Barrels/boating/floating and Scotland
Barrels/boating/floating and Scotland
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Slow

Original Poster:

6,973 posts

161 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
quotequote all
Does anyone know the rules behind what you can put on the Lochs in Scotland?

Basically at the end of my driveway is a decently sized Loch (own the land touching the water so can easily launch) which I have rights to have a boat on and fish. It is not my house so I dont know the full ins and outs but thats what I got told.

However I have been told by locals that I cannot have a engine as it is the water supply for Inverness. Not sure what sence this makes as they are soon looking to take water from Loch Ness which is covered in boats with engines.

I have been doing some fishing with friends on the shore but its just not as succesful as when I had previously done it on a row boat. If I was to make a pontoon type thing out of empty plastic barrels with a deck to sit while fishing am I allowed to have a engine fitted? Nothing big/fast as its obviously not for anything other than gently floating out and in.

Something like this roughly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXrziiLAOD0

Often see people on kyaks but never anything bigger than that.

Equus

16,980 posts

125 months

Thursday 18th June 2020
quotequote all
Regardless of anything else, for that sort of use, these days, I'd be looking at an electric outboard anyway, and I can't see anyone complaining about one of those.

Slow

Original Poster:

6,973 posts

161 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
That hadn't even crossed my mind. Probably would be more suitable for the little amount of actual moving it would need to do.

Equus

16,980 posts

125 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
What sort of fish are there in the loch?

If it's the typical (for a Scottish Loch) brown trout and/or pike, then you don't want a static or semi-static pontoon, either - you need to cover more water (traditional approach for trout is drift fishing with wet fly), so a rowing boat (with an electric outboard, if you prefer) would usually be the best solution.

Slow

Original Poster:

6,973 posts

161 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
Equus said:
What sort of fish are there in the loch?

If it's the typical (for a Scottish Loch) brown trout and/or pike, then you don't want a static or semi-static pontoon, either - you need to cover more water (traditional approach for trout is drift fishing with wet fly), so a rowing boat (with an electric outboard, if you prefer) would usually be the best solution.
Bang on with trout and pike, bunch of eels as well!
I dont really know too much about the fishing bit, I am generally along to drink with friends in the sun. 100% not one of these all weather real fishermen, its a really windy or midgie ridden area when not sunny.

Normally 3-5 of us so the idea of something larger than a rowing boat is what appealed about the basically floating platform. On my old row boat any more than 3 was just awkward.

Pretty handy with tools so the actual building of it would be easy and owning the land means I wouldnt need a trailer to haul the thing around rather just pull it out the water.


sherman

14,913 posts

239 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
Eels are now a protected species as of 2011. Catch and release is all thats allowed on them.

An electric outboard will be your best bet for power.

Slow

Original Poster:

6,973 posts

161 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
We put everything back, not sure who would even want to take a eel home!

Condi

19,774 posts

195 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
Jellied eels. Delicacy in London.

sherman

14,913 posts

239 months

Friday 19th June 2020
quotequote all
Condi said:
Jellied eels. Delicacy in London.
Farmed not wild caught though