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is a fantastic location to visit in Scotland. The city has all you would ever need as a tourist visiting Scotland. Beautiful architecture, historic streets, palaces, castles, a beach and one of Europe’s best cities for food and drink!

It also benefits from being ideally situated only one hour from beautiful countryside and some of the best Pike fishing!

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Best Pike Fishing Guides

Scotland is a bit of a sleeping giant when it comes to Pike fishing. When you think of Scotland, you will likely think of Atlantic Salmon fishing. Scotland is the home of Salmon fly fishing, so we can fully understand this thinking.

However, we feel the Pike is the underdog, If the Salmon is the king, the Pike is the prince!

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Our Head Guide Callum Conner is recognised as one of the best pike fishing guides in Scotland.
He’s been a fanatical Pike angler from a young age. Covering the length and breadth of Scotland to amass a wealth of knowledge on Scotland’s best Pike lochs and when it is best to fish these lochs. 

During this time he has built up a respectable record of large 20lb plus Pike captures. He’s also one of only a hand-full of anglers in the country to have caught a wild of Pike of over 40lbs! (image above)

Using this experience we will guide you on carefully chosen venues to suit your experience.

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Best Pike Fishing Lochs in Scotland near Edinburgh

Pike fishing in Scotland will take you into some of the most beautiful scenery the country has to offer. Fishing the iconic Scottish glacial lochs with roaring stags and aggressive tail walking Pike to interrupt the tranquility.

The glacial lochs are the ultimate challenge for the visiting Pike angler. Due to their size, local knowledge is paramount to success.

A good guide will use his experience to assess the conditions and how best to fish the loch. This will maximise your chances of success.

The glacial lochs are the best for larger Pike. We recommend booking a minimum of three days to give you the best chance at landing a 2olb plus specimen!

We’re fortunate enough to have come across some lesser known private lochs and have gained privileged access for our clients.

These private lochs have some of the best Pike fishing in Scotland near Edinburgh. Big numbers of hard fighting Pike can be caught here all year round.

These lochs have fewer 20lb plus Pike, but lots of sporting Pike in the 4-10lb class which are outstanding on light gear and fly!

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Best Fishing Methods to catch Pike in Scotland

Spring Pike Fishing

In early spring the Pike can be be lethargic until the water warms up. During this period we will fish for Pike with bait (dead-baiting) during the morning session.

After lunch we will try fishing from the boat with lures and flies in shallow to medium depth water. Using a depth finder to locate the drop-offs from shallow bays into deeper water with sinking fly lines. 

Once the water has warmed up and the Pike have spawned by mid to late May we will fly fish from the boat with 9ft #9 fly rods from Loop Tackle and streamer style flies or for spinning anglers we use light lure fishing rods 7ft in length rigged with fixed spool reels, braided mainlines equipped with an array of soft plastic, spinner baits and surface lures from Sakura-Fishing. 

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Summer Pike Fishing

Summer pike fishing is our favourite! This time of year we can find the Pike in shallow areas and sometimes sight cast to them with surface lures and surface flies. This is the best way to catch pike in Scotland!

Pike will often bow wave chasing fast stripped flies just subsurface. At this time of year your guide will use the Minn-Kota engine to manoeuvre quietly into position for you to reach the sun-bathing Pike!

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Autumn/Fall Pike Fishing

Autumn/Fall see’s us revert back to Spring style tactics for pike fishing. As the water cools so does the Pike’s willingness to chase a bait. This all depends on the climate at the time. It is Scotland – so very hard to predict!

As October approaches the Pike will be slowing down and lure fishing opportunities become restricted to the warmer mid-day before eventually resorting to dead-baiting all day. 

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Winter Pike Fishing

We fish for Pike using dead-baits mostly from October to April. This method involves fishing with static baits.

Using a variety of different frozen baits we cast into the loch at various areas using a selection of rods to cover a suitable area. As the baits thaw the scent permeates into the water.

The Pike has a very advanced sense of smell and will sniff out the baits, sometimes very quickly. On its day, this is a very effective method and large catch days are possible.

Has this post wetted your appetite to try some Pike fishing?

Read our reviews on Tripadvisor about pike fishing near Edinburgh.

For more information on Pike fishing trips in Scotland, you can contact us via the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page.

Winter Fly Fishing in Scotland for Grayling

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When fall ends and one fishing season ends, it is time to turn my attention to winter fly fishing in Scotland for Grayling.

For me there is no more exciting time of year to be out fly fishing than in winter.

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Typical Winter Fly Fishing Scene in Scotland on the River.


