Fishing Loch Tay

By Alex Clayton · Updated 23 October 2026

Loch Tay fishing spans Atlantic salmon, wild brown trout, Arctic charr, pike and perch, and each species comes with its own dates, methods and permissions. The visitor permit sold by Killin & Breadalbane Angling Club (KBAC) covers trout and coarse fish only. It does not cover salmon.

The phrase “loch tay trolling” causes the same confusion. Salmon trolling here runs through fishing rights holders, while trolling for trout or coarse fish from club boats is banned under the KBAC rules.

This guide sets out the statutory salmon dates, permit routes, species seasons and main areas. For the wider region, see our guide to Perthshire and Central Scotland lochs.

Loch Tay at a Glance: Species, Setting and Getting There

The Tay catchment is the largest in Britain at 6,475 sq km, and Loch Tay is one of its lochs, according to KBAC’s fishery description. Killin sits at the west end beside the Falls of Dochart, where the Rivers Dochart and Lochay join the loch. From Perth, take the A827 through Kenmore and along the north shore. KBAC, founded in 1881, runs the west-end club water from Killin.

The loch holds Atlantic salmon, brown trout, Arctic charr, pike, perch and roach, and grayling live in the Tay system’s rivers. Charr numbers have declined severely, so the Tay Liaison Committee asks anglers to release every charr and report where it was caught.

Salmon carry the strictest rules on the loch, so start there.

Loch Tay Salmon: Season Dates and Catch-and-Release Rules

General guides often give February as the opening month for Scottish salmon rivers. On the Tay, the rod season opens on 15 January.

The Tay entry in the annual close time order sets a rod season of 15 January to 15 October. From 15 January to 31 March, every Loch Tay salmon must go back. In law, failing to return a fish at once, with the least possible injury, counts as retaining it. Salmon fishing is also banned on Sundays across Scotland, under section 13(2) of the 2003 Act.

After 31 March, the River Tay (whose drainage includes Loch Tay) is not on the Scotland-wide no-retention list. Keeping a fish then depends on the current conservation grading and the rights holder’s rules, so check the Scottish Government’s annual river gradings and the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board first.

Rights holders can go further. On KBAC’s River Dochart pools, every fish goes back except from 1 April to 30 June, when you may keep 2 (males under 12lb, or 5.4kg), up to 6 a season, barbless only. Whatever you catch, complete a salmon return, which KBAC notes is a legal requirement.

Period	What applies
15 Jan to 31 Mar	Release every salmon
1 Apr to 15 Oct	Conservation grading and rights-holder rules decide
Sundays	No salmon fishing
16 Oct to 14 Jan	Closed

Plan a spring trip for the sport, not the table. Our UK fishing seasons guide covers close seasons elsewhere.

Loch Tay Trolling: What Is Allowed and What Is Not

Loch Tay is known for salmon trolling, yet the club rules say “no deliberate trolling”. Both are true, because they cover different fish.

For trout and coarse species, KBAC boats are fly only: no spinning, trolling, live bait or diving minnows.

Salmon trolling runs through whoever holds the salmon fishing right for a given boat. KBAC’s own Loch Tay boat salmon right, known as W1, is for members only. Visitors usually book a ghillie or guided operator, and operators based around Killin advertise west-end trips through spring. Ask for the current day rate and exactly what it includes: boat, rods and ghillie.

Trolling means towing lures or baits behind a slowly moving boat, and on a guided day the ghillie sets the tackle and depths. Trolled salmon fall under the same law: all returned up to 31 March, and no Sunday fishing.

Because the visitor permit excludes salmon, a guided troll is the practical route for most visitors who want a Loch Tay salmon.

Loch Tay Fishing Permits: Three Routes to Written Permission

Pick your species first, and the right permit follows.

The River Tay system is covered by a Protection Order under the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007. You need written permission before fishing for any freshwater species, and there is no free right to fish for freshwater fish in Scotland. Our fishing licence guide explains how the rules differ across the UK.

