Salmon and Sea Trout Fishing on Lewis
The main river systems on
Lewis are the famous Grimersta system, the Creed, Blackwater, Fhorsta, Laxay,
Blackwater and Gress. Much of the salmon and sea trout fishing on Lewis is
private but there is some excellent fishing available to the visiting angler.
The Gress River O.S. Map 8
Situated 8 miles to the
north east of Stornoway, the Gress river is seven miles long from its source in
Loch Ghrias to its estuary at Gress sands. Once renowned as a salmon and sea
trout river, the runs of fish declined dramatically in the nineteen seventies.
The river is now managed by the Gress Angling Club who are working towards the
rehabilitation of the river and there are signs of some improvement in runs of
migratory fish. The salmon and sea trout season is from June 1st to
October 15th. Sea trout are the main quarry with around 100 fish per
season but 2005 saw a significant improvement in the salmon and grilse fishing
with thirty six fish caught. Visitor tickets are available, at £5 per day at the
local shop and filling station, 'Gordon's', School Road, in the village of Back.
River Creed O.S Map 8
The River Creed is a
renowned salmon and sea trout fishery which enters the Minch just to the south
of Stornoway. Managed, since 2001 by the Stornowaay Angling Association, the
river comprises four miles of double bank fishing from Loch Chlachain to the
Matheson Pool and includes 20 named pools, bank and boat fishing on Lochs
Chlachain and Ois. The association is working hard to improve the fishing and
the last few years have seen a steady improvement in runs of fish, with 241
salmon and 352 sea trout taken on 2005. The season runs from June 1st
to October 15th, with July, August and September the best months. Day
and evening tickets are available at all times for both the river and the lochs
and can be obtained from several outlets in and around Stornoway. Boats can be
booked by telephoning Angus Campbell's Filling Station on 01851 702127. Boats
can only be booked for one day at a time and cost £10.
Stornoway Angling association
Ravenspoint Fishings
Situated at Eishken,
fifteen miles from Stornoway on the road to Tarbert, the Ravenspoint fishery is
a new community venture. All revenue from the permits goes into to helping to
run non profit making activities organised by volunteers of the Co Chomunn, such
as the old folks 'drop-in' centre . Permission to issue permits for salmon and
sea trout fishing have been generously donated by Eishken Estate.
Set in some off the most remote and beautiful scenery in the Outer Hebrides, the
fishing consists of six lochs set in the heart of the Eishken Estate. Five of
the lochs offer salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. The only loch which
does not offer salmon and sea trout fishing is Loch an Eilein. The season runs
from May 2nd to August 20th and the fishing is available
to visitors at a cost of £20 per day.
There are no boats available bu the following lochs may be fished from the bank:
Loch Sgiobacleit: 4 rods
Loch Airigh Thormoid: 4 rods
Loch Eishken: 2 rods
Loch na Beirighe: 2 rods
Loch an Eilein : 2 rods
Loch Mar Stiomrabhaigh: 4 rods
Anglers may wish to take advantage of the low cost hostel accommodation in the
area. The Co Chomunn na Pairc operates the 14 bedroom Ravenspoint Hostel,
Kershader (Cearsiadair) which offers 3 rooms, 2 with 4 and 1 with 6 bunk beds.
There is a large kitchen and communal dining room with 2 showers and 2
bathrooms. Cost is £10 per person per night with reductions for groups.
This hostel is owned and operated by volunteers of the local Community
Cooperative, the Co Chomunn na Pairc. It is a modernised former school on the
south shore of Loch Erisort set in a beautiful and peaceful spot, it is also
ideal also for wild life watching (sea eagle and otters), walking (the Cromore
walk) sea fishing and other water sports. The building also contains a
cafe-restaurant, food shop and knitwear centre.
Ravenspoint
Centre
Kershader
South Lochs
Isle of Lewis
HS2 9QH
website
Carloway
River O.S. Map 8
Carloway
Angling Club offers a variety of fishing on the Carloway river and associated
lochs. The three main lochs hold salmon in season with fifteen smaller lochs
offering good brown trout fishing, all at a cost of £5 per day or £10 per week.
The five year average catch is 10 salmon and grilse, plus an unrecorded number
of brown trout. One salmon of 13lb plus has been taken in each of the past three
years and 3 trout over 7lbs have been taken in the past five years from Loch
Laxabhat and from the bank.
Permits are available at Carloway Post Office.
Barvas
Estate O.S. Map 8
The Barvas
Estate, lying to the north west of Stornoway, offers salmon fishing on one loch
and five miles of river for a maximum of twelve rods. Fly fishing is available
at £10 per day, with a spinning ticket available at £20 per day. Boats may be
hired for £10 in addition to the permit price. A catch of 242 salmon and grilse
was recorded in 2005.
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