Stillwater · Peat · Shetland / North Mainland, GB-SCT

Lunga Water

A calm Shetland loch, Lunga Water, near West Sandwick on the island of Yell, lit by dusk light.

One of Shetland's larger northern lochs — a wild, peaty water set in open voe-and-moor country.

Fair · Trout
Tippet and Red · 10-12
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Lunga Water
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
58% confidence

Lunga Water is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 28 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Tippet and Red
Tippet and Red10-12
River-specific pick for this water.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SW 28 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp10.7°C
Air temp12°C
CloudBroken
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Head to
Wind driftSW wind
North-eastern end

A southwesterly has held for 16 hours at much the same temperature as the 11°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the north-eastern end — the bank it is blowing into — so start there. This reads the upper water, though — a bottom bait at range feels it far less than a floater or a fish in the margins. Treat it as a tiebreaker between good swims rather than an override — features and angling pressure usually count for more.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May-August
Where
Work Gorgeous George on the bob and Pennel on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Work Gorgeous George on the bob and Pennel 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 — at anchor

Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · September highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Claret DunHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box

A very distinctive mixed style: bushy top droppers, sedgehogs, snatchers, midge imitations, Pennels and mini lures all have a place.

CH
Cannops Hedgehog
10-12 · bob fly
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Shetland Anglers Association permit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
63%
Cloud70%
Wind30%
Temp100%

A reasonable day here, though wind isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 4
Longa Water
17 km
Brown trout
Loch of Vaara
36 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Loch of Sulma
40 km
Brown trout
Tingwall Area Lochs
47 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. A calm Shetland loch, Lunga Water, near West Sandwick on the island of Yell, lit by dusk light.
    Lunga Water near West Sandwick, Yell, Shetland, at dusk.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

One of Shetland's larger northern lochs — a wild, peaty water set in open voe-and-moor country. Lunga Water holds a good population of brown trout and the occasional sea trout. Less fished than the southern and central lochs, it rewards the angler willing to walk a little further. The surrounding landscape is bleak and beautiful — otters, great skuas, and red-throated divers share the water. Fishing here is as much about the experience as the catch. The trout are genuine wild fish that have never seen a pellet.

  • Loch
  • Peat
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for autumn fishing.
  