Harris on  the Hook

HARRIS FISHING

Casting into the Edge of the World

For the fishers, Finsbay Cottages are in the perfect location to take advantage of a relaxing day’s fishing. A permit is required for approximately 100 lochs and lochans through the Bays of Finsbay, Flodabay, and Stockinish systems. The season is usually from mid March to the end of October. We do not charge for children under 16, although a permit is still required.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and wear a life vest. Sunday is a day of rest on the Island, and fishing for salmon and sea trout is prohibited by law throughout Scotland.

Fishing Types

Fishing on Harris

Finsbay

From £20
50 Lochs

The Finsbay Fishings comprise 50 spectacular lochs…

fishing-spot

Finsbay

The Finsbay Fishings comprise 50 spectacular lochs of varying sizes, fed by two separate tributaries leading directly to the Atlantic. Several prime lochs are conveniently located near the road, while the more remote waters can be reached in 30 minutes by foot.

SYSTEM 1 of the Finsbay fishing is called the Huamnabhat system, and includes the Sea pool beside the old Lodge. The fishing hut is also situated there, accessed from the same road which services the Finsbay Lodges.

Other lochs include Loch Holmasaig, on the opposite side of the road. This is connected by a burn to Loch Dempster, which is the first true freshwater loch in the system. Continuing upstream the small stream at the end of Loch Holmasaig, for 20 minutes brings you to Loch Dubha 2 and then on the left-hand side, Loch Dubha 1. There are boats on all these lochs. The longish Loch Fin can be found about halfway up and on the right-hand side of Loch Dubha 2. If you continue on from the end of Loch Fin and in the direction of the hills, you will reach Loch Rogavat. This is a fairly sizeable loch, all of which is fishable.

From the fishing hut on the way to Manish (about 1 mile), you will find the Huamnabhat system’s largest loch, Loch Huamnabhat. Here, there are two boats, one of which has easy access to the front and is especially suitable for less able fishers. If you continue from the end of Huamnabhat up the burn for a short distance, you will reach Loch Malcolm and, beyond that, Loch Cross. Then, carrying on up the burn, you will find other Hill lochs which can be fished: Loch Curtains and Loch Robert on the left and Loch Uamh nan Cnaimh and an unnamed loch on the right. Going still further in the direction of the hills and veering towards the left, you will reach Loch Rogavat.

SYSTEM 2 is called Abhainn na Ciste. This starts with a nice Seapool, a five-minute walk from the fishing hut and in the direction of Rodel, and at the end of which, there is another good pool.

There are two ways of reaching the other lochs. One (the longer way) is to follow the burn upstream on foot. The other is to drive up to the signpost on the road to Leverburgh, marked “Loch Meurach 1” and “Loch Meurach 2”. From here, it is a five-minute walk to Loch Meurach 1, then a further five minutes to Loch Meurach 2, the larger of the two lochs. There is a boat at the right-hand corner of Loch Meurach. A further five-minute walk will take you to Loch Clachain. When the water is high, there is a fine waterfall and a good pool at the seaward end of this loch.

The intervening lochs along the line of the burn can also be fished – Loch Duncan, Loch James, Loch Sandy and Loch Alistair.

Flodabay

From £10
35 Lochs

System 1 of the Flodabay Fishing is called the Manish system. Its main feature is…

fishing-spot

Flodabay

System 1 of the Flodabay Fishing is called the Manish system. Its main feature is the small Loch Clachain, located behind Nurse’s Cottage and accessible on foot in about 5 minutes. If you follow the small stream which flows into Flodabay, it will also take you to Loch Manish. At the hillside end of Loch Clachain, there is another stream, and if you keep on along it, you will come to Loch Manish after 5 minutes. In the middle of Loch Manish there is a spit, where the boat is kept.

System 2 of the Flodabay Fishing is called the Flodabay system. It flows into Loch Flodabay (the sea loch) 5 minutes’ walk from Nurse’s Cottage. The walk to the end of the loch takes about 10 minutes. Please keep to the right side of the loch when you are fishing from the bank, or if you are on your way to Loch na Creige Briste, where the stream forks, keep to the left and please take care not to damage trees or fences. Loch Number 2 is approximately 25 minutes from the road. The deeper parts of the stream can also be fished. Loch Dornail and Loch Tarbert are 500 metres further south on a small hill and are marked by a sign. Please take care not to damage the water pipe which leads from Loch Dornail.

