River Forth

[tweedbunnet]

I am a new member and really enjoy reading through all areas of the Forum. I used to fish the Stirling area (Forth, Teith and Allan for about 20yrs) before kids and was limiting myself to Rainbow Fisheries until about 3 years ago.

What is fishing like on the Forth these days? Does everyone still spin or only the odd fly caster. Do you still use the worm in February? I wonder if anyone is using the new Shooting Head style up around the Green Banks or upstream from the Gas Pipe where wading was always a bit dodgy. I remember getting dirty looks when I tried Speycasting at the bit above the Cruive in the mid 1980's as well as "Are you trying to hit me?" cos' the fishing was getting pretty crowded after a summer spate and the shingle at the bend above the Pool was half covered

Any info appreciated as I would love to re-visit my spiritual home and where I caught two cracking springers on first trips of consecutive seasons back in the 70's plus 4lb pike the next year -( I thought I had done the hat trick!! ) What are prices like these days? I remember getting free permits one year and the last one I have was £17 for a season.

Any info appreciated

[rabjaffabug]

Hi Tweedbunnet,You widni believe the changes at the Forth now.Worm starts 1st June then is off near the end of August.There is a tagging system of 5 salmon per season per rod then catch and release only,The dykes pool has shallowed up,the high banking below is collapsing every winter,the most popular way to fish now is by fly I would say,the permit for an outsider is 150 quid a season{[i think}and a day ticket for an outsider is 47 quid with a 2 fish limit for a day ticket.More and more anglers are fishing it every year and its very busy from July onwards.So if you fancy a day or two be prepared to wait in the Q for a cast down the pool and stream,also at the back end you must not fish till the specific times in the morning says on the notice board in the car park, and its the same at evening when you must be off the water by a specific time as well or your permit will be withdrawn from you and will be banned for the following season.Tight lines.

[tweedbunnet]

Jeesy peeks - it sounds as though the Gestapo/Mafi are in charge of the fishing now. At £47 a day, I think I will be going elsewhere in the Spring. Honestly, you can fish the Tay etc for less and probably have less hassle. I just thougt it would have been nice to try my "home river" for old times sake and fish the fly where I used to use a spinning rod (with some modest successes). I can't see many tourists trying the Forth at £47 far a day when you can get better for less elsewhere

[tweedbunnet]

One last thing - wouldn't it be great to fish from a boat at the Dykes or even further upstream from where the Teith runs in down to the Gas Pipe? I'll bet that is banned as well due to some obscure rule from the bureaucrats at the Council under the guise of preserving stocks etc. Or has anyone ever tried it? I never saw it attempted in my time fishing there from around 1970 to the mid 80's

[rabjaffabug]

Aye it would be great if this was possible but you would need to have the old fashioned dumb bell divers suite on for the boat as you would get bombarded with tobies,flying cs and minnins from both banks when a good height of water is on.

[salmonnut]

rabjaffabug said:

Aye it would be great if this was possible but you would need to have the old fashioned dumb bell divers suite on for the boat as you would get bombarded with tobies,flying cs and minnins from both banks when a good height of water is on.

youve no chance ;D High water, Big Boabs flying torpedoes wid sink yae ;D ;D