🇬🇧 Fishing in Loch Awe

Scotland's longest freshwater loch — pike, trout and salmon

Loch Awe is Scotland's longest freshwater loch and one of the country's premier pike waters, with several catches of exceptionally large pike over the years. The loch also holds a healthy trout population, plus salmon passing through the system.

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Weather at Loch Awe

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Best fishing times today

Day length: 14h 48m

Dawn04:18

Sunrise05:01

Sunset19:49

Dusk20:32

Bite windows today

Dawn03:48 – 06:01Excellent
Morning06:01 – 12:25Good
Midday12:25 – 16:49Calm
Afternoon16:49 – 18:49Good
Dusk18:49 – 21:02Excellent
Night21:02 – 03:48Good

Moon: 51% · waxing↑ 15:29

Area

38.5 km²

Region

Scotland

Geography & facts

Loch Awe sits in Argyll, western Scotland. The loch runs about 41 km in length but is relatively narrow, with a total surface area of roughly 38.5 km².

How to fish

Pike fishing by trolling or casting large lures is popular year-round, with the loch known for holding exceptionally large pike. Trout are fished with fly or lure along the shoreline, while salmon pass through en route to spawning grounds.

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Fish species

Pike Brown trout Atlantic salmon Arctic char

Gear & tips for pike

Rod

Spinning rod 2.4–2.7 m, casting weight 20–60 g (BFS for smaller lures, XH for trophy pike 40–120 g)

Westin W3 Powerlure

Abu Garcia Veritas

Shimano Beastmaster

St. Croix Mojo Bass

13 Fishing Omen Black

Savage Gear MPP2

Reel

Spinning reel 3000–5000 or a baitcaster (200-size)

Shimano Stradic 4000

Daiwa BG 4000

Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast (baitcast)

Shimano Curado DC

Mainline

Braid 0.20–0.35 mm (30–50 lb)

Leader

Wire leader 30–40 lb or fluorocarbon 0.70–1.0 mm (40–80 lb), 40–80 cm

Hook

Trebles #2 to 4/0, single hooks 3/0–6/0 for jerkbaits

Weight

Jig head 15–60 g

Lures / bait

Large soft-plastic shads 12–25 cm (Savage Gear 4Play, Westin Shad Teez, Strike Pro Pig Shad, Headbanger Shad)
Jerkbaits (Westin Swim, Savage Gear 3D Roach Jerkster, Strike Pro Buster Jerk)
Crankbaits 12–20 cm (Rapala Super Shad Rap, Salmo Slider)
Spinnerbaits 20–40 g
Spoons 18–40 g (Abu Atom, Falkfish Thor)
Large jerk/swim baits (Rapala X-Rap Magnum, Westin Swim 15 cm)
Bladed jigs / chatterbaits 20–40 g

Find spinning gear at Sportfish

Season

March–May (pre- and post-spawn), Sept–November (autumn feeding before winter). Many Swedish waters close in March/April — check local regulations.

Time of day

Mid-morning through lunch and late afternoon; overcast days fish all day.

Tip

Spring: shallow bays 0.5–2 m, slow retrieve. Summer: work the thermocline at 3–6 m with faster lures. Autumn: go bigger, chase baitfish schools. A fish-finder helps enormously. Catch & release is recommended for pike over 80 cm.

Full guide

The right gear makes the difference

Sportfish is one of the UK's leading fishing tackle retailers, with a wide range of rods, reels, lures and fly-tying gear. We recommend them if you're looking to upgrade your setup.

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Licence & rules

As elsewhere in Scotland, no national freshwater licence is generally required, but local permission or a day ticket is needed for most parts of Loch Awe. Salmon fishing requires a separate permit.

Full international rules overview →

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