Trout Fishing at St Mary's Angling Club

St Mary's Loch and Loch o' the Lowes are home to a healthy population of lively Brown Trout. On calm summer days and nights, you can often see them rising freely, making for an exciting and rewarding fishing experience.

Best Fishing Techniques

🎣 Fly Fishing (Most Effective)

• Natural fly imitations (wet or dry) work best.

• Traditional flies are also highly effective.

• Rainbow Trout-style lures are unlikely to interest Brown Trout but may attract Perch or small Pike.

🎣 Alternative Methods

• Worms & maggots can also be successful, particularly in high water conditions.

The Challenge of Wild Brown Trout

Unlike stocked Rainbow Trout, the wild Trout of St Mary’s Loch are highly selective in what they take, demanding skill and patience from anglers.

✅ Hooking a pair of these wily Trout is a true achievement - worthy of celebration!
✅ Expect a visual spectacle and a hard fight when you land one of these exceptional fish!

If you're up for the thrill of wild Trout fishing, St Mary's Loch offers a truly authentic and rewarding experience. Tight lines! 🎣

Additional Fishing Methods

🎣 Spinning

• Effective Lures:

  • Small Mepps spinners

  • Jelly imitation fish lures

  • Rapala-type lures (best when trolled from a boat)

⚠️ Pike Warning
If you choose to use these methods, please be aware of the possibility of a Pike strike. To prevent losing your lure (or harming the fish), always use a wire trace when spinning or trolling.

Trolling for Trout & Pike

One of our experienced members, who regularly trolls the loch, has had excellent catches of both Trout and Pike using a combination of Rapala lures and natural baits.

If you choose to troll, consider experimenting with different Rapala patterns and retrieval speeds to find what works best on the day.

⚠️ Pike Warning: Due to the likelihood of a Pike strike when trolling, always use a wire trace to prevent losing your lure or harming the fish.

Record-Breaking Brown Trout

📢 Largest Brown Trout on Record (2009):
🎣 8 lbs 6 oz – a truly magnificent catch! (See photo above.)

As with all fishing, we encourage anglers to chat with regulars for tips and insights. If you have any questions, feel free to email us - we’re happy to help!

Catch Returns – Help Us Monitor the Fishery

📊 To help us maintain the quality of our fishery, we ask all Trout anglers to submit a return of their catch using the form below:
➡️ Submit Your Trout Catch Here

Permit Requirement – No Fishing Without a Permit!

🎣 All anglers must obtain a permit before fishing.
📞 If prior arrangements are needed, please contact:

• 📱 Mobile: 07412659569 (Gael)

• 📧 Email: stmaryslochanglingclub@yahoo.com

Trout Season Close – Important Lure Fishing Rules

Please take note of the following updated rules for lure fishing:

April 1st – September 30th

✔️ You are permitted to use any legal lure on the lochs at your discretion.

October 1st – March 31st

🚫 No lure fishing is allowed within 100 yards of the mouth of both the Meggat River and the Regulator Area.

✔️ Allowed Areas:

• Lure fishing is permitted in all other areas of the loch.

• Only use lures that are 5 inches or larger in these areas.

🔴 Restricted Areas:

• The areas marked in red on the map are strictly off-limits for lure fishing during the Trout Close Season.

• These areas are designated as trout spawning grounds and must be respected.

Pike Fishing

• You are still allowed to fish for Pike in all areas of the lochs, provided you use a lure of 5 inches or larger and comply with all regulations.