Fishing-Argyll

Kilmelford Hill Lochs

The Kilmelford hill lochs are, in our opinion, some of the best waters for wild brown trout fishing in north Argyll. Like all hill lochs fishing can be dour at times but many can produce specimen wild brownies, like the one pictured left, caught by Brian in 2002 (which was returned). If you are lucky enough to catch one of these crackers it's best to get a photo of it and put it back, as these fish are essential for breeding future stocks.

There are a few lochs to avoid though, notably Loch a Mhinn and Iasg Loch which have dark, peaty water.

To get to there follow the A816 Oban to Lochgilphead road and at Kilmelford, right next to the post office, take the narrow road that runs up the hill towards Loch Avich and Loch Awe. The first loch you will come to is Loch an Losgainn Mor. This is the most accessible loch, situated right next to the road. There are a couple of lay-bys here where you can park up when heading to the other lochs on foot.

Reaching some of the lochs can be a lengthy hike, taking you over some rough and exposed ground so make sure you have good footwear and waterproof clothing. It's best to travel light so take essential items only.

Fishing is by fly only on all of the waters. Permits are available at Kilmelford post office.

There are no boats on any of the lochs but, for the more adventurous, belly boating (or float tubing) can be good fun. Wading is normally not necessary as many fish are caught close to the shore and a stealthy approach will pay dividends.

Nymphs, such as the pheasant tail, are best employed early season, but also try emergers and buzzers. Later in the season there can be large amounts of insects blown on to the surface from the surrounding heather. This can sometimes induce a rise which can last minutes or hours. Fish your closest imitation to what's been blown on to the surface. There are lillies in some of the lochs which provide good cover for fish. Try fishing in amongst them with a dry fly, such as a sedge.

Loch na Curraigh

You'll pass this loch en-route to the Feinn lochs, and it's well worth stopping at. It's fairly small and is best fished early in the season as it gets very weedy during summer months. Our best brown trout from here is 1¼lb.

Feinn Lochs

The Feinn lochs are north east of Losgainn Mor and lie around 150ft higher. The walk takes around an hour and requires some effort as you must descend then climb the other side of Gleann Mor.

The larger of the two lochs 'Big Feinn', pictured right, has a good head of fish averaging 10-12oz though there are much larger fish to be caught. You can walk around the loch in around 20 minutes.

'Wee Feinn', which lies above and runs into the bigger loch, is spring fed and is around half the size. Fish in here average 'three to the pound' but we have heard of bigger fish taken.

Loch an Losgainn Beag

This is the view looking over Loch an Losgainn Beag towards Loch Melfort, a sea loch. Although it does not look so in the photo the loch is around 450ft above sea level. It is a 15 minute walk from the road. There are signposts at the side of the road showing both paths that lead to the loch.

Fishing here can be dour, sometimes fishing all day without a touch or seeing any signs of life, but the loch can produce the occasional big trout. Brian caught a 5lb brownie here in April 2002. If you're got the patience and a looking to bag a lunker this may be the place to try.

Loch an Losgainn Mor

Loch an Losgainn Mor is one of the larger hill lochs in the Kilmelford area. It is a reservoir with a small dam at the western end and water levels can vary significantly from one week to the next. Fishing is easier when the water is low. Average fish sizes are 4oz to 12oz but, like many of the hill lochs, it does produce trout over 3lb. The smaller eastern basin is shallower than the rest of the loch and has lilly beds along the southern shore. The fish cages on the loch are used to raise smolt which are then transferred to sea cages.

Loch a' Phearsain