Stillwater · Mixed · West Lothian, GB-SCT

Linlithgow Loch

Panoramic view north across the full expanse of Linlithgow Loch from the elevated Queen's Bower vantage point.

The loch that sits in the middle of Linlithgow town with a ruined royal palace reflected in the far end, which is exactly as picturesque as it sounds and makes for a slightly surreal fishing experience when the town is getting on with its Saturday afternoon twenty yards from your back-cast.

Good · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Goodlive now
Buzzer on Linlithgow Loch
Good wave on — drift country. Drift fishing weather — three flies on a long leader.
66% confidence

Linlithgow Loch is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindE 19 km/hGentle breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze
E 19 km/h
N
E
from the east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp9.7°C
Air temp10°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftE wind
Eastern end

An easterly has held for 10 hours, running colder than the water (8°C air against 10°C water). The end it blows into is taking that chilled surface water, so try the sheltered eastern end instead — off the back of the wind, where the undertow returns food along the bottom. That chill sits in the top of the water, though, and the bed is slower to feel it — on a bottom bait it is the undertow, not the temperature, that puts you at this end. 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 Rainbow
When
The buzzer is on. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Black Pennell on the bob, Olive on the middle dropper, and Marabou Damsel on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Black Pennell on the bob, Olive on the middle dropper, and Marabou Damsel 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

Buzzer may strengthen through the middle of the day as conditions warm.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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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
1
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Bowden Springs Trout Fishery
1.0 km
Rainbow trout
Millhall Reservoir
6.0 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Drumtassie Fishery
12 km
Rainbow trout
Allandale Tarn Fisheries
13 km
Brown trout
River Carron (Stirlingshire)
14 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 6
  1. Panoramic view north across the full expanse of Linlithgow Loch from the elevated Queen's Bower vantage point.
    Linlithgow Loch from the Queen's Bower
  2. Wide panoramic view of Linlithgow Loch stretching across the frame under a partly cloudy sky, West Lothian.
    Linlithgow Loch
  3. View from the water looking east along Linlithgow Loch towards Linlithgow Palace rising on the shoreline.
    Linlithgow Palace from Linlithgow Loch
  4. Linlithgow Palace viewed across the loch with open water in the foreground and the palace ruins on the far shore.
    Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch
  5. Open expanse of Linlithgow Loch with shoreline vegetation and calm water under a grey Scottish sky.
    Linlithgow Loch
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The loch that sits in the middle of Linlithgow town with a ruined royal palace reflected in the far end, which is exactly as picturesque as it sounds and makes for a slightly surreal fishing experience when the town is getting on with its Saturday afternoon twenty yards from your back-cast. Managed by the Forth Area Federation of Anglers. Stocked rainbow and brown trout, with a wild brown component and a decent head of fry-feeders by autumn. It fishes better than it has any right to, given the setting — and if you can stop looking at the palace long enough to watch your dropper, you'll find out why it has held a loyal following for decades.

  • Loch
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 April → 31 October
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts