Spate · Mixed · Skye / Waternish

River Hinnisdal

River Hinnisdal terrain map
Terrain map

A small but productive spate river on the Waternish peninsula of Skye, best known for its sea trout fishing.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia River Carron (Wester Ross)
  • Water temp12.7°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Rising
Proxy
via River Carron (Wester Ross)
Water temp12.7°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather11°C
WindNE 8 km/h
Pressure1022 hPa
Rain · recent0.5 mm
Rain · ahead11.6 mm

No gauge on this water — conditions are inferred from River Carron (Wester Ross). The trend transfers, the absolute level does not.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Poor — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 5 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Private beats — check Skye Ghillie or local estate for access
  • Fly only.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 2
River Snizort
14 km
30
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
North Uist Sea Pools & Lochs
39 km
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
About this water

A small but productive spate river on the Waternish peninsula of Skye, best known for its sea trout fishing. The Hinnisdal is short and responds very quickly to rainfall — it can be unfishable at breakfast and perfect by lunch. Sea trout enter from June onwards and the evening and night fishing can be exceptional: warm, overcast nights with a breath of wind are the classic conditions. Salmon also run the river but in smaller numbers than the Snizort. The intimate scale of the water — pools, pockets, and short runs — makes it ideal for a single-handed rod and a stealthy approach. Day fishing for brown trout is also worthwhile. Atlantic salmon stocks are Category 3 (declining) — all salmon must be released.

  • River
  • Mixed
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow8025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon11 February → 31 October
  • Trout15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Skye spate river — west coast sea trout affected by same sea-lice pressures as all Hebridean and west-coast Highland systems. Present but on a diminished baseline. Condition-led; short windows after rain.

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Booking & contacts