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
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
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
Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
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
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 3
About this water
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100014
Why this score
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts
St John's Loch
Terrain map
Caithness limestone loch — sister water to Watten.
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
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
Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.
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
77%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp100%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 3
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
- Temperature (moderate) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
- Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts