Fishing Permits and a Bit of Polite Angling Protocol

A permit (often referred to as your ticket) is simply your written proof that you have paid for the right to fish at a specific time on a specific fishery. Usually the permit will set out the rules of the fishery and a map of the fishery will be included showing you the limits within which you are entitled to fish.



On rivers you may have permission to fish on one bank only (single bank beats), the left bank being on your left side as you look down stream the right being to your right. When fishing on a single bank beat you should not wade more than half way across the stream although you can cast all the way across. You should never fish from the wrong bank.

There is a simple protocol when sharing a beat. Pools often have a marker to indicate the start of the pool, if not it is fairly easy to decide where a pool starts and finishes. Always start at the marker, never cut in font of someone fishing the pool already, wait until there is a 25 to 30 metre gap before you commence fishing. If someone is fishing the opposite bank let them move down stream before commencing, not only is it impolite to fish across water someone is already fishing, there is a real likelihood that you will both get caught up lure to lure.

Take a step between casts so that others can follow on behind you.


On still waters some anglers take up a station for the day which is fine unless stated otherwise on the permit. Even if they are hauling out fish willy nilly it's a bad show to start casting into their patch much as it is tempting, keep your distance. The same applies when boat fishing, don't muscle in on other boats or cut across their drift, it's just damned impolite and leads to friction, which is something we go fishing to get away from.

Water bailiffs, club committee members, fishery board bailiffs, fishery owners and staff are a few of the people who have the right to ask to see your permit. Failure to show a valid permit could lead to prosecution. They may also ask to inspect any fish you have killed and the tackle you have on you. While they may not have a right to search they do have the right to ask you leave to the fishery if you refuse.

Keep it nice and simple, be considerate and polite, it works much better. I have often had anglers leave a good spot to let me in because they have been there for a while waving me on with a cheery, ' you have a go I've had a good shot'.

Wild Brown Trout


In Scotland, the time was not so long ago, that you could fish for wild brown trout anywhere for free with the exception of stocked waters or 'stanks' (ponds or lochs with no outflow or inflow in which it could be established that the trout were introduced by the owners and not native.)

The law was changed by The Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries Protection (Scotland) Act 1976 to allow river systems to apply for protection orders making it illegal to fish without a permit. Historically many excellent trout fishing waters had been made inaccessible to anglers by owners who wanted to maintain the exclusivity if their salmon fishing. One beneficial outcome of the Act was that some of these previously excluded fishings became accessible in return for the protection offered by the Act. Today you can fish for trout on many areas of the Tay and Tweed at reasonable cost where once you would have been shooed off by the ghillies. Never the less there are some waters that slip through the net. On the Spey for example you cannot get a permit for trout fishing below Aviemore unless you pay the going rate for the salmon fishing which can run into thousands of pound for the week. The trout fishing is great, but not that great! Still the order did open the Don to the angling world so every cloud has a silver lining.

Many angling clubs have benefited from these Protection Orders for the trout fishing has very often been let to them. Clubs offer locals and visitors alike the chance to fish for trout on exceptional water at very affordable prices.

You can still find some brown trout fishing for free in Scotland, many small rivers and lochs big and dub sized are open access but since it is not advertised where you can fish for free, you should for politeness sake, enquire locally if the water is restricted to permit only. I will at some time try to list some of the rivers and lochs still available.



Rainbow Trout


As a rule of thumb, where there are rainbow trout and other non native species present it is logical 'Captain' that someone went to the expense of putting them there and a permit will undoubtedly be required.

Salmon and Sea Trout


Any river of loch holding salmon and sea trout will belong to someone, of that there is no doubt and you will need a permit to fish. Bigger river systems and certain districts are covered by Fisheries Boards established by statute. These Boards charge a levy and in return employ full time bailiffs to look after the interests of the riparian owners (irrespective of whether the owners have their own ghillies and bailiffs). Laws regarding unlawful fishing and poaching have been stiffened in recent years so be aware that if you go salmon or sea trout fishing you better have a permit to do so or risk losing your tackle, car, and the contents of your bank account!

England and Wales


The rivers are monitored by the Environment Agency as opposed to the Scottish Fishery Boards, never they less they carry out the same function having powers of arrest for illegal fishing and poaching and the courts have powers to skim a wad of notes from your bank account if you are caught, so again, be sure you have a rod license and a permit to fish. To buy a rod license for fishing in England and Wales go to:

Buy an EA rod license online

Go to for a list of fishing opportunities throughout Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales and for some information on the angling clubs offering visitor tickets in Scotland.

Spinfish Where to Fish Directory


Please note that in the countries where a rod license is required, a permit to fish is not a rod license nor does a rod license give permission to fish on waters that require a permit.

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