Fishing seasons

Rod Fishing Season in Scotland by Salmon Fishery District

Please note the following points:

  • Annual close times also apply to each river and specify when fishing is not permitted. However, the rod fishing season extends into part of the annual close time, as set out below. Outwith the annual close time, fishing is allowed by all legal methods, subject to any other local or national restrictions.
  • The following table denotes the start and end of the salmon season for rod fishing (both dates inclusive)
  • There is no fishing for salmon or sea trout on a Sunday.
  • Catch and release became mandatory across Scotland in 2015 until 1st April (1st May in the Esk District).
  • There are a number of other mandatory and voluntary conservation measures in place across Scotland. Importantly, this includes specific river categorisations in line with the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016. Please ensure that you are familiar with the broad statutory conservation measures for each district by consulting the list of rivers.
  • The fishing season for brown trout is from 15th March to 6th October inclusive, subject to any local rules in place.
  • There is no close time for grayling or coarse fish.
Salmon Fishery District Start of Rod Season End of Rod Season
1. Annan 25th February 15th November
2. Argyll 11th February 31st October
3. Arnisdale 11th February 31st October
4. Ayr 11th February 31st October
5. Beauly 11th February 15th October
6. Bladenoch 11th February 31st October
7. Brora 1st February 15th October
8. Caithness
  • Forss
 11th February 31st October
  • Thurso and Stroma
 11th January 5th October
  • Wick
 11th February 31st October
  • Dunbeath
 11th February 15th October
  • Berriedale
 11th February 31st October
9. Carron 11th February 31st October
10. Clyde and Leven 11th February 31st October
11. Conon
  • Alness and Alt Graad
 11th February 31st October
  • Conon and Balnagown
 11th February 30th September
12. Cree 1st March 14th October
13. Crowe and Shiel (Loch Duich) 11th February 31st October
14. River Dee (Aberdeenshire)
  • River Dee
 1st February 15th October
  • River Carron and River Cowie
 11th February 31st October
15. River Dee (Kirkcudbright) 11th February 31st October
16. Deveron 11th February 31st October
17. Don 11th February 31st October
18. Doon 11th February 31st October
19. Eachaig 1st May 31st October
20. Esk
  • Bervie
 25th February 31st October
  • North and South Esk
 16th February 31st October
21. Findhorn 11th February 30th September
22. Fleet (Sutherlandshire) 25th February 31st October
23. Fleet (Kirkcudbright) 25th February 31st October
24. Forth 1st February 31st October
25. Girvan 25th February 31st October
26. Glenelg 11th February 31st October
27. Helmsdale 11th January 30th September
28. Inner (Jura) 25th February 31st October
29. Irvine and Garnock
  • River Irvine
 25th February 15th November
  • River Garnock
 25th February 31st October
30. Kishorn 11th February 31st October
31. Kyle of Sutherland 11th January 30th September
32. Laggan and Sorn (Islay) 25th February 31st October
33. Loch Long (Luingi and Elchaig) 11th February 31st October
34. Lochaber 11th February 31st October
35. Lossie 25th February 31st October
36. Luce 25th February 31st October
37. Mull 11th February 31st October
38. Nairn 11th February 7th October
39. Ness 15th January 15th October
40. Nith 25th February 30th November
41. North and West
  • Hope and Polla
 12th January 30th September
  • Grudie or Dionard
 11th February 31st October
  • Inchard
 11th February 31st October
  • Laxford
 11th February 31st October
  • Inver
 11th February 31st October
  • Kirkaig
 11th February 31st October
42. Northern
  • Halladale
 12th January 30th September
  • Kinloch (Kyle of Tongue
 11th February 31st October
  • Naver and Borgie
 12th January 30th September
  • Strathy
 12th January 30th September
43. Orkney Islands 25th February 31st October
44. Shetland Islands 25th February 31st October
45. Skye 11th February 15th October
46. Spey 11th February 30th September
47. Stinchar 25th February 31st October
48. Tay
  • Tay
 15th January 15th October
  • River Earn
 1st February 31st October
  • River Eden
 5th February 31st October
49. Tweed 1st February 30th November
50. Ugie 10th February 31st October
51. Urr 25th February 29th November
52. Wester Ross 11th February 31st October
53. Western Isles
  • Loch Roag
 11th February 16th October
  • East Lewis
 11th February 31st October
  • Clayburn
 25th February 31st October
  • Fincastle
 25th February 31st October
  • Resort
 11th February 31st October
  • Mullanageren
 25th February 31st October
  • Howmore
 25th February 31st October
54. Ythan 11th February 31st October

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