As the leaves begin to fall and the frosts become more frequent it is time to dig out the merino wool socks, big thermals, the 10ft #3 weights and the tungsten beaded nymphs!

Grayling are one of Scotland’s best kept secrets. A species you wouldn’t normally associate with Scotland.

You probably think of Trout & Salmon and quite rightly so. For me, the Grayling is the underdog. As a Scotsman this is a characteristic I can certainly identify with! It’s arguably our most consistent wild river species in terms of the quality of fishing – in my humble opinion.

Grayling History


Introduced to the Scottish lowlands in the 1800’s from England as an experiment. Grayling were not an indigenous species but have since flourished.

Since their introduction, they have managed to survive decades of persecution. It was once deemed a pest or nuisance fish, a threat to the Salmon populations for eating eggs.

Thankfully in recent times this attitude has changed and now grayling are very much sought after species in the U.K as angler look to extend their season beyond the traditional trout and salmon season.

Winter Grayling Fly Fishing in Scotland Film

When it comes fly fishing for grayling in winter our head guide Callum Conner has an unmatched passion. He decided to make this film with his friend to encompass what it is all about!

Winter fly fishing in Scotland is certainly not for the faint hearted. Sub-zero temperatures and cold fingers and toes are all part and parcel with the experience! The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold.

The rewards are very worthwhile for those willing to embrace the cold. You can encounter some of the best winter fly fishing in Scotland within an hours drive of Edinburgh and Glasgow!

To find out more information or book a guided trip please visit our winter package page linked here or get in touch via the contact us button at the top of the screen.

Fly Fishing for Golden Dorado South America – Golden Dorado Fly Fishing Film

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Fly fishing for Golden Dorado in South America is something I have always dreamed about. A bucket list item if you wish!

I recently managed to make this dream come true thank to a man named Felix! Felix works closely with the Don Jaoquin River Lodge,  A Golden Dorado Fly Fishing Lodge in Corrientes Argentina based on the Rio Parana (South Americas second largest river) & the Rio Corriente.

This is a slick operation. Owners Diego and Ramon Salonet have been running the fishing lodge for five years and have a team of captains and guides delivering a great experience to customers from all across the globe!

The lodge was outstanding. The rooms were very comfortable, great beds.

The food was excellent! We arrived back to the lodge every night to a three course meal. Made with locally sourced ingredients and local dishes including the delicious Argentinian meat!

Washed down with Imperial Lager or a Malbec from the famous Mendoza region, it was a great way to end the evening after a day of total carnage on the river!

The fishing! Wow – the video only shows a little piece of what we experienced.

We caught Plenty of Dorado over there days up to 9lbs. I could never tire of this species. They hit fast and so hard they will rip the line out your hands! As soon as they are hooked they are up in the air jumping, it is such fun species to catch!

We also caught some other species including the stunning Surubi Catfish, Pacu, Savolo, Palometas (Piranha) & Pira Pita.

This short film was pieced together pretty opportunisitcally with a half day sacrificed at the end of the trip as the aching limbs and tennis elbow were taking their toll on me. Until then the fish goggles were well and truly stuck on!

We witnessed some cool wildlife whilst fishing also. Capybaras, Wild Boar, Charancho birds, Parrots,  huge Toads, wall climbing frogs, glow in the dark Beetles and Anacondas!

Our guide Chuillito – a legend, huge thank to him! He put us on the fish from day one! My first day was my most productive with over 20 Dorado to the boat – what a way to start the trip!

Special thanks to Felix our host, what a guy! He collected us in Buenos Aires and transported us seven hours north to the lodge. Stopping on route to experience the local foods, Millanesa, Empanadas and a of course – good beer.

He educated us on the local culture. Introduced us to the local alcoholic refreshment of Coca-Cola and Fernet Branca, served with lots of ice – wow! Also providing us with lots of humour throughout the day to keep us entertained also.

Our first night we arrived we ended up in the local town of Esquina for a few drinks and witnessed the start of their carnival celebrations. The flag movement!

There were hundreds of people on the street with reggaeton music blasting out of huge car sound systems. Guys singing on top of open top lorry decks. A sea of green and white, everyone was wearing the towns colours.

Typically as Scots we joke about always seeing a Glasgow Celtic football strip when on holiday and Argentina was no different!

We came away from this trip with such positive experience for the sport of Fly fishing for Golden Dorado. The Don Jaoquin River Lodge, Argentine people and developed a real sense of how vibrant the culture is in South America.

What a species, what a trip and what a country!