Pike Fishing

Pike Fishing at St Mary's Angling Club

St Mary's Loch and Loch o' the Lowes are home to hard-fighting specimen Pike, with fish of all weight classes present. Our Pike tagging project, running since 2005, has provided valuable insights into their habits and movements. One notable catch on January 2, 2006, travelled 2 miles in just 23 hours, proving these fish are far from sedentary!

Pike Tagging Project – Report Your Catch

If you catch a tagged Pike, please help our research by submitting a return form with the following details:
✅ Tag Number
✅ Date & Location of Catch
✅ Fish Weight
✅ Bait Used
✅ Any Distinguishing Marks or Abnormalities

📩 Submit your catch report online: Pike Submission Form.
We also encourage all anglers to report Pike catches, tagged or not, to assist in ongoing research.

Pike Fishing Techniques & Bait

🎣 Effective Baits & Methods:

• Dead Bait: Ledgered, popped up, or trolled from a boat.

• Fly & Artificial Lures: Most effective May – September.

• Top Lures: Bulldawg-style lures, jelly replicants, and Rapalas work well when trolled from a boat.

Despite light angling pressure, the lochs hold a healthy and largely untapped Pike population. With an average of only 7 fishing sessions per week across both lochs (as of 2010), many Pike have never encountered an angler!

⏩ If you’re in the right place at the right time, you could land 4 or 5 in a session!

Truly Wild Pike – No Artificial Stocking

In contrast to artificially stocked fisheries, where Pike are force-fed and overstocked to boost weight quickly, our Pike remain completely wild, growing naturally into heavy specimens.

• If you prefer manufactured “plastic” fisheries, where every trip guarantees a flabby 20-pounder—this isn’t the place for you.

• If you seek a true, wild challenge, where every catch is hard-earned and rewarding, then St Mary’s is your dream destination.

Pike Size & Distribution

🔹 On St Mary's Loch, it's rare to catch a Pike under 5 lbs.
🔹 On Loch o' the Lowes, smaller Pike are more common.
🔹 Pike move throughout the lochs, covering large distances in search of food.

While deep areas (see bathymetrical map) rarely hold Pike, these fish can be found almost anywhere else. However, remember that blank days are always a possibility—this is wild fishing, not a stocked pond!

Rules & Regulations

🚫 Live-baiting is strictly prohibited (Scottish Parliament regulation).

🎣 Lure Fishing Rules:
✅ April 1st – September 30th: Any legal lure can be used across the lochs.
✅ October 1st – March 31st:

• No lure fishing within 100 yards of the Meggat River mouth or Regulator Area.

• All other areas open for Pike fishing, but lures must be 5 inches or larger.

• Red-marked areas on the map are off-limits during the Trout Close Season, as they are designated trout spawning grounds.

📍 If you have any questions about maps or regulations, feel free to contact us.

Important Pike Fishing Guidelines

📍 Deep Water Warning

• Please study the bathymetrical map carefully - some areas become extremely deep just a short distance from the bank.

• Wading should only be done with extreme caution.

Pike Size & Catch Data

📊 Pike Catch Statistics (2007–2008):

• Average weight (2007): 11 lbs 9 oz (based on angler catch returns from our tagging project).

• Largest Pike recorded (2008): 24 lbs 13 oz.

• Mid-20 lb fish are caught most years.

🚫 All Pike must be returned to the loch unharmed!

Pike Handling & Ethical Fishing

We have now adopted the PAC Code of Conduct.
➡️ Click here to read the PAC Code of Conduct - PAC CODE OF CONDUCT TP edit 

🔹 While you are not required to strictly follow every guideline, adopting this ethical approach should be seen as a natural progression for responsible Pike anglers.

🔹 If you are new to Pike fishing, please mention this when booking - we can often arrange for an experienced angler to mentor and assist you.

🔹 Pike are the future of our fishery, and careless handling will be taken seriously. If you need advice on safe handling and best practices, feel free to ask a local angler - we’re a friendly community and happy to help!

Stay Updated

📢 For the latest updates on how the lochs are fishing visit our Blog - St Mary's Angling Club News – St Mary's Angling Club .

Permit Requirement – No Fishing Without a Permit!

🎣 All anglers must obtain a permit before fishing.

• No exceptions unless prior arrangements are made.

• 📞 Contact the Lochkeeper:

  • 📱 Mobile: 07412659569 (Gael)

  • 📧 Email: stmaryslochanglingclub@yahoo.com