Loch Arkaig: one of the most scenic spots to fish?

Looking East

The last location for fishing we went to recently was Loch Arkaig. While I know Scotland well having worked in the North and Islands for 5 years some time ago, installing microwave links, some wee corners have simply been passed by in my travels. Loch Arkaig is one such area.

I guess the location for my fishing was dictated by ensuring there was something for everyone to do, not based on optimal fishing quality. It has to be said I think I saw one fish rise and one fish jump the whole day- the latter was right out in the middle!

We accessed the loch by parking at the Forestry Commission access to the Butterfly conservation area of Arkaig Forest. The family went for a walk while I went fishing.

The day we picked was simply stunning, initially barely a breath of wind and hot sunshine. Not ideal fishing conditions but really it’s a privilege to be out on the water in a place like this on such a day.

Hugo’s Olive at Hillend Dabbler- mines was tied with a Blue Jay Hackle as it was all I had!

I tried fishing a dry fly blind at first but got no interest, using my  XF2 plus rod, but as the wind did rise steadily through the day I swapped over to the HM3 to get a bit more backbone for casting across the wind. I also swapped to wet flies and over the course of the day managed to net three small brown trout, to on a Hugo’s Olive (grateful to Hillend Dabbler for sharing this pattern on his website- I tied mine with a blue jay hackle as I never had white) and one on a Winged wet that I can’t identify just now as I don’t know its name!

Looking West

One take was especially odd- I saw the fish jump at the fly on retrieve but then the fight I got was way more than I would expect from what I could see was a small fish. In fact, the rod tip was bouncing violently. Just as I was near to netting the fish there was a swirl to the left. I suspect in fact that I hooked two fish and that the bouncing was caused by the line slackening and tightening between the two flies, this then allowed the fish off. As often happens the fish splashed at the surface on getting free, netting me one.

I missed one other fish late on which might have been a decent fish but that was my lot. I managed to fish a good distance along the shore once then a second time with a different set up, basically cast retrieve, two steps, cast, retrieve….. and so on.

So three small fish all returned for the day but just magic to be here on a day like this.

Does it get better than this?

General Info

Arkaig lies to the North of Fort William and is accessed down a narrow twisty road from the South end of Loch Lochy. You can either drive from Fort William to Spean Bridge and then take the Gairlochy road from the Commando Memorial, or take the back road to Gairlochy from Banavie at Neptunes Staircase in Fort William.

Fishing is from either a boat (which you need to supply yourself- and purchase a launching licence for, from the estate) or from the bank. Bank fishing is only permitted on the North Shore.

There are one or two exclusion zones for bank fishing but its best to refer to the signs which are prominently displayed at the roadside at the Loch.

Permits can be bought in the Fishing and Gun shop in Fort William or from the estate office on the way up to the Loch. I believe there might be some sort of self service machine in a spot near Loch Lochy just before your turn inland towards Clunes.

The size of the loch means you won’t have any problem finding somewhere to fish but parking might be an issue as its all single track road.

From my reference book it states wading is dangerous but before going to the loch when I purchased my permit at Fort William, I asked if I should take waders and was advised to do so. At the location I fished the bottom was stony, easy to wade and slowly shelving off so no danger of going out your depth. The water was gin clear also so you were not feeling about for holes and stuff- take a wading stick but certainly  never needed it on my trip.