PIKE - Essox is perhaps the most hunted quarry in the main lochs. Historic records of fish at the 70lbs mark keep many an angler on tenterhooks hoping that this run will be the great grand daughter of the Ken marshes monster.There are guided trips available, providing great sport and many large double figure fish. From bank or boat regular catches of 100lbs./day are reported.If you enjoy stalking with plugs or the fly the shallow waters in the Ken/Dee marshes provide excellent sport in the summer months. Many of the lochs in the catchment hold respectable heads of pike all of a high quality, fin perfect and fighting fit.

PERCH - Stripeys are widespread throughout the system. One can find large classic river specimens in small numbers from top to bottom whilst the lochs and floodplains hold large shoals of ‘bag up’ fish punctuated by many good 1lb.+ fish and the occasional 3lb.+ for good measure. Similar to the Trout the Perch in this system are vastly underfished, with the levels of productivity present giving rise to the possibility of a Scottish record before the next outbreak of the ‘Perch plague’.

Similar to the Trout the Perch in this system are vastly underfished, with the levels of productivity present giving rise to the possibility of a Scottish record before the next outbreak of the ‘Perch plague’.

ROACH, RUDD and HYBRIDS - If there is one thing that I really like about these shoalfish it’s the quality. Scale and fin perfect, they really are special. Big bags (100lb.) are obtainable but generally the anglers, even the competition sect really enjoy the location and the quality of the fish. In the summer months float fishing,feeder, ledgering and pole fishing are all very productive, up and down the length of Loch Ken and the flood plain fishers can find a peaceful spot to set up.

In the winter months feeder fishing takes over in the deeper waters of the top of Loch Ken as the method for success. Roach can also be found in the main river sections in smaller numbers and in many of the lochs peppering the catchment.

OTHERS .. Bream, Common Carp, Ruffe and Eel. There are populations of Bream and Carp, these are found in Loch Ken proper, especially reported from the head of the loch where the majority of competition angling occurs. They may be more widespread and numerous but due to their scarcity and recent introduction little angling effort has been spent in pursual of these coarse fish. It is another side to the fishery that will expand in the years to come.

Yet more fish present themselves to the angler, even some not so wanted. Many of the coarse species are quite recent introductions, put in ‘by mistake’ as livebaits or thoughtless transfers. Amongst these is the Ruffe, an odd deep murky water fish with huge eyes and a cod/perch head. These little fish can be most annoying in constantly taking your bait even if you up the size of hook, their outsized heads still manage quite chunky baits. As well as this they seem voraciously competitive and they roam in large shoals. They are a constant reminder of why it is best not to interfere with fish populations, so leave the livey’s at home, please. Eels make an appearance throughout the system, however compared to many rivers the population does not make itself too apparent. This may be due to the lack of direct angling for Eels, however more should turn up on ledgers/fishbaits than do so.