Freestone · Mixed · Lothian

River Almond (Lothian)

River Almond, Lothian venue image
Google Places

The Almond rises in the low hills of West Lothian above Livingston and runs east to the Forth at Cramond, cutting through Edinburgh's western suburbs on the way.

Species

Decent — worth a look

Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
7°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Conditions
Level
0.30 m
Water temp
6.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
9°C
Wind
SW 13 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1002 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
4.0 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Almond rises in the low hills of West Lothian above Livingston and runs east to the Forth at Cramond, cutting through Edinburgh's western suburbs on the way. It is one of two Almonds in Scotland (the other is a Perthshire Tay tributary, which has its own entry), and the Lothian version is a genuine urban success story — badly polluted in the industrial era, now recovered enough to hold wild brown trout throughout, with sea trout and the occasional salmon pushing up from Cramond through the summer. The upper river above Livingston fishes in the classic Scottish freestone style: pockets, short runs, a team of spiders upstream on a 4-weight. The lower river through Cramond is tidal and holds sea trout that come on the evening flood. Fishing is controlled by local clubs (Cramond Angling Club and Almond Angling Association) and day tickets are accessible and affordable. A quietly rewarding river for any Edinburgh-based angler.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon1 February → 31 October
Other water nearby · 5