The River Ayr is the largest of the Ayrshire salmon rivers and it has some excellent fly fishing water. As with all the Ayrshire rivers the River Ayr is primarily a summer and autumn fishery. However, there is a late spring run with excellent quality double figure fish taken each year, usually starting in April and peaking in May. The regular summer floods can bring large runs of summer grilse and fresh fish are caught until the season closes at the end of October.

Salmon and trout fishing is available to book on line at FishPal Ayrshire. See a list of fisheries here.

Please read the River Ayr Code Of Practice for fishing the river.

Fishing Season

Salmon & sea trout season:
11th February to 31st October

Brown trout season:
15th March to 6th October

River Ayr Catch Data (2021)

Total Salmon and Grilse reported caught – 140
% of salmon released – 100
% Total Sea Trout caught – n/a

Historic catch data (salmon)

year Ayr reported catch
2010 732
2011 562
2012 494
2013 347
2014 230
2015 231
2016 274
2017 284
2018 128
2019 207
2020 448
2021 140

Angling Clubs – River Ayr

  • Ayr Angling Club
  • Ladykirk Angling Club
  • Annbank Angling Association
  • Tarbolton and Failford Angling Club
  • Mauchline Angling Club
  • Sorn Angling Club
  • Muirkirk Angling Club

Angling Clubs – Lugar Water

  • Cumnock & District Angling Club