Local Fishing

RIVERS

The River Cree and Bladnoch.

Both of these well known rivers can produce excellent sport for the visiting angler. Early on in the season the odd springer and lots of kelts, the back end of the season producing more fish as the water levels rise. It has been known to have 31 fish off one beat in 1 week on the Bladnoch.  Permits are available for both rivers from Galloway Angling Centre.

 Worthy of a mention is The Galloway Fishery Trust and the River Cree Hatchery and Habitat Trust, who have spent a great deal of time and effort improving and maintaining the rivers in this area, and have helped the numbers of salmon enormously by striping fish and re-introducing the fry into the rivers. 

SEA

Boat fishing

Boat fishing in the area is brilliant. Tope and Pollack are my passion. Luce Bay holds some of the best Tope fishing in the UK. Pollack fishing is good but double figure fish are rare. Light tackle can produce an amazing fight and the fish are plentiful in summer months. Many species of fish frequent these shores: Wrasse (many different types), codling, whiting, coalfish, black bream, mackerel and smoothound just to name a few.

Beach fishing 

Beach fishing is plentiful in the area.  Bass is on top of the list. Spinning and bait fishing is the preferred method, although fly fishing for bass is catching on. Bass are around most of the year, but February seems to be the poorest month. Many other species are available from the shore such as flatfish, pollack etc.

Rock fishing

Some great rock marks exist and lots of good fun can be had. Float fishing with live rag worm can produce some excellent wrasse and Pollack and the use of sand eel can bring the bigger Pollack in. Spinning produces mackerel and Pollack and fly fishing for Pollack is great fun.

We also have permits available for our local angling association waters. These are mainly stocked brown and rainbow trout waters. Call in store or phone us for more information on these lochs.

LOCHS

Black Loch

Permits from Forestry Commission or Galloway Angling Centre

Situated approx 5 miles west of Newton Stewart. 

Boat fishing for rainbows and Brown trout, with rainbows between 2lb and 8lb being stocked. 

Open all year round. 

Garwachie Loch

Permits from Forestry Commission or Galloway Angling Centre

Situated 4 miles from Newton Stewart on the B7027 to Barrhill (past Spectacle Lochs). A good reliable loch for pike fishing I have heard of 20lb+ fish and blanking is rare.

Loch Eldrig

Permits from Forestry Commission or Galloway Angling Centre

Good for Pike fishing. The far bank from the car park is private fishing. The pike in here are on the small side but fun. I sent a friend here and he had over 30 runs in 1day, the largest fish was only 5 1/2lb, but gave a good fight.

Pinbraid fishery

A 9 acre loch full of good fighting rainbow trout up to around 20lb, and some good brown trout.  On site there is a great little cafe serving hot and cold drinks and food, toilets, boat and rod hire available. There are also lessons available for the less competent.

The White Loch of Myrton (Monrieth)

Permits given on bank or from main house.

This loch is good and offers the keen pike angler shelter from the most severe winds.  The water is deep and surrounded by trees. It has suffered from pollution in the past and this keeps the size of the pike down but the numbers are quite good. I have personally had 20 fish here in a day up to 81/2lb.

Lochs Ronald and Heron

Situated off A75 west of Newton Stewart - pike and mixed coarse fish.

Permits available from Three Lochs Caravan Park.

Ronald is a large open loch with some superb pike fishing available on the windy days. Heron is about 50 yards away and can produce some good pike fishing as it is more sheltered. Both lochs also contain some good coarse fishing with good sized roach and bream. We stock a good selection of ground baits, maggots, worms and tackle. We also have an extensive selection of dead baits and tackle, which are ideal for fishing any of these lochs.