There are further lochs that belong to the largest loch, Druim nan Staoin. These are approximately 45 minutes on foot from the road, reached by walking straight up the hill and past Loch Dornail. 500 metres further south, between the road and the hill, there are six small lochs known as Lochs Cairistiona. The first of these is just behind the road. On the opposite side of the road towards the sea, there is another small group of lochs known as Loch Braigh. Another 1000 metres further on and just before the cattle-grid, turn right towards Loch Dubha 1 and 2. If you then face away from the sea on the right-hand side of Loch Holmasaig and follow the small stream towards the hill and beyond Loch Holmasaig, you will, after a 20-minute walk, come to Loch Dubha 2, and after that to Loch Dubha 1, in the Flodabay fishing. Other lochs may only be fished with a permit from Finsbay Fishing’s.

Stockinish

From £10
17 Lochs

The Stockinish Fishing comprise about 15 lochs of…

fishing-spot

Stockinish

The Stockinish Fishing comprise about 15 lochs of different sizes and two separate systems leading down to the sea. Some of the lochs are close to the road, while the furthest is approximately a 20-minute walk. The old road provides easy access.

Lacklee system: System 1 of the Stockinish Fishing is called the Lacklee System. This system starts on the hillside of the A859, the main road to the West Coast of South Harris, where the road to Rodel crosses. The area can be identified by a large electric power station. The name of the first loch on the hillside is Loch nan Learg (over the road), which is approximately a 10-minute walk away, while Loch Srath Steachran is 300 metres along the A859 towards the west coast below the road.

These lochs may only be fished from the bank, but there is a boat at Loch Glumra Beag. To reach Loch Glumra Beag, drive past the power station, and you will shortly reach Loch Airigh lain Oig on the left-hand side. Further down the road towards Rodel, you will find a bridge near the sea, which is where the sea pool is located. A few metres before the bridge, there is a path heading towards the hill. Follow the path, and in approximately 5 minutes, you will come to Loch Glumra Beag and a boat. Please take care not to damage the fences and to close all gates as you go through them. Loch Glumra Mor, a narrow, long loch, connects to the middle of Loch Glumra Beag on the left-hand side. If you fish up the burn on the right of Loch Glumra Beag, you will come to Loch Chnoic Mhoir.

Creavat system: System 2 of the Stockinish Fishing is called the Creavat system and is situated by the Two Waters lodge. Fishing starts behind the bridge, where a small private road runs downhill. On the left, where the road begins, is Loch Saile, a tidal loch which can also be fished.

Fly fishing for Sea trout is also possible in the estuaries. If you are walking onto Loch Creavat, you can park your car here, but please park considerately and ask permission if necessary. Take the path or follow the line of the stream up, and after approximately 10 minutes, you will reach a small, unnamed Loch, then 5 minutes later, Loch Creavat. The pools in the burn and the small Loch can be fished and there is a boat on Loch Creavat. At present, both above systems hold Seatrout and Brown Trout. If you drive from Cliff Cottage in the direction of Tarbert, it will take you about 5 to 10 minutes to get to System 2 of the Stockinish System.

Fishing Do’s and Dont’s

What to do when Fishing in Harris

Do’s

Fly Fishing Only
Release all salmon and sea trout caught; all other fish can be kept if necessary
Return fish which are too small back to the water
Details of all catches must be reported to the fishery
Handle the fish with great care, and if you are releasing them, make sure your hands are wet and that you do not squeeze the fish too hard
Fishing is only permitted from the shore or from a drifting boat
Flies may be wet or dry and should be within the size range 4 – 16
A knotless landing net is required especially if you plan to release fish
Use fly rods between 9 and 13 feet with an AFTM rating 6 – 11 and floating lines with or without a sinking tip/sinking cast are recommended

Dont’s

Use barbed hooks on the Island (barbless are encouraged).
Use double hooks; single hooks must be used until June
Damage fences and keep all gates closed
Allow accompanying dogs to run free; dogs must be kept on a lead

FAQs

Fishing

Are fishing permits included with my lodge booking?

No. Fishing permits are not included in your stay and must be booked separately and directly via either our online booking links or with our ghillie or office.
What species can I fish for, and what are the rules?

The wild waters hold sea trout and brown trout, with occasional salmon. Please note that salmon and sea trout fishing is strictly catch-and-release, and fishing for salmon and sea trout is completely prohibited on Sundays by Scottish law.
How does fishing work at Finsbay Cottages?

Our lodges sit at the heart of three amalgamated fishing beats – Finsbay, Flodabay, and Stockinish; spanning roughly 100 lochs and three distinct river systems across South Harris.

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Harris on the Hook

HARRIS FISHING

Casting into the Edge of the World

Fishing Types

Fishing on Harris

Fishing Do’s and Dont’s

What to do when Fishing in Harris

FAQs

Fishing

Harris on  the Hook