Loch na h-Ardlaraich, Scotland: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Argyll and Bute, Scotland, you have Loch na h-Ardlaraich. The setting is open valley. 11 miles away sits Lochgilphead, the nearest town. Glasgow is the closest city, 54 miles away. Also on the doorstep: Loch na Beiste 0.4 miles away, Loch a' Mhadaidh a shade over 0.4 miles, Lochan a' Chlaiginn 0.8 miles away, Lochan Tigh Choinnich a shade over 1.1 miles and Loch Fada 1.4 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Loch na h-Ardlaraich

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Argyll and Bute list brown trout, European eel, Atlantic salmon, pollack and Atlantic cod. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Loch na h-Ardlaraich repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 14°C on average, February about 5°C. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Loch na h-Ardlaraich around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. You can launch from a ramp around half a mile away. The nearest marina is Ardfern Yacht Centre, some half a mile out. There is a mapped landing stage half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Loch na Beiste sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. For Loch na h-Ardlaraich, the notice at the access point is the final word.