Stillwater · Peat · Outer Hebrides / Lewis, GB-SCT

Loch Roag System

View of Loch Roag near Hacklete on Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, with calm sea-loch water and distant hills.

A complex interconnected loch system on Lewis's Atlantic coast, where fresh and salt water mix in a landscape of extraordinary beauty.

Today · Closed season
Claret Bumble
Forecast · Today
Closed season
Out of season. File this water for the right month.
40% projected
Today's fly
Claret Bumble
Claret Bumble
Conditions on the water · Today
Estimate
Level
Light rain recently
No gauge reading
Water temp7.6°C
ClarityUnfishable
Weather6°C
WindN 40 km/h
Pressure1000 hPa
Rain · recent3.2 mm
Rain · ahead6.2 mm

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

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Cool — slow
8°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
All day — lough fishing is best in a good wave. Early morning and evening can produce in calm conditions.
Where
Work the drift lanes from the upwind shore across the productive zones. Cover bay edges, underwater reefs, and any areas where the bottom shoals.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
10 ft #7/8 single-hander, floating line, 10–12 lb fluoro leader. Boat seat and waterproofs for the drift.
Likely species
Stoneflies
Chironomids
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 10am

12pm(now) — Black Midge

Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 22%

Peak activity at 10am — Black Midge

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 as a supporter.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence

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

Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
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
Atlantic Salmon fly box

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

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Multiple estates and clubs control different sections
  • FishHebrides is the best starting point for booking
  • Tide tables essential for sea pool timing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 3
Grimersta River & Loch System
5.0 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Loch Morsgail
14 km
0
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Loch Langavat (Lewis)
20 km
0
Brown trout · Char · Salmon
Gallery · 2
  1. View of Loch Roag near Hacklete on Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, with calm sea-loch water and distant hills.
    Loch Roag near Hacklete, Great Bernera, in the Outer Hebrides.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

The system includes several linked lochs feeding into the sea loch of Roag. Salmon and sea trout enter the system from spring onwards and push through into the freshwater lochs. Brown trout are resident throughout. The mix of brackish and freshwater venues means the fishing character changes markedly between different parts of the system. Sea pools at the tidal interface fish best around low water when fish concentrate. A unique hybrid fishery that demands an understanding of tides and weather. Peat-stained moorland water defines this river. Atlantic salmon stocks are Category 3 (declining) — all salmon must be released.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs, seasonal patterns vary by region

  • Loch
  • Peat
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature4630% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time8515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 11 February → 31 October
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Outer Hebrides sea trout system. Sea-lice pressure from Hebridean salmon farms has affected stocks across the entire west coast. 2025 Scottish sea trout rod catches at record lows. Condition-led; local knowledge essential.

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureAtlantic Salmonsalmon tactics
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Loch Roag System is a loch in Outer Hebrides / Lewis, Scotland. Its recorded elevation is about 18 m above sea level and the catchment geology is peat. Our data lists brown trout, salmon and sea trout here. It is classed as a salmon river. The trout season is recorded as running from 15 March to 6 October. The salmon season is recorded as running from 11 February to 31 October. Best window recorded for anglers: May-September; sea trout peak June-August. Core methods listed: loch-style drift; sea-pool fishing around low tide; spate-aware fishing after rain. Nearby waters in our listings include Grimersta River & Loch System at 5.0 km, Loch Morsgail at 14 km and Loch Langavat (Lewis) at 20 km.