Stillwater · Mixed · Isle of Bute

Loch Fad

Loch Fad venue image

Loch Fad sits in the middle of the Isle of Bute, which is the first thing that makes it unusual — you catch the ferry at Wemyss Bay and fish an hour later, which shouldn't feel as much of an adventure as it does.

Fair · Rainbow
Marabou Damsel · 8-12
Fairlive now
Buzzer expected on Loch Fad
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
51% confidence

Loch Fad is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 28 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Marabou Damsel
Marabou Damsel8-12
Retrieve, sub-surface
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Moderate breeze
NW 28 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp
Air temp16°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The daddy longlegs are on. Sedge may also come into play as the day warms. The breeze will be blowing terrestrial insects onto the water — check the wind lanes and downwind margins for rising fish.
Where
Work Black Pennell on the bob, Ke-He on the middle dropper, and Marabou Damsel on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Work Black Pennell on the bob, Ke-He 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

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — at anchor

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

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
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
63%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp100%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Loch Fad sits in the middle of the Isle of Bute, which is the first thing that makes it unusual — you catch the ferry at Wemyss Bay and fish an hour later, which shouldn't feel as much of an adventure as it does. The loch itself is a long, shallow, fertile stillwater with a reputation for growing very large rainbows and blues, and for hosting more or less every stillwater fly fishing international Scotland has been asked to run. The boats drift the traditional way, the fish come to the right fly presented with the right drift, and the scenery — low hills, Arran in the middle distance, the occasional red deer — is a quiet bonus. It is not a wilderness experience. You are fishing a managed venue. But it is one of the best managed venues in Britain and very much worth the ferry ticket.

  • Loch
  • Mixed
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout year-roundyear-round
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts