Above Stirling and the tidal reach, the Forth becomes a surprisingly decent wild trout river — slower and more meandering than its Highland-draining tributaries, but with good holding pools, a reasonable olive hatch, and enough sea trout running up from the Firth to keep things interesting in summer. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. Declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. The Upper Forth is less glamorous than the Teith or the Allan, which join it near Stirling, but it offers quiet bank fishing on day tickets through local clubs and a gentle introduction to river trout fishing for the Edinburgh and Stirling crowd. Best between April and early July, and again in September when the early autumn floods colour the water and fresh fish move up from the estuary. Not a destination river, but a proper local one — which is often better.

• Mixed