Renowned for its prize salmon fishing, the Isle of Skye is an ethereal place to test your skills with wild landscapes surrounding you at every turn. This private half-day trip with a local ghillie (fishing and hunting guide) offers you the chance to fish on one of the island's most popular rivers with a local expert who knows the fish, the terrain and the vagaries of the weather and can help ensure you have a successful and memorable day of casting.
The beautiful surroundings are also home to a wide variety of other wildlife, and you may even be able to spot eagles, deer or otters while you’re fishing.
Your day starts when Derek, our local ghillie, meets you outside the Skeabost Hotel in the early morning (which is the best time to fish) and takes you to the River Snizort, Skye's premier salmon-fishing location. The Snizort is a short, fast-flowing spate river that is home to Atlantic salmon year-round.
The fishing season here runs from mid-March to mid-November, but the biggest runs of salmon are from the end of June to October. Wild brown trout also live here, with both species making their way up to ten miles inland to the feeder loch (Loch Duagrich) at the head of the Snizort. A receding spate may well break their journey, however, when the fish will hold in the numerous pools along the river's length.
An eight-mile stretch of the river is available for fishing and is divided into 12 beats, which run from the flats in the hills to the sea loch estuary. Derek will take you to his preferred beat depending on the conditions on the day and provides all equipment including rods, flies and waders.
If you're a novice, Derek will provide a lesson on fly casting techniques or he helps experienced anglers adjust their technique to the particular demands of the river. He also offers advice on which flies to use and how best to reel in a catch. The river operates on a catch-and-return basis and all fish must be returned to the water immediately after being caught.
Fish for three to four hours on the river before Derek drops you back at the hotel.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Scotland specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Dunvegan Castle after-hours tour
Enjoy exclusive access to lakeside Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continually inhabited castle in Scotland. This guided tour takes in a short cruise to see the impressive structure from the water as well as a private meeting with the estate manager.
Northern Skye explorer
Explore the wilds of northern Skye on this flexible full-day tour that takes you to the most dramatic of the island's landscapes. You'll see towering rock pinnacles, powerful waterfalls and windswept beaches alongside verdant hillsides and fast-flowing rivers.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
