Caithness limestone loch — sister water to Watten. Shallow and fertile with excellent wild brown trout. Traditional wet-fly from boat. Good olive and sedge hatches. Smaller and more intimate than Watten.
- Loch
- Limestone
Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end
A southeasterly has held for most of a day at much the same temperature as the 12°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
Through the open trout season — 15 March to 6 October. Buzzers from April through June; sedges through summer evenings; small dark flies into autumn close.
Where
Drift lines along the broad Caithness open water. St John's is a shallow limestone-influenced loch — fish on and around the weed structure.
Method
Drifted team of three on a floating line — traditional Caithness wet-fly. Soldier Palmer, Loch Ordie, Bibio, Black Pennell. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod, floating and slow-intermediate lines, 6 lb fluoro tippet. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. 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
Buzzer may strengthen through the middle of the day as conditions warm.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
Claret DunHatch
1
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
Still traditional loch-style, but with slightly more room for olives, upwings, lighter attractors and surface-oriented fishing when conditions suit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
51%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Other water nearby · 3
Gallery · 2
St John's Loch near Dunnet Head, Caithness, a well-known trout loch. Terrain map
About this water
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100014
Why this score
- Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
- Dounreay Fly Fishing Association / RBL Thurso boatsFor St John's Loch, DFFA is the clearest permit-and-boat route for visitors, with RBL Thurso also operating boats on some Caithness lochs. This is a local-club booking model, not a polished retail fishery.
- Royal British Legion Scotland Thurso anglingRules and access info for Loch of Lowes / St John's Loch
Boards & regulators
St John's Loch
Caithness limestone loch — sister water to Watten.
Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end
A southeasterly has held for most of a day at much the same temperature as the 12°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
Through the open trout season — 15 March to 6 October. Buzzers from April through June; sedges through summer evenings; small dark flies into autumn close.
Where
Drift lines along the broad Caithness open water. St John's is a shallow limestone-influenced loch — fish on and around the weed structure.
Method
Drifted team of three on a floating line — traditional Caithness wet-fly. Soldier Palmer, Loch Ordie, Bibio, Black Pennell. Drogue on the bigger drifts.
Kit
10 ft #6/7 boat rod, floating and slow-intermediate lines, 6 lb fluoro tippet. Drogue and a long-handled net.
The plan
Plan A
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. 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
Buzzer may strengthen through the middle of the day as conditions warm.
Bank, sheltered shores
Strong wind makes boat fishing difficult — sheltered bank spots near lee shores will fish best.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-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
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Hawthorn FlyHatch
2
2
Claret DunHatch
1
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
Still traditional loch-style, but with slightly more room for olives, upwings, lighter attractors and surface-oriented fishing when conditions suit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
51%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp60%
A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.
Other water nearby · 3
Gallery · 2
St John's Loch near Dunnet Head, Caithness, a well-known trout loch. Terrain map
About this water
Caithness limestone loch — sister water to Watten. Shallow and fertile with excellent wild brown trout. Traditional wet-fly from boat. Good olive and sedge hatches. Smaller and more intimate than Watten.
- Loch
- Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100014
Why this score
- Wind conditions (strong) are not ideal for this water.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Permits & access
- Dounreay Fly Fishing Association / RBL Thurso boatsFor St John's Loch, DFFA is the clearest permit-and-boat route for visitors, with RBL Thurso also operating boats on some Caithness lochs. This is a local-club booking model, not a polished retail fishery.
- Royal British Legion Scotland Thurso anglingRules and access info for Loch of Lowes / St John's Loch
Boards & regulators