Tag Archive for: pike fishing

Best Pike Fishing in Scotland Near Edinburgh

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.

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Fishing Near Dundee For Trout, Grayling, Salmon & Pike

We can arrange fly fishing near Dundee for Salmon, Trout and Grayling on the River Tay or Pike on scenic lochs only forty five minutes drive from Dundee city centre!

Dundee, Scotland’s fifth largest city,  is not a famous Scottish fishing destination, however, it benefits from being situated on the Tay estuary. Within a short drive you can be fishing on some of the finest beats of the River Tay system and some tranquil Perthshire lochs.

Allow us to give you some ideas for fly fishing near Dundee.

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Fishing near Dundee on the Stunning River Tay in late Summer

 

Salmon Fishing Near Dundee

Dundee is only forty minutes from the Lower River Tay which has some of the most productive Salmon beats in Scotland.

This mighty River is one of our big four Salmon rivers and produces the most consistent Salmon catches in the country.

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Salmon fishing near Dundee on the River Isla a prolific tributary of the River Tay

Dundee is also not too far from some of Scotland’s lesser known gems – the South and North Esk’s!

These picturesque little spate rivers rely heavily on rainfall to fish at their best. Provided you get these conditions they can offer some of the best value Salmon fishing in Scotland!

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Couple enjoying a days Salmon fly fishing on the South Esk

These mini rivers can be fished with single handed fly rods or spinning rods. Ideal for those on a short time-scale and no spey casting experience.

Between the Tay and Esk’s Salmon fishing is available from January 15th – October 30th.

You can find out more information about Salmon fishing trips here.

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Family from Italy enjoy a days Pike fishing with this good Pike

 

Pike Fishing Near Dundee

Pike are a favourite among our guides. These apex predators are one of the most under-rated sport fish to be found in Scottish waters. Pike grow big in Scotland, twenty pounders are not uncommon but average sizes tend to be 4-8 pounds. Even these smaller average size Pike will give you a tremendous fun on balanced tackle.

In the water months Pike can be targeted using surface flies and lures. This is the ultimate way to catch Pike as they break through the surface with bad intentions.

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Monster Pike on the fly in Scotland

We use 9ft #9 fly rods for all our Pike fly fishing from Loop Tackle Design and spinning rods and reels from the excellent Sakura Fishing lure range.

Our flies are homemade by our resident Pike fanatic, head guide Callum Conner.  A man who knows this species behaviours well and one of only handful of Scotsman to land Pike to 40b 6oz in Scotland.

Pike can be fished for all year round using bait, fly and modern lure fishing techniques.

You can find out more information about Pike fishing trips in here.

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A large Tay Brown Trout for American guest.

 

Trout & Grayling Fishing Near Dundee

The best Trout & Grayling rivers in the area are all part of the world famous River Tay system.

The River Tay itself provides excellent Brown Trout & Grayling fishing with fish averaging 3/4 of 1lb.

The Wild Brown Trout grow to huge proportions, alb plus fish are caught every year on the Tay but mostly as a by-catch when Salmon fishing.

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A typical Grayling from the Tay

The Grayling average 10-12oz but can be found larger up to 2lb in the upper reaches of the system or in the tributaries such as the Tummel and Isla.

Grayling offer year round sport and peak times are November – March.

You can find out more information about Trout & Grayling fishing trips here .

I hope this has helped to wet your appetite and consider Fishing near Dundee when on your travels.

If you would like to enquire please use this Contact Us button here or above.

Fly Fishing in Stirling with Professional Fishing Guides

Fly fishing Stirling offers beginners and experienced anglers alike a host of fishing opportunities. Stirlingshire is home to some of the best Salmon fishing, Trout fishing and Pike fishing in Scotland, all within a thirty minute drive from Scotia Fishing HQ.

The Trossachs National Park, the home of Loch Lomond, is on our doorstep and offers quality fishing in picturesque surroundings.

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This set of falls act as a temperature barrier in the spring, spring run Salmon often accumulate below here in the correct conditions

Salmon Fly Fishing in Stirling

Stirling is an ideal base for Salmon fishing in Scotland, it is home to one of Scotland’s lesser known gems the River Teith. This bonnie little river is part of the prolific Forth system, which in 2010 was the most prolific stretch of river in Scotland! The Teith offers Salmon anglers the chance of a Salmon from opening day in February right up to the last day of the season.

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A beautiful spring salmon

 

Scotia Fishing provide guided Salmon fishing trips on a private beat that in recent years produced a 40lb Salmon to one lucky angler! This river also produces fantastic Sea Trout fishing in late spring and early summer.

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Stunning fresh Sea Trout caught when fishing for Salmon!

The beauty about Stirling is it has the main motorways north and south on its doorstep, the river Tweed, Tay, Tummel, Isla and Earn are only a short drive away should conditions be unsuitable for the local rivers. Scotia Fishing offer a range of guided Salmon fishing trips in Stirlingshire

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A lovely wild brown trout caught fishing traditional Scottish wet fly techniques..

Trout Fly Fishing in Stirling

When it comes to Trout we’re fortunate to have some of best Trout fly fishing in Scotland located right in the heart of the Trossachs.  It is home to two of the country’s finest rainbow trout fisheries, Carron Valley Reservoir and the Lake of Menteith.

Both venues hold international fishing competitions annually where anglers from all around the globe travel to fish. One of our guides Lennie got to the semi finals of the club championships in 2014 and knows the Lake very well.

The lake not only offers first class fishing, it has first rate facilities, surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife (it is not uncommon to see Osprey’s fishing here) and has some fascinating history.

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Here are the kind of views on offer in the Trossachs…

The Wild Trout season runs from the 15th of March to the 6th of October but there are still options to fish for Rainbow Trout out with these dates.

Scotia Fishing provide guided fly fishing in Stirling for Trout on these special lochs and lakes. You can find out more by clicking on the links above or by contacting us using the “contact us” button at the top of the screen.

 

 

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A horse of a Pike caught in the Trossachs fly fishing from a float tube.

Pike Fly Fishing Stirling

The Trossachs is home to some of the best fishing in Scotland for Pike where 30lb plus specimens are caught most years. There is no shortage of Pike lochs in the Trossachs, our guides know these waters like the back of their hands. We know the best times of year for the individual Lochs and will choose according to your date.

The Trossachs is a must-see part of Scotland and what better way to experience it than enjoying the majestic views and array of wildlife whilst fishing from a boat or float tube.

Scotia Fishing can organise guided Pike fishing trips in Stirling with fanatical Pike fishing guides that have the experience to locate and catch these big Pike that inhabit our Trossachs lochs.

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Pike on the fly, from a float tube – it’s better than sex!

 

Pike fishing is available all year round but from November – March fishing is best with dead baits as the Pike do become less inclined to chase a moving bait.

Check out our Pike gallery for photos from our Pike fly fishing trips in Scotland.

 

For more information about guided fly fishing Stirling please get in touch using the “Contact Us” button at the top of the page or by following the link throughout the post.