Stillwater · Granite · Outer Hebrides / Harris, GB-SCT

Harris Hill Lochs

Calm evening light on Loch Leosavay, a hill loch in North Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

The mountainous interior of Harris holds dozens of remote hill lochs in some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland.

Fair · Trout
Bumble · 10-12
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Harris Hill Lochs
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
58% confidence

Harris Hill Lochs is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 22 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
BU
Bumble10-12
Proven pattern for this period
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SE 22 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp8.5°C
Air temp8°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1015 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end

A southeasterly has held for 6 hours at much the same temperature as the 9°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May-September; peak June-August
Where
Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Work Black Pennell on the bob and Bumble on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — at anchor

Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Supporters see the full sub-surface read.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 4 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Claret DunHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box

Rougher, darker and more traditional. Stronger weighting on dark wets, bushy bob flies and commotion-making patterns.

BU
BumbleTop
10-12 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Permission from relevant Harris estate
  • Some waters available through Rodel Hotel, Amhuinnsuidhe Castle estate, or local clubs
  • FishHebrides for guidance.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

Conditions are away from Harris Hill Lochs's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 1
Loch Voshimid
3.0 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Calm evening light on Loch Leosavay, a hill loch in North Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.
    Evening light on Loch Leosavay, one of the North Harris hill lochs on the Amhuinnsuidhe estate.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The mountainous interior of Harris holds dozens of remote hill lochs in some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland. These are granite-basin waters — slightly acidic, moderately peaty, set among the bare rock and heather of the Harris hills. The trout are wild and numerous if not large, typically six to twelve ounces, with occasional fish to a pound and a half. Access requires walking — some lochs are an hour or more from the road — and the rewards are solitude, scenery, and sport in equal measure. The fishing is simple: a team of traditional wet flies drifted on the wind, with the occasional dry fly opportunity when fish rise in the shallows. Harris also holds some low-lying lochs closer to the road that offer easier access.

  • Loch
  • Granite
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts