Fishing Conditions, Places to Stay, Seasons & Info

Best months for fishing

The Loch fishing season runs from January 15th to September 30th.

• Salmon: The best months are June through August, with a good chance of hooking a grilse (a younger, one sea-winter salmon).

• Trout: Best caught from April to early June, then again in September.

These are general guidelines — nature doesn’t run on a schedule, and fish are sometimes caught well outside the "best" windows.

Places to Stay

Looking for a place to kick back after a day on the water? Here are some solid local options:

• Dell Estate

• Foyers Lodge

• Ness Castle Lodges

• Loch Ness Self Catering – Balachladaich

• Loch Ness Mountain Retreat

• Wellhouse Country Cottages 

• Am Bothan Airbnb

• Inglewood Lodge

Weather & Cancellations

Highland weather can be… dramatic. Wind, in particular, can be a trip-stopper. If conditions are unsafe to fish the loch, we may need to cancel. If that happens, you’ll be offered:

• A full refund, or

• An alternative trip to fish rivers, streams, or smaller lochs (weather permitting).

We usually know a day or two in advance if things are turning stormy — forecasts here are surprisingly decent.

Catching Fish

We’ll be honest: catching a salmon isn’t guaranteed — it’s part of the thrill. We do usually land a few trout during a typical outing, though.

Luckily, the views alone are worth the trip — wild hills, misty water, and maybe even a Nessie ripple or two.

Catch & Release

While the occasional brown trout might come home for dinner, we release all salmon and ferox trout, and generally aim to release 100% of our catches. It’s our way of helping preserve these waters for future anglers.

• For Loch Ness trips, we offer pick-up from your accommodation in the Inverness area or can meet directly in Dores, right on the shore.

• For other venues (rivers, smaller lochs), we can meet at the fishing spot or arrange transport for an additional fee.