Ballachuan Loch Fishing in Argyll and Bute, Scotland

• Overview

  Scotland holds Ballachuan Loch, in Argyll and Bute. The water sits 7 feet up. At roughly 4 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Argyll and Bute standards. Some 11 miles away sits Oban, the nearest settlement. Isle Of Mull lies 13 miles off, Lochgilphead another 18 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Ballachuan Loch

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The tide is the timetable on this water; two hours either side of the change usually fish hardest. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Public occurrence data for Argyll and Bute names brown trout, European eel and Atlantic salmon. At Ballachuan Loch the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 14°C and February at 6°C. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. On Ballachuan Loch that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. A car park lies half a mile away, so the walk in is short. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. The nearest alternative is Loch nan Druimnean, 5.3 miles out. Nothing here settles the position at Ballachuan Loch for certain.