East Ross-shire
East Ross-shire or Easter Ross as it is known locally, is dominated by the Cromarty Firth, a sea inlet fed primarily by the River Conon and River Alness, both productive salmon rivers, though of very different character.
On the south side of the firth is the Black Isle peninsula, and on the north side a narrow, fertile strip of land rising inland to a range of mountains extending south-west to Ben Wyvis above Dingwall. There are a few trout lochs along this coastal strip, but there is significantly more trout fishing, with better access, in the Conon system.
The Conon is Ross-shire’s premier salmon river. Its catchment extends 40 miles to the west and north-west through several important tributaries including the Blackwater. The system is dominated by its hydro-electric schemes comprising several large dams/storage reservoirs and power stations.
The most productive salmon fishing is on the private beats, that span 8 miles of the main stem, from below the Torr Achilty dam at Loch Achonachie, to the start of the estuary.
Most of the private Lower Conon beats are let by the week, but day permits are occasionally available in early season. Visitors are able to access the estuary beat through Dingwall & District AC, and stretches of the Upper Conon and the Upper Blackwater through Loch Achonachie AC.
Salmon fishing on the River Alness is readily available to visitors, both on the private Novar beats that span some 6 miles of water in 2 sections between Loch Morie and the firth, and through Alness Angling Club who have fishing over 2 miles of the lowest part of the river including the estuary.
While all lochs in the system hold brown trout, the Conon system is the most northerly in the UK to hold pike, and they are present along with perch, in all the larger lochs such as Glascarnoch, Garve, Luichart & Ussie.
Loch Achonachie Angling Club also offers visitors some very good brown trout fishing by boat & bank on Loch Meig and Loch Achonachie in Strathconon, and there's an option of a roving bank fishing permit.
On the eastern limit of this area near to Tain lies Loch Eye, one of the best trout lochs in the Highlands. Unfortunately, since Covid, the loch has been run by the proprietors as a private loch and there are no day tickets or boat hires available currently for visiting anglers.
There are also several stocked rainbow trout fisheries in the area including Loch Achilty, Tarvie Lochs and the excellent Stoneyfield Lochs.
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