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.
Rules at a glance
- Free fishing
- Fly only
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
46% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
E 11 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
7°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for brown trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for brown 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.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
4 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- late spring conditions with overcast skies and ripple wind.
Detail · next 12h
Precipitation
The reading most likely to move tomorrow's verdict
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
St John's Loch · profile
Who this water suits
Strengths · watch-outs · best for
About this water
St John's Loch, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedSt John's Loch · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
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
St John's Loch · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
St John's Loch · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
St John's Loch
Terrain map
Caithness limestone loch — sister water to Watten.
Species
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
46% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
E 11 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
20 cm ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
7°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
—
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Condition match
54%
Cloud70%
Wind65%
Temp25%
A reasonable day here, though temperature isn't quite in the sweet spot.
How to fish it · for brown 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
Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- late spring conditions with overcast skies and ripple wind.
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
1
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1
Blue Winged OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Directions
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
Seasons & zones
- Trout15 March → 6 October
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
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.
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts