Waterfront Fly Fishing Loch
Head over to ‘Joe’s Beat,’ favoured by our top of the water, dry fly and emerger specialist.
Sandra’s Bench: The prevailing Westerly wind blows feeding into this corner. Fish are often close in to the edges here. So its worthwhile making a cast to either the left or the right just next to the shore.
Guy’s Patch: Another area with fish close to the shore, particularly Brown Trout. Significantly useful patterns here are terrestrial imitations, with the trees dropping insects into the loch.Â
Brian’s Corner: Brian was a member who sadly passed away. There’s a pebbly beach here and its the favoured spot of many – including Colin!Â
Bait Loch – where Spinning and Live Bait Fishing thrive. Stocked weekly, including with large trout, to maintain a total of at least 125 trout. Click here for the Bait Loch page.
The Crocodile which was carved from a tree trunk removed during Fly Loch creation marks the First Peg. It’s a prime spot for Brown Trout that are always seen moving here whatever the weather!Â
Douglas’s Deeps: “Finally met a legend face to face,” Douglas boasted, holding up Bobby Brown, the 16lb celebrity brown trout. This is the deepest part of the loch, at 20ft. There’s a trench here going from the sprinkler towards the outlet at Harry’s Corner. Â
Harry’s Corner: With the enhanced oxygenation of the water, and the concentrated food sources brought in by water flowing towards the outlet here, Harry cleverly claims this peg to be the most productive of the Fly Loch!
The Disabled Platform marks the Second Peg, with Car Access for those with mobility needs. It’s ideal for targeting Cruising Trout – offering a wide sweep around the Pier.Â
Jean’s Bench: favoured by Scottish Ladies Champion and international angler, Jean. There’s a shelf here renowned for Jean’s success using traditional Scottish wet flies.
Liz’s Peninsula is the favourite beat for Liz, one of the Golden Girls, along with her companions Jean and Sandra. They have been angling at The Waterfront since the inception of the loch. Each of them gaining fame winning local fishing competitions and representing Scotland in international fishing events.
Kiddie’s Corner: The loch’s shallowest, most sheltered spot. Prime habitat for our resident Brown Trout. It’s ideal for kids to fish here into the shallow clear waters. Fantastic for terrestrial imitations too – with trees dropping insects & flies into the loch.
Visit the Angler’s Hut for Rod Hires, Barbless Flies, Bait, Line, Snacks, and a selection of essential Fishing Gear and Tackle for sale. This is also where you can check-in and Purchase your Fishing Permit.Â
The Restaurant: Savour a sit-down meal inside the Restaurant or opt for the Terrace by the Angler’s Hut, where the Full Restaurant Menu is available.
Accommodation: Coming Summer 2024! Discover the charm of country living, in our spacious newly decorated farmhouse, where modern luxury meets rustic charm.
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Fishery Open 7 days: 8.00am to Dusk
Restaurant Open 7 Days: 10.00am to 4.30pm
rapid reels
Gateway to Giants
Discover the joy and challenge of fly fishing, where every visit promises new experiences and potentially the catch of a lifetime
Fly Fishing at The Waterfront
Fly Fishing Loch
We stock four species of trout: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout, and Blue trout. Minimum stock size is about 2lb and we stock them up to about 20lb in weight. We like to put a large stocking in early in the year, while the temperatures are cooler. We aim for a total count of about 1500 trout in the Fly Loch, at the start of the season in March, with 125 Double Figure fish. Fish stocks are maintained through biweekly stocking on the Fly Loch, and weekly stocking on the Bait Loch, with about 250kg going in each time. There are always at least 150 fish in the Bait Loch – that way we make sure there’s a good chance of catching a fish from both lochs.
Each year we clear about 600 – 700 resident fish out of the Fly Loch and put these into the Bait Loch. There’s a constant rotation of fish and this maintains both the health of the fishery and of the fish. It also give those fishing the Bait Loch the chance to catch a lump!
We don’t offer boat fishing – it’s all bank fishing. The boats are just there to do maintenance on the lochs.
Holding Pond
There’s a pond, about 10ft deep, that we use as a holding pond. This means each time we have a stocking we don’t need to put all the fish in at once. Instead, we are regularly adding fresh fish to both lochs.
After busy weekends or competitions, we can restock right away rather than waiting for a fish supplier to make a delivery.
Land a Lump:
1500 Trout, with 125 Double Figure fish are in the Fly Fishing Loch!
Entomology
Natural Insect Life Abounds
The Waterfront is a top of the water fishery. Really small patterns work well – imitative patterns. If you like fishing lures, you will also catch using this method. However, the best way to catch the fish here is to use imitative patterns: dries, nymphs and emergers. Several of the members fish dry flies only throughout the year.Â
Always, at The Waterfront, there are insects and flies present. Lots of midge larva and damsel, shrimps and hog-louse. Then later in year, from Spring onwards, sedges will appear.
Terrestrials
Many flies here are terrestrial flies, they don’t come from the water, but from the surrounding trees. They are blown on to the water, and the fish feed on them. For example, daddy long legs, hawthorn flies and flying ants.
Trout are particularly fond of them, and they eagerly feed on these insects!