Mayflies
Caddisflies
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020166
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal14°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Large sedgesMost likelyNearest relative#8–10 · AdultBig waked sedge in the last light and after dark.
- Net-spinning caddisAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12 Uhr
12 Uhr(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 52%
Also:Reed Smut45%Autumn Dun27%Cinnamon Sedge26%
Peak emergence window10 food groups active
Peak activity at 12 Uhr — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 4 · 3 reaches
The Conon is the hydro river of the Easter Ross tranche — larger and more engineered than its neighbours, with the Loch Luichart / Tor Achilty scheme governing its flows. FishPal puts it bluntly: it can fish well after a hydro release in low water, so it must NOT inherit a generic spate low-water penalty. The beat structure is unusually well-defined: the Estuary Beat is Dingwall & District AA association/tidal water, Brahan is a Conon Syndicate timeshare, Lower Fairburn and Coul are estate beats below Tor Achilty Dam, and Upper Conon is Loch Achonachie Angling Club. April spinning is permitted on many beats; spring high water needs caution; grilse peak in August. The Cromarty conservation policy requires all salmon returned to 30 June and at least 70% annual release. Confirm beat rules, boat/wading safety and tide windows before booking.
Fairburn & Coul · 2 beatsDay rods
Lower Fairburn, Coul Fishings
The 2 beats
Lower FairburnSeason rods
Fairburn Estate
The cleanest Conon import — Fairburn Estate states about two and a half miles from above the Blackwater junction to the Orrin junction, with more than 13 named pools, five rods and a ghillie, fished by bank, wading or boat depending on conditions. Rods are available individually early season before five-rod weekly bookings later; booked direct with the estate.
Cromarty Firth policy: all salmon returned up to 30 June; after 30 June all fish over 30 in / 75 cm released, with at least 70% of the annual rod catch returned; avoid trebles, use barbless, keep fish in the water. Hydro-influenced — releases can lift low-water fishing; high spring water alters method and boat/wading safety. Statutory close before 1 April; no Sunday salmon or sea-trout fishing.
Coul FishingsSeason rods
Coul (verify)
The beat starting below Tor Achilty Dam, accessed by boat — estate water in the same middle-river corridor as Fairburn, immediately downstream of the hydro release point, so it responds directly to managed flows. Booking route and rods need confirming.
Cromarty Firth conservation policy applies (all salmon returned to 30 June; 70% annual release). Below Tor Achilty Dam — read hydro releases, not just rainfall; boat access means flow-dependent safety. Statutory close before 1 April; no Sunday salmon or sea-trout fishing. Verify controller and booking route.
Dingwall & District AA Estuary BeatMembers
The ordinary-angler route into the Conon — the Estuary Beat near the Cromarty Firth, controlled by Dingwall & District AA, with association/permit access and public value.
Brahan & Blackwater contextMembers-only
Brahan (Upper, Middle and Lower beats) is run as a timeshare by the Conon Syndicate and is not generally open day-ticket water; the Blackwater is the main tributary, with lower/middle/upper sections joining the Conon below Loch Achonachie.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
img169 Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 26 January → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
River Conon
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal14°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Likely species
Caddisflies
- Large sedgesMost likelyNearest relative#8–10 · AdultBig waked sedge in the last light and after dark.
- Net-spinning caddisAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#12–14–16 · PupaWidespread riffle net-spinner; evening emergence.
- CapererAlso possibleLower confidence#10–12 · AdultBig autumn sedge; fish dry at last light.
- Green SedgeAlso possibleLower confidenceNearest relative#10–12–14–16 · NymphFree-living green caddis larva; fast stony riffles.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12 Uhr
12 Uhr(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 52%
Also:Reed Smut45%Autumn Dun27%Cinnamon Sedge26%
Peak emergence window10 food groups active
Peak activity at 12 Uhr — Heather Fly (Heather Fly, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 4 · 3 reaches
The Conon is the hydro river of the Easter Ross tranche — larger and more engineered than its neighbours, with the Loch Luichart / Tor Achilty scheme governing its flows. FishPal puts it bluntly: it can fish well after a hydro release in low water, so it must NOT inherit a generic spate low-water penalty. The beat structure is unusually well-defined: the Estuary Beat is Dingwall & District AA association/tidal water, Brahan is a Conon Syndicate timeshare, Lower Fairburn and Coul are estate beats below Tor Achilty Dam, and Upper Conon is Loch Achonachie Angling Club. April spinning is permitted on many beats; spring high water needs caution; grilse peak in August. The Cromarty conservation policy requires all salmon returned to 30 June and at least 70% annual release. Confirm beat rules, boat/wading safety and tide windows before booking.
Fairburn & Coul · 2 beatsDay rods
Lower Fairburn, Coul Fishings
The 2 beats
Lower FairburnSeason rods
Fairburn Estate
The cleanest Conon import — Fairburn Estate states about two and a half miles from above the Blackwater junction to the Orrin junction, with more than 13 named pools, five rods and a ghillie, fished by bank, wading or boat depending on conditions. Rods are available individually early season before five-rod weekly bookings later; booked direct with the estate.
Cromarty Firth policy: all salmon returned up to 30 June; after 30 June all fish over 30 in / 75 cm released, with at least 70% of the annual rod catch returned; avoid trebles, use barbless, keep fish in the water. Hydro-influenced — releases can lift low-water fishing; high spring water alters method and boat/wading safety. Statutory close before 1 April; no Sunday salmon or sea-trout fishing.
Coul FishingsSeason rods
Coul (verify)
The beat starting below Tor Achilty Dam, accessed by boat — estate water in the same middle-river corridor as Fairburn, immediately downstream of the hydro release point, so it responds directly to managed flows. Booking route and rods need confirming.
Cromarty Firth conservation policy applies (all salmon returned to 30 June; 70% annual release). Below Tor Achilty Dam — read hydro releases, not just rainfall; boat access means flow-dependent safety. Statutory close before 1 April; no Sunday salmon or sea-trout fishing. Verify controller and booking route.
Dingwall & District AA Estuary BeatMembers
The ordinary-angler route into the Conon — the Estuary Beat near the Cromarty Firth, controlled by Dingwall & District AA, with association/permit access and public value.
Brahan & Blackwater contextMembers-only
Brahan (Upper, Middle and Lower beats) is run as a timeshare by the Conon Syndicate and is not generally open day-ticket water; the Blackwater is the main tributary, with lower/middle/upper sections joining the Conon below Loch Achonachie.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
img169 Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020166
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 26 January → 30 September
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts