Methods of fishing

Wet fly or dapping only - spinners and worms are not allowed. To help conserve stocks, please observe also the following Catch & Release guidelines:

· All fish under 1.5 lb to be released

· All hen fish to be released after Aug 31st

· Barbless hooks are recommended

· Subject to the above, two fish per boat per day may be kept.

Number of rods & passengers

At least two, and not more than four, people in a boat. Two rods may fish.

Lifejackets

Every passenger should wear a lifejacket while on the water. If any member of your party does not have one, tell your boat provider beforehand, and they can be supplied. (There may be a hire charge and/or deposit.)

Outboard Motors

Motors may not be used at the South End except in emergencies - oars only are used on these beats. For the Middle Bay and North End, you can either bring your own outboard, or hire one with the boat. Please note that if you hire a motor, you will be personally responsible for returning it in the condition it was in when you took it. (The maximum liability is £650. You may be able to include this risk in your personal insurance; but some insurers exclude anything to do with boats).

Ghillies

A ghillie will often accompany fishers at the South End, and this is advisable at the Middle Bay also if you are unfamiliar with the water. Ghillies can normally be arranged with your hotel if they are your boat provider.

If you are not taking a ghillie, make sure you have been briefed by your boat provider about which beats may be fished that day.

Catch records

It’s important that catch details are accurately recorded, as we need these for the statutory returns. Data required:

Type of fish
Weight in lb
Where caught
Whether kept or returned

There is a form attached to your booking acknowledgement on which you can pass this information to your boat provider. Alternatively, enter it directly into your boat provider’s fishing record book, if you have access to this.

Rotation of Beats

North End. There are 4 beats here - 1 being the most northerly section: see the fishing map for details. One boat at a time fishes each beat.

Middle Bay is not divided into beats, but the four boats take it in turns to follow a drift along the shoreline. (The centre water here is not generally worth fishing, unlike the shallower North End: see the fishing map for details.)

South End. The three South End beats rotate daily. On Monday, Boat 1 fishes Beat 1, Boat 2 - Beat 2, Boat 3 - Beat 3. On subsequent days, each boat advances 1: so on Tuesday, Boat 1 moves to Beat 2, Boat 2 to Beat 3 – and so on. The current loch map does not show the beats, but the ghillies are familiar with them.

Key points

Check with your boat provider before starting about which beats to fish.
Download and print a fishing map if you don’t already have one.
Keep to your beat unless you know an adjacent one is not being fished.
Travel to and from drifts in the centre of the loch, away from other anglers.
Cut engine when approaching fishing areas (especially if other boats are nearby) and use the oars.
Make sure you have lifejackets with you.
Don’t expect your mobile phone to work!

Rules & Regs

Here are the main things you need to know:

Collecting your boat

Boats are provided either by Hope Estate, or by one of the leaseholder hotels. Check with your boat provider before your first day out, to confirm location of boat, which beats to fish, etc. Contact details are given on on your booking acknowledgement.
If you don't yet have a booking, talk to Betty Robertson on 01738 451 600.

Ian McDonald (01847 601 272) is in charge of the Hope Estate boats, and lives at the Keeper’s Cottage, just south of the bridge at the North End. You’ll normally find him at or near the boat jetty between 8.30 and 9.30 am on fishing days. Boats should be returned to their moorings no later than 6.00 pm.