A row which blew up over the right to fish for sea trout on an Argyll sea loch near a rivermouth has highlighted confusion over fishing laws.
Oban angler Douglas MacArthur, 45, believes he has the right to fish for trout at the mouth of the River Nell where it runs into Loch Feochan, five miles south of Oban.
He and a friend were fly-fishing near the rivermouth when he was approached by Glenfeochan Estate manager Richard Fothergill and told they were not allowed to fish there without a permit.
Mr Fothergill, who works for estate owner Hugh Whittle, yesterday stood by his position and was backed by Argyll Fisheries Trust, an independent charitable body which aims to understand salmon and sea trout populations in Argyll and tries to suggest ways to improve the fisheries.
Mr MacArthur, of Glenshellach Terrace, said: “We were fly-fishing for sea trout. We know it is OK to do that.
“We were told we were not allowed to fish there. I have fished there a number of times before with no problems.”
Mr Fothergill said yesterday: “You are not allowed to fish for sea trout or salmon within one mile of the river even on a sea loch. Even if you are fishing for sea trout, you have got to have permission from the owner.
“There are a lot of rules people are not aware of. People are trying to preserve salmon and sea trout stocks.”
Argyll Fisheries Trust manager Craig MacIntyre said: “He needs a permit if he is fishing for sea trout, definitely.
“This is the message we are trying to get across to people about sea trout conservation. The sea trout numbers on the west coast are nothing like what they used to be. They are very much depressed at the moment. We are trying to promote a catch-and-release policy. If you do catch a sea trout, please put it back. The same goes for salmon.”
Mr MacIntyre added: “To fish for salmon or trout you do need the permission of whoever has the fishing rights and it does extend to the coastal waters. It says it quite clearly in the legislation.
“You can perfectly legally fish any other species.”
But Mr MacArthur was sticking to his guns, and said: “I don’t accept that. Why doesn’t the estate put a big sign up on the loch saying ‘Private, no fishing’? But he wouldn’t be allowed to do that because it’s the Crown that owns it. Nobody owns the sea. You can fish anywhere in Scotland for sea trout and brown trout.”