Kilmelford lies South of Oban Approximately halfway to Lochgilphead. It
comprises of The Culfail Hotel a number of houses and a post office/shop. Permits
can be bought in Oban or at the hotel or post office.The permits have a map
printed on them to show the location of each of the lochs and it also gives the
rules and fishing tips.The lochs are mainly fly only but spinning and bubble and
fly are permitted on two of the lochs. The best map to get of the area is OS Pathfinder #355 KILMELFORD.
Boats can also be hired and these are available from:-
Mr John McKay
Strathnaver
TEL Oban 563305
The launching of private boats or the use of float tubes is not
permitted.
THE LOCHS
Loch A'Phearsain:-
As you come over the hill to this loch its setting really hits you, lying
as it does in a natural bowl in the hills. To the left the bank is
covered in forest and a quarter way along it is the outlet burn.To the
right the bank is clear of trees for the most part but the bracken can be
a problem. Down the hill in front of you is a small wooded island and
here is where the boat is moored. Fish are found all round the loch, some
quite close in so, it pays to fish along the bank as well as out in front
of you. If you are fishing from the boat then a good drift is into the
large weed bed half way done the right bank.The loch contains Brown Trout
and Char.
Loch An Losgainn Beag:-
This is a small loch with clear banks all round although the proximity of
the hills can make back casting difficult in places. There are a large
number of Lily beds round the edge of the loch which can make fishing
difficult in the latter part of the year but it is around them that the
large fish of this loch live. Why are they large? because they can be
difficult to catch, but when you catch one it will be a memorable
experience.
Loch A'Mhinn:-
This is a large loch with clear banks for most of its shoreline, although
again there are places where the hills can make casting difficult. When
you first come over the hill to this loch the most productive places to
fish are from the shore in front of you.The loch contains Brown Trout,
Char and Rainbow Trout all of which can be difficult at times to tempt
but the Rainbows are fairly large and fight extremely hard so be prepared
and keep a firm grip on the fly rod.
Loch na Curragh:-
This small loch lies to the left of the previous loch with the footpath
going along one side. It is shallow and weedy with a floating bog at the
south end and fishing from here is not advised. The banks are clear of
obstructions, although again the proximity of the hills can make casting
difficult. The loch fishes well all round the weed beds and the smaller
fish are found along the bank with the footpath. The best place to fish
is on the opposite bank, which of course is the most difficult side
because of the extremely steep hillside, but perseverance could catch you
one or two 3/4 to 1lb hard fighting brown trout
Big Feinn:-
If you follow the path past na Curragh down into Gleann Mor, cross the
burn and soft ground and climb the escarpment where the burn runs down,
you will come to this loch. The casting is relatively easy on the South
side where the ground is flat but as you move round the loch the hills
move in and casting becomes that bit more interesting. Fish are all round
the loch and can be close into the shore in places where the water is
deep. According to the leaflet issued by the angling club the fish are
large and difficult to catch, personally I have had fish to 1lb from the
loch.
Wee Feinn:-
The loch lies above Big Feinn to the West and is a small but deep loch.
As with all these lochs fish are found all round the loch but as usual
the casting can be a problem because of the steep hills that come right
down to the waters edge.
Loch na Sailm:-
The best way to get to this loch is to go North West off the West end of
Loch a' Chaorainn, follow the burn till it turns West and cross it then
pick up the next burn which flows into the loch at a waterfall. A long
narrow loch damed at one end. The casting was easy when I was here as the
water level was low, but there are high banks in places so casting could
be difficult at times. I found the best place to fish was opposite the
water fall on the North shore around the rock shelves. The fish were
plentiful around, the 6-8oz mark.
Loch a' Chaorainn:-
This is one of my favourite lochs here. To get to it you have to drive
past Losgainn Mor, up the hill then park at the forestry road at the
bottom of the next hill just before the bridge. Walk along the forestry
road to the wide parking area and carry on due North across swampy ground
through the forestry plantation till you come to a gorge with a burn
coming down it. The path is on the right of the burn and is steep in
places. Follow the path and cross the burn then keep going till you climb
the style over the deer fence. Continue North till you come to the loch.
The casting is pretty easy on this loch as the banks aren't quite as
steep as some of the rest of the lochs. Fishing can be slow, but hit it
at the right time and fish will be rising all round the banks. I found
the fish to be between 8-12oz and, if they were in a taking mood, would
take dry fly, wet fly or nymph, with no particular preference.
(More to follow)
For more info. on fishing in Argyll have a look at this site run by four
enthusiastic fishermen Fishing-Argyll