Shallow, fertile, rich in fly life. Excellent olive, sedge and buzzer hatches. Fish average 1lb with specimens to 4lb+. Boat and bank. Caithness Fishing Association permits.
- 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. Caithness wind drives the fishing — settled-wind days are precious.
Where
Drift lines along the loch's broad open water. Watten is a shallow Caithness limestone-fed 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, Black Pennell. Drogue is essential on Watten's wide open 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.
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 4 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · November 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
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.
Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point#10
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s
Fly recommendations
Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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
79%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Loch Watten — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 3
Gallery · 4
Loch Watten in winter 
Loch Watten 
Loch Watten's east shore Terrain map
About this water
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100022
Why this score
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators
Loch Watten
Caithness limestone loch — one of Scotland's finest wild brown trout fisheries.
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. Caithness wind drives the fishing — settled-wind days are precious.
Where
Drift lines along the loch's broad open water. Watten is a shallow Caithness limestone-fed 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, Black Pennell. Drogue is essential on Watten's wide open 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.
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 4 as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · November 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
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.
Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point#10
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
How to fish it
Intermediate line · let the breeze drift the team, then hang it 15–30 s
Fly recommendations
Point fly shown — supporters see the whole team, sizes and why.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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
79%
Cloud70%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for Loch Watten — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
Other water nearby · 3
Gallery · 4
Loch Watten in winter Loch Watten Loch Watten's east shore Terrain map
About this water
Shallow, fertile, rich in fly life. Excellent olive, sedge and buzzer hatches. Fish average 1lb with specimens to 4lb+. Boat and bank. Caithness Fishing Association permits.
- Loch
- Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100022
Why this score
- Wind conditions (breezy) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout 15 March → 6 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Boards & regulators
At a glance
Loch Watten is a loch in Caithness, Scotland. Its recorded elevation is about 16 m above sea level and the catchment geology is limestone. The species listed for this water is brown trout. The trout season is recorded as running from 15 March to 6 October. Best window recorded for anglers: May to September. Core methods listed: traditional wet fly; dry fly; buzzer. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as moderate. Nearby waters in our listings include St John's Loch at 16 km, Far North Limestone Lochs at 37 km and Far North Limestone Lochs at 37 km.