Spate · Mixed · Skye / Trotternish

River Snizort

River Snizort venue image
Google Places

Skye's longest and most important salmon river — a typical Highland spate river running north through the Trotternish peninsula to the sea.

Species

Slow going — better windows ahead

River dropping into shape after a lift. Cover the water properly, fish each lie once.

50% confidence in this read
Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Cool — slow
5°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature930% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Conditions
Level
1.24 m
Water temp
5.2°C
Estimated
Clarity
Very coloured
Colouring up
Air temp
6°C
Wind
S 9 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1001 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
11.2 mm
Moderate 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
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
Very poor conditions. Pressure is favourable (85), Temperature is weakest (9).
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
1
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Yellow SallyHatch
2
3
2

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

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Association and private beat model
  • Several beats available as day lets — check Skye Ghillie or FishPal for availability
  • Fly only on most beats.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Skye's longest and most important salmon river — a typical Highland spate river running north through the Trotternish peninsula to the sea. The Snizort receives runs of salmon from July onwards, with the peak in August and September after summer spates. Sea trout also enter the system. In low water the river is intimate — small pools, narrow runs, pocket water that fishes well with a single-handed rod. After rain it rises fast and colours quickly (the peat catchment responds in hours), and dropping, clearing water after a spate is the golden window. The lower beats near the estuary fish first as fresh fish push through; the upper beats hold resident fish later in the season. Brown trout are present throughout and provide sport when salmon are not running.

  • River
  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon11 February → 31 October
  • Trout15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Skye river — west coast of Scotland. Sea-lice pressure from salmon farming affects Skye sea trout as part of the broader west-coast collapse pattern. 2025 Scottish sea trout rod catch at record lows. Condition-dependent; local knowledge essential.

Other water nearby · 5
Booking & contacts