Fishing in Stirling

When and where you can fish around Stirling, and guidance on permits and rules.

What we do

Stirling Council:

  • manages the salmon fisheries in Stirling and Callander
  • provides good quality and well-managed public salmon fishery for the benefit of both residents and visitors
  • promotes salmon conservation by limiting what anglers can take away, while still providing a full season of fishing

Fishing season

Salmon fishing

The salmon fishing season runs from 1 February to 31 October.

Trout season

The trout season runs from 15 March to 6 October. 

When you can fish during these seasons

During these seasons, you can fish from Monday to Saturday.

You cannot fish on Sunday.

Rivers

River Forth

The River Forth is 47 km (29 miles) long. It's one of Scotland's major rivers, and drains the eastern part of the central belt.

Route of the Forth

The Forth rises in Loch Ard, which is a mountainous area of the Trossachs that's 30km (19 miles) west of Stirling.

It flows eastward through Aberfoyle, and is then joined by the River Teith and the River Allan.
 
From Stirling, the Forth flows east over the Carse of Stirling. It passes Cambus, where it's joined by the River Devon, and then Alloa and Airth.

After Kincardine, the river widens into an estuary. This is known as the Firth of Forth.

Water levels

Read SEPA's water level data for the River Forth at Craigforth, Stirling

River Teith

The River Teith is a branch of the River Forth. It's renowned for its fishing, and for an arched bridge that's half a mile south-west of Doune

Route of the Teith

The Teith begins in Callander, then flows through Deanston and Doune. It then joins the River Forth near Stirling.

Water levels

Read SEPA's water level data for the River Teith at the Bridge of Teith

Permits

You can use a single Stirling Council permit for:

  • spring fishing
  • sea trout fishing
  • summer fishing
  • back end fishing

This permit:

  • covers both the River Teith and the River Forth
  • is available to residents and visitors

A 9-month permit for an adult angler costs £210. A concession price is available at £158.00.

A season permit for an angler aged 12 to 21 costs £16.

Day permits are available and vary in price depending on the season, they are available on the Fishing Around the Forth website. 

Anglers under 12 can fish for free, as long as:

  • they’re with a paying adult
  • they put back any fish they catch

How to buy a permit

You can buy any type of Stirling Council permit from the Fishing Around the Forth website's online shop.

Fisheries

The following fishing spots are within a 12-mile radius of Stirling.

Fishing spot Location Types of fish at this location
Castle Hill Reservoir By Muckhart Brown trout, rainbow trout, pike, perch
Cockburn Reservoir Bridge of Allan Brown trout
Crook of Devon Fishery By Kinross Brown trout, rainbow trout
Glenquey Reservoir By Muckhart Brown trout
Glensherrup Trout Fishery By Dollar Rainbow trout, brown trout
Loch Coulter By Denny Brown trout
Loch Leven By Kinross Brown trout, rainbow trout
Lower Frandy Reservoir By Muckhart Brown trout
River Allan Bridge of Allan Salmon, sea trout and brown trout
River Carron By Denny Brown trout, sea trout, salmon, grilse
River Devon Clackmannanshire Brown trout, salmon, sea trout
River Forth Stirling Salmon, sea trout, brown trout
Swans Water Stirling Trout
Wellsfield Farm Fishery Denny Trout

Rules and regulations

General regulations

You must:

  • only use one rod for each fishing permit
  • hold your rod by hand rather than propping it on a stick or a rod rest

You must not:

  • fish on water that’s covered by a protection order without paying for a permit
  • fish for or take away salmon or sea trout on a Sunday

Until 1 June, any fish you catch must be returned live to the water.

Safety regulations

If you’re planning to fish in an isolated loch or river, you should always tell someone:

  • your intended route
  • when you think you’ll return

If you’re boat fishing, you must:

  • always wears a properly fitting life jacket or buoyancy aid
  • not stand up or move about in the boat while you’re fishing

Angler’s code of conduct

You should always:

  • fish upstream of other fishing anglers
  • wait your turn to fish a pool from its head
  • remove your old line, cans bottles and all litter from the riverbank
  • stay about 15m from the next angler, and 30m when they or you are using a fly
  • respect the property, access and privacy of people who live on or by the fishery
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