Route	Covers	Price	Where to get it	Catch
KBAC visitor permit	West banks and loch surface, Rivers Dochart and Lochay, four hill lochs; trout and coarse	£10 for 1 day, £20 for 3 consecutive days, £30 for 7 consecutive days	Online at kbac-permit.org	No salmon; boats are fly only
South shore riparian beats (Maggie’s Cove, Camusurich, Fiddler’s Bay)	Bank fishing	£10 adult, £5 concession, per day	The appointed agent listed on the riparian beats page; pre-booking advised	Exclusion zones and a steep shoreline
Salmon	Guided trolling, another rights holder, or KBAC Trout/Coarse/Salmon membership	Membership £55 (limited places) plus a £15 joining fee; operator prices vary	KBAC membership or the operator directly	Membership numbers are capped

The KBAC permit is built around the west end. For the east end around Kenmore, ask locally which club or estate issues permits.

If you want a river salmon day on a ticket instead, the nearby Aberfeldy Town Water permit is £25 a day. It is not Loch Tay, but it gives you a price benchmark.

For trout or pike over a long weekend, the KBAC 3-day permit is the simplest buy for Loch Tay fishing. Confirm current prices on the permit site before you travel.

Trout, Charr, Pike and Perch on Loch Tay: Seasons and Methods

Standard pike advice often suggests a roach deadbait. On KBAC water that breaks the rules: deadbaits must be marine species or pre-packed from a reputable supplier.

Species	Season	Key rules
Brown trout	15 Mar to 6 Oct	One hand-held rod; max five fish; boats fly only
Arctic charr	15 Mar to 6 Oct	No killing; release every fish and report where caught
Pike	1 Jan to 31 Mar, 1 May to 31 Dec	Barbless or semi-barbless hooks; wire trace; marine or pre-packed deadbait; no live bait; no keepnets; every pike returned; boats at anchor
Perch and roach	Confirm with KBAC (closed in April)	Bank only; one rod; float; max 6lb breaking strain; barbless
Grayling (rivers)	No closed season	Anglers asked to avoid April and May

The KBAC rules page and permit page give different perch and roach dates, so confirm with the club. All coarse species are closed in April for spawning.

The rules set the tactics. With boats fly only, trout fishing afloat means loch-style fly fishing on the drift. For pike, fish a static marine deadbait from the bank or an anchored boat on a wire trace, using one of the pike rigs suited to deadbaiting. For perch, a light float rig within the 6lb limit does the job.

Loch Tay suits predator anglers happy to fish barbless and return every pike. Skip it if you want to keep pike or fish live bait.

Where to Fish on Loch Tay: West End, South Shore and Hill Lochs

The permit you hold decides your water, so think in areas, not marks.

West end around Killin: the KBAC west banks, the loch surface by boat, and the Rivers Dochart and Lochay where they reach the loch. Salmon trolling operators advertise trips from this end.
South shore: the three riparian bank beats, Maggie’s Cove, Camusurich and Fiddler’s Bay. Each has exclusion zones and a steep, precipitous shoreline, so wear sound footwear and pick your spot with care.
Hill lochs on the KBAC permit: Lochan na Lairige, Lochan Breaclaich, Lochan nan Cat and Lochan nan Geadas. They give you a fallback when the main loch is too rough to fish.

Respect the exclusion zones. KBAC’s waters are described on kbac.fish, and the south shore beats on the riparian beats page. Check with the fishery before you travel.

Other Perthshire and Central Scotland Lochs to Try

If Loch Tay does not suit your dates, species or budget, research these lochs in the same region next. Each has its own permits and rules, so read the venue guide before you book:

Loch Earn
Loch Lomond
Carron Valley
Butterstone Loch

For every venue in the area, including smaller trout waters, see our Perthshire and Central Scotland lochs hub.

Check with the fishery or club before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

When does the salmon season open on Loch Tay?

The Tay rod season opens on 15 January and closes on 15 October. Every salmon caught up to 31 March must be returned, and salmon fishing is banned on Sundays throughout Scotland.

Does the Killin day permit cover salmon?

No. The KBAC visitor permit covers trout and coarse species only. For salmon, book a guided trolling operator, use another rights holder or join KBAC on its limited Trout/Coarse/Salmon membership.

Can I use live bait for pike on Loch Tay?

Not on KBAC water. Use marine or pre-packed deadbaits only, on barbless or semi-barbless hooks and a wire trace, and return every pike you catch.

Is Loch Tay free to fish?

No. The Tay system is covered by a Protection Order, so you need written permission before fishing for any freshwater species, including coarse fish.