Stillwater · Mixed · Perthshire

Loch Tay

Loch Tay venue image
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Loch Tay sits at the head of the Tay system in Perthshire — fifteen miles long, deep in its central basin (over 500 feet, more than most people realise), and holding the strange Highland combination of spring salmon, wild brown trout, Arctic charr, and ferox.

Species

Marginal — persistence required

Low and clear — careful approach country. Hard going on bright water. Favour cloud and shadow.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
6°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature1630% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time7015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
5.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1002 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
5.6 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

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.
Why this works
Poor conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Temperature is weakest (16).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
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.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Directions
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About this water

Loch Tay sits at the head of the Tay system in Perthshire — fifteen miles long, deep in its central basin (over 500 feet, more than most people realise), and holding the strange Highland combination of spring salmon, wild brown trout, Arctic charr, and ferox. The salmon come up from the river below and hold in the shallower bays at the east end for much of the spring — trolling is the traditional method and still the most productive, though fly fishing from anchored boats on the morning calm can produce when conditions are right. Brown trout fishing in the eastern and western basins is classic Highland loch-style work, with a team of three wet flies drifted on a moderate ripple from April through June. Arctic charr live in the deep central basin and surface rarely; catching one is a specialist pursuit involving down-rigged deep presentation and long patient days. The loch opens on 15 January for salmon, matching the river — one of the earliest openings in Scotland. Boats and permits through the Kenmore and Killin hotels and the Loch Tay Fisheries.

  • Loch
  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon15 January → 15 October
  • Char15 March → 6 October
Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts