Fishing
More water than land
Salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing on North Uist, Outer Hebrides.
A landscape built for fishing
North Uist holds more inland water than land: some 800 freshwater lochs, sea inlets and tidal pools that have made it one of the most consistent sea trout fisheries in Scotland. Almost every freshwater loch on the Estate holds wild brown trout, and three migratory systems carry salmon and sea trout to the sea.
Sea trout, averaging 3 to 3.5lb, are the main draw: in the tidal sea pools from April to October, running into the lochs from June, and at their peak from August to October. Salmon enter the lochs from mid-June and are in good numbers from July to mid-October, and every salmon goes back. There’s no fishing on Sundays.
Salmon and sea trout beats are given out by daily roster at the Estate-owned Lochmaddy Hotel, leased to hoteliers John and Lorna Docherty. Residents of Lochmaddy Hotel and Langass Lodge rotate through the roster, so each gets a turn at first choice, and pay the hotel guest rate. A salmon and sea trout permit is valid only for the beat you’re given that day. If you’re not staying at either, call Lochmaddy Hotel on 01876 500331 between 8.30 and 9am to book any beat that’s left, first come, first served. Langass Lodge guests can book through the lodge on 01876 580285, and the Estate Office handles brown trout permits, ghillies and rod hire. See our accommodation options for details on staying close to the beats.
Live beat availability
See which sea pools and lochs are free before you enquire, via FishPal.
Fourteen recognised beats
Where you’ll fish
A map of North Uist, traced from its true coastline. Hover or tap a pool, on the map or in the list, to see where it sits.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Copernicus EU-DEM
Brown trout
Wild trout in almost every loch
North Uist has some 800 freshwater lochs, and nearly all of them hold wild brown trout. It’s the simplest way to fish the island: no roster, no beat, just a permit and a fly rod, with black-throated divers, hen harriers and the odd sea eagle for company.
No roster, no beat
Unlike salmon and sea trout, brown trout water isn't given out by beat. Buy a permit on the day you want it, for a single day, a week or any dates you choose.
One permit, any loch
A permit covers any of the Estate's many brown trout lochs, so you can change loch whenever you like: follow the wind, or try somewhere new after lunch.
Plump machair trout
The lime-rich lochs of the western machair are full of the insect life that makes trout plump, and they hold brown trout in abundance.
No bag limit
There's no bag limit on brown trout, though the Estate asks every angler to return as many fish as they can. Fly only, from the bank or a boat.
Two kinds of water
Hill lochs and machair lochs
Hill Lochs
Peaty water across North Uist's higher ground, holding darker, harder-fighting trout up to around 2lb. Classic loch-style fishing on wild, open Hebridean hill country.
Fishable throughout the season
Permits are sold at Lochmaddy Hotel until reception closes at 11am, and from the Estate Office in Lochmaddy after that. They don’t cover the sea pools or the migratory lochs: Na Clachan, Geirrean, Grogarry, the Horisary system, Dusary, Oban nam Fiadh, the Upper and Lower Skealtar system, Olibhat, Ciste and Geireann Mill. Newton and Lochportain estates in the north-east and the RSPB reserve at Balranald in the west are also outside the Estate’s brown trout water.
Seasons
When to fish
Brown trout come on from April, as the lochs start to warm, and fish through to the end of the season on 30 September. Sea trout are in the tidal sea pools from April, run into the lochs from June and peak from August to October.
Salmon enter the lochs from mid-June and are in good numbers from July to mid-October. There is no Sunday fishing on any water.
| Species | Open season | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 15 March – 30 September | |
| Sea Trout | 15 March – 31 October | |
| Salmon | 25 February – 31 October |
2026 prices
Fishing charges
Sea trout and salmon are priced per rod per day, with a boat included. Residents of Lochmaddy Hotel and Langass Lodge pay the hotel guest rate.
Brown trout
Hotel guests*
per rod per day
£8
Hotel guests*
Per week
£40
Visitors
per rod per day
£10
Visitors
Per week
£50
Boat hire
Per day, on brown trout lochs
£25
Local permanent-resident permit
Per season
£115
Without boat; hire one on the brown trout lochs if you need it.
Sea trout & salmon: February – June
Hotel guests*
per rod per day
£50
Visitors
per rod per day
£55
Boat included.
Sea trout & salmon: July & August
Hotel guests*
Category A · per rod per day
£65
Visitors
Category A · per rod per day
£75
Hotel guests*
Category B · per rod per day
£60
Visitors
Category B · per rod per day
£70
Boat included.
Sea trout & salmon: September & October
Hotel guests*
Category A · per rod per day
£75
Visitors
Category A · per rod per day
£90
Hotel guests*
Category B · per rod per day
£70
Visitors
Category B · per rod per day
£85
Boat included.
Rods & lifejackets
Rod hire
Per day, from the Estate Office
£20
Lifejacket
Refundable deposit, from Lochmaddy Hotel or the Estate Office
£20
Ghillies are self-employed and paid directly.
Category A lochs & beats
- All sea pools
- Horisary
- Dusary
- Geireann Mill
- Vallay
- Geireann
- Ciste
- Grogarry
- Lower Skealtar
Category B lochs & beats
- Eaval
- Fhaing Bhuidhe
- Galtersay
- Struban
- Upper Skealtar
- Oban nam Fiadh
- Obisary
- Strumore
- Oban Irpeig
- Loch an Toim
- Plus all others
Bag limits
Every salmon must be returned at once, with the least possible injury, under Scotland’s 2018 salmon conservation rules. Sea trout have a bag limit of one fish per day, and all sea trout under 1½lb must be returned. There is no bag limit on brown trout.
Good to know
All charges include VAT. *Hotel guest rates apply to residents of Lochmaddy Hotel and Langass Lodge only. Fishing is let by Lochmaddy Hotel Ltd, the Estate’s sporting arm.
Fishing terms
Rules on the water
The Estate’s terms for every rod, whether you’re on a sea pool or a brown trout loch.
Fly only on fresh water
Freshwater lochs are fly only. Spinning is allowed in the sea pools.
Fishing hours
Salmon and sea trout lochs may be fished from 9am to 7pm. There is no Sunday fishing on any water.
Boats
Boats are booked with your beat. Collect rowlocks from Lochmaddy Hotel or the Estate Office and return them at the end of the day. No outboard motors, and tell the hotel or the Estate Office if anything is wrong with a boat.
Lifejackets
If you have your own lifejacket, please bring it: there are only a limited number to hire, against a refundable deposit. The Estate accepts no liability for any loss or accident on the water.
Record your catch
Enter every catch, kept or returned, in the fishing registers at Lochmaddy Hotel and Langass Lodge.
Ghillies
Ghillies aren't included in the charges. The Estate can arrange one of its self-employed ghillies with notice; you pay the ghillie directly.
Weather and cancellations
As is usual in Scotland, there are no refunds for days lost to weather. If you need to cancel for any other reason, tell the hotel as early as you can so your beat can be given out again.
Tackle and tides
The island's few tackle outlets stock only the basics, so come well supplied. Tide tables are on the UKHO's EasyTide, and printed copies are at Lochmaddy Hotel.
Bring your own if you can
Your fishing packing list
Limited rod hire
Rods can be hired by the day from the Estate Office, for salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. Numbers are limited, so let us know when you enquire and we’ll hold one for you if we can.
Ask about rod hireBringing your own
If you have your own rods, please bring them with you to the island: the Estate only has a limited number to hire. Bring your own tackle too, and come well stocked: the island's few tackle outlets carry only the basics. A 9 to 10ft rod for a 6 to 8 weight line covers the sea pools and most lochs.
Footwear
- Chest or thigh waders, with studded or felt soles for weedy rock
- Wellingtons or waterproof boots for walking the loch banks
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket and trousers: Hebridean weather turns quickly
- Warm layers (base layer and fleece), even in summer
- Hat and fingerless gloves for windy days on the lochs
Accessories
- Flies, leaders and spare tippet
- Polarised sunglasses, to read the water and protect your eyes
- Landing net and wading staff
- Your own lifejacket for boat days, if you have one: there are only a limited number to hire
- Midge repellent and a head net, June to September
- Small rucksack with water and a packed lunch
FAQs
Fishing on North Uist: FAQs
Straight answers to what visitors ask us most. Open any question for the detail.
All questions about the EstateWhat fish can you catch on North Uist Estate?
Salmon, sea trout and brown trout. Sea trout, averaging 3 to 3.5lb, are the main draw across fourteen recognised sea pools. Salmon enter the lochs from mid-June and are in good numbers from July to mid-October, and almost every freshwater loch on the Estate holds brown trout.
When are the fishing seasons on North Uist?
Salmon is open 25 February to 31 October, sea trout 15 March to 31 October, and brown trout 15 March to 30 September. In practice sea trout are in the sea pools from April, and salmon enter the lochs from mid-June. There is no Sunday fishing.
How much does fishing on North Uist Estate cost?
In 2026, sea trout and salmon cost £55 to £90 per rod per day for visitors, boat included, depending on the month and beat; hotel guests pay £50 to £75. Brown trout is £10 a day or £50 a week for visitors (£8 or £40 for hotel guests), with boat hire £25 a day. All prices include VAT. See the full price list.
Do I need a fishing licence to fish in Scotland?
No. Scotland has no national rod licence for freshwater fishing, unlike England and Wales. You need permission from the owner of the water: on North Uist Estate that means a beat on the daily roster at Lochmaddy Hotel for salmon and sea trout, or a brown trout permit from the hotel or the Estate Office.
Is sea trout fishing on the Estate catch-and-release?
Partly. Every salmon must be returned, but sea trout have a bag limit of one fish per day, and any sea trout under 1½lb must go back. There is no bag limit on brown trout. See the bag limits.
Can I fish if I'm not staying at Lochmaddy Hotel or Langass Lodge?
Yes. Residents of the two partner houses get first pick of the daily roster and discounted rates, but anyone can call Lochmaddy Hotel on 01876 500331 between 8.30 and 9am to book a beat that's left, first come, first served.
How do I check which fishing beats are free?
Live availability for the Estate's sea pools and lochs is on FishPal. It's the quickest way to see what's open before you enquire or book.
How do I get a brown trout permit?
Buy one at Lochmaddy Hotel until reception closes at 11am, or from the Estate Office in Lochmaddy after that, for a day, a week or any dates you choose. A permit covers all the Estate's brown trout lochs, but not the sea pools or the migratory lochs. Hill lochs fish throughout the season; the richer machair lochs are at their best from May to July.
Can I fish on a Sunday?
No. There is no Sunday fishing on North Uist Estate, for any species. On other days, salmon and sea trout lochs may be fished from 9am to 7pm. See the rules on the water.
Still have a question?
The Estate Office replies within one working day. Call, or email info@northuistestate.co.uk.
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