Stillwater · Limestone · Orkney

Loch Harray

A broad view across the full expanse of Loch of Harray showing the low Orkney shoreline and open sky.
Contributor photo

Across the Loch of Harray

Gordon Hatton - CC BY-SA 2.0

Orkney's largest freshwater loch — fertile limestone water with wild brown trout averaging 1lb+.

Marginal · Trout
Bibio · 10-12
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
37% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • WindNW 8 km/hLight breeze
Today’s fly
Bibio
Bibio10-12
Fish it in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
NW 8 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
WaveRipple
Water temp—
Air temp11°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for trout
When
May to September
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph 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 — drift

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
64%
Cloud100%
Wind65%
Temp25%

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

Other water nearby · 1
St John's Loch
46 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 6
  1. A broad view across the full expanse of Loch of Harray showing the low Orkney shoreline and open sky.
    Across the Loch of Harray
  2. Golden sunset light reflected on the surface of Loch of Harray, the far shore silhouetted against a red sky.
    Last rays of the sun over Loch of Harray
  3. Open water of Loch of Harray viewed from the Ring of Brodgar isthmus under an overcast Orkney sky.
    Loch of Harray from Ring of Brodgar
  4. Loch of Harray stretching into the distance seen from the Standing Stones of Stenness, megaliths in the foreground.
    Loch of Harray from the Standing Stones of Stenness
  5. Mirror-calm water of Loch of Harray on a still morning, reflecting the sky and distant Orkney shoreline.
    Loch of Harray on a calm morning
  6. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Orkney's largest freshwater loch — fertile limestone water with wild brown trout averaging 1lb+. Outstanding fly life: olives, sedges, daphnia, buzzers. Classic traditional loch-style from boat. Connected to brackish Loch of Stenness. Orkney Trout Fishing Association.

  • Loch
  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

SEPA WFD 2022 — Loch Harray: Moderate status. Corrected 2026-06-18 (was recorded Good). Source: SEPA WFD 2022 classification (spatialdata.gov.scot / SEPA Aquatic Classification Hub).

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100008

Why this score
  • Cloud cover (mixed) suits the fishery well.
  • Lake Olive is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts