Mayflies
Caddisflies
Damselflies & dragonflies
Gammarids
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020093
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal13°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.
Damselflies & dragonflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12:00
12:00(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 41%
Also:Daddy Long Legs35%
Peak emergence window9 food groups active
Peak activity at 12:00 — 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.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 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
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Morning mist on the River Shin, Lairg, Sutherland Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
- Temperature10030% weight
- Flow6025% weight
- Clarity9520% weight
- Feeding Time2015% weight
- Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 11 January → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Falls of Shin is a famous salmon-watching landmark; the Shin also holds sea trout in its lower reaches. Scottish sea trout at record lows nationally in 2025. Sea trout secondary to salmon here.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
River Shin
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal13°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.
Damselflies & dragonflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 12:00
12:00(now) — Heather Fly
Stage: Terrestrials on topApproach: Dry flyActivity: 41%
Also:Daddy Long Legs35%
Peak emergence window9 food groups active
Peak activity at 12:00 — 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.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 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
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Morning mist on the River Shin, Lairg, Sutherland Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020093
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
- Temperature10030% weight
- Flow6025% weight
- Clarity9520% weight
- Feeding Time2015% weight
- Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 11 January → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Falls of Shin is a famous salmon-watching landmark; the Shin also holds sea trout in its lower reaches. Scottish sea trout at record lows nationally in 2025. Sea trout secondary to salmon here.
Related guides
Booking & contacts