Freestone · Mixed · Lothian

River Almond (Lothian)

River Almond, Lothian venue image
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The River Almond (Lothian) is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
75% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.30 mLast reading 1h ago
  • Water temp13.3°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.30 m
Last reading 1h ago
Water temp13.3°C
ClarityClear
Weather11°C
WindW 6 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent20.5 mm
Rain · ahead5.0 mm

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

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 1014°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.
Why this works
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 10 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July 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
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

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

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The River Almond (Lothian) is a declining Atlantic salmon system where declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. 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
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
  • Salmon1 February → 31 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts