Dunlichity House

The fourth heat of this year's Dunlichity Cup will be held on Saturday 28 August at 09.00.

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Following the Scottish Government's announcement dated 28 May 2020 relaxing some Lockdown restrictions, Dunlichity Trout Fishery will reopen with effect from Friday 29 May.

We take the ongoing situation regarding Covid-19 very seriously and we would like all our visitors to do the same.

We consider the risk to anglers to be minimal once they are out fishing.  However, there are precautions that we will all need to take:

- Please do not bring children or non-fishing guests to the Fishery with you.  The Fishery is restricted to anglers only.

- The Bothy will be closed until further notice.  The toilet is also currently unavailable whilst essential repairs are carried out to the Bothy.  The outside sink is also unavailable.

- Do not share fishing equipment.  It is also advisable to bring something with you to place on the peg seats.  During this time, there will be no rental equipment available.

- For safety reasons, we have ceased the provision of complimentary tea, coffee and juices. Please bring your own refreshments with you.

- Please do not visit the Fishery if you have any of the symptoms associated with Covid-19 - stay at home until you are well.

- We do not have facilities for cashless payments, so we would be grateful if you could bring the correct money with you. Familiarise yourself with the revised ticket prices. A link to the prices is at the bottom of this page.

- We are not introducing a booking system and fishing will be on a first come, first served basis.  We are limiting the number of anglers on the Lochans at any time to a maximum of 25.  Please be aware in the unlikely situation where we have people waiting to fish, we will be more diligent in enforcing ticket start and finish times.

- Use the Fishery Car Park.  If it becomes too congested to appropriately conduct self-distancing, then feel free to park at the House.

- Please respect distancing on the banks ("2 metre personal exclusion zone").

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We are getting lots of enquiries regarding when the Fishery will reopen.

The Scottish Government has indicated that fishing can recommence providing that there has not been a deterioration of Covid-19 situation in Scotland, and will give a further update in the Government Briefing on Thursday.  During the Briefing, we anticipate that we will be advised when we can legally open.  Once we receive this information, we will decide on opening plans and publish them on this Blog, together with any revised practical arrangements on Thursday afternoon.

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Thank you to everyone who has kindly observed the new arrangements related to the Coronavirus outbreak.  We are in a fast changing situation and have been continually reviewing the arrangements to ensure that we maximise everyone's safety.  To that end, we are now going to cease renting out fishing gear until further notice.  This will further reduce social interaction and help keep the fishery a safe place to fish.

The revised arrangements are as follows:

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Please do not bring children or non-fishing guests to the Fishery with you.  The Fishery is restricted to anglers only.

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, and where this is not available, please use hand sanitiser.  We cannot guarantee stocks of sanitiser, so please bring your own with you.

For safety reasons, we are ceasing the provision of complimentary tea, coffee and juices. Please bring your own refreshments with you.

Throughout the day and on a regular basis, we will be spraying all common contact points (eg door handles, toilet handles, taps etc) with an anti-bacterial spray.  Towels will be replaced with disposable paper toilet roll.

Please do not visit the Fishery if you have developed a dry cough, a sore throat or a fever (a temperature higher than 37.8C/100F) - stay at hole until you are well.

Try to bring the correct money with you for your fishing ticket, so the booking process interaction can be minimised.

Please avoid gathering in the Bothy, even in small groups.  The same is appropriate on the banks ("2 metre exclusion zone").

No hire equipment will be available to rent until further notice.  
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Overnight frost has led the whole of the top lochan and most of the bottom lochan covered in a layer of ice. We hope to open asap - keep an eye on the blog.

Yesterday, Graham Matheson caught the  first fish of 2020, with 16 wintered rainbows in two hours! 

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A heavy overnight frost means that both lochans are frozen this morning.  We will update the Blog once the lochans reopen.

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Since the Dunlichity Cup's inception, it is difficult to remember more difficult conditions than those which the 13 competitors had to deal with during Heat 5 of this year's competition.  A very strong, swirling wind made casting difficult, particularly from the far bank.

In spite of the conditions, a lot of fish were caught and taken.  Neil Pirrie had to leave after three pegs, but the two fish for 4lb 3oz which he took were good enough for third place.  

Victory went to Dunlichity Cup newcomer Chris Doherty, with a bag of 7lb 15oz, with Jimmy Cooper second with 4lb 13oz.  Allan Dallas won the bottle with the only fish that he kept.

Jamie Macgregor Snr remains in overall first place, with Denis Howell second, but with three heats remaining, any one of 16 anglers could still take first place.

The sixth heat of the Dunlichity Cup is on Saturday 5 October at 09.00.

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Please be aware that the Fishery will be completely closed for a private party until 14.00 on Saturday 25 May.

We hope this does not cause any inconvenience.

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After two heats where fishing was really hard, it was great to see the Lochans fishing well for this heat.

Everyone caught fish and had at least one fish on the board by the end of the second peg.  Indeed all but one had their full bag by the end of the heat.

Competition leader Jamie Macgregor Snr caught the most fish during the day (double figures) but the big fish were caught by Graham Matheson (4lb 9oz, 3lb 6oz), with Ian Young (3lb 7oz), George Ritchie (3lb 3oz) and Gordon Haggart (3lb 1oz) also catching good fish. Graham, Ian and George were 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.  Gordon took the bottle.



The leader board has now got tighter at the top with three heats to go.

The dates for the next 3 heats have now changed.  See the next blog for further information. 

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17 competitors arrived on Saturday 12 May for the second heat of the Dunlichity Cup.  These  included newcomers Dave Falkingham, Jimmy Cooper and Matt Thompson.

With bright conditions and the competition occurring towards the end of a stocking cycle, it was anticipated that going would be hard - and so it was!  Unusually, more fish were caught in the afternoon session than in the morning.

Jamie Macgregor Senior caught the biggest fish of the day at 5lb 6oz and went on to win the heat, with Liam Skinner second and James Gray third.  George Skinner won the bottle for the largest fish outside of the top 3.

After two heats, Jamie's winning streak continues, having won the first two heats and the 2017 Troutmaster Fish Off.  Previous winner James Gray is in second place.


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15 anglers competed in the first heat of this year's Dunlichity Cup.

It was a happy return for James Gray, 2014 Dunlichity Cup champion, who took his two fish in the first peg for a combined weight of 5lb 12 oz.  This was good enough to secure second place.

Last year's champion, Gordon Haggart took his two fish by Peg 3. His 5lb 10oz bag secured third place.

First place went to Jamie McGregor Senior with a bag of 6lb 7oz, which included the biggest fish of the day at 3lb 9oz.

David Skinner won the bottle for the biggest fish outside of the top 3.


Heat 2 of the 2018 Dunlichity Cup is on Saturday 12 May at 09.00.

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Heat 6 of the 2016 Dunlichity Cup  took place on Saturday 3 September.  Conditions on the day were good and the heat started well for Neil Pirrie, who caught a fish as soon as his first cast hit the water.  Soon afterwards, he caught the second largest fish of the day at 3lb 3oz.

Unlike most heats, more fish were taken in the afternoon session, and a number of competitors blanked in spite of catching fish. 

Honours for the day went to Tim Watson, with a bag of 6lb 5oz (including the biggest fish of the day at 3lb 15oz).  Second was George Skinner and third was Jamie Macgregor Snr.  Season leader Liam Skinner was 5th and the bottle went to Neil Pirrie.


With only two heats left, any of 6 competitors could still win the title.  Last year's winner Liam Skinner has now seen his lead cut to only two points by Tim Watson. Everything to play for!

The penultimate heat of the 2016 Dunlichity Cup is on Saturday 1 October.


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Three heats of the Dunlichity Cup have taken place since the last update:

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19 competitors arrived to compete in the first heat of the 2015 Dunlichity Cup.  Conditions were challenging, with low water temperatures slowing fish down.

The heat was won by last year's strong finisher, Jamie Macgregor Snr, with a two fish bag of 8lb 5oz (including a fish of 6lb 3oz).

Martin Haberfield led the heat for much of the day with a fine fish of 7lb and there was late drama when he caught a fish as the final peg finished, only to find that he had hooked a brown trout which had to be returned. 


Liam Skinner took second place on countback, with Martin third.

Last year's winner, James Gray was fourth, and James Watson won the bottle.  However, some noticeable blanks including 2014 Runner Up Graham Matheson and 2013 Champion, David Skinner.

All to play for in Heat 2 on Saturday 2 May.

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Unfortunately, we have woken to an overnight frost which has frozen the whole bottom lochan and much of the top lochan.

Keep an eye on the Blog and we will update as soon as we reopen.

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Many thanks to all who have been calling and following the Blog for updates.

We came close to opening last Friday, but an overnight frost completely refroze both lochans.

Although the bottom lochan is still ice-bound, the top lochan is now completely clear so we are reopening this morning.

If you plan to visit later in the week, please check before you set out, as the winter temperatures are changing things on a daily basis.

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The frost was not as bad as expected last night and we have opened at 09.00.  The Fishery fished well yesterday, with George Skinner catching 18 fish, David Skinner 13 and George Swanson 11.

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Although the banks are still damp in places, we have reopened the Lochans this morning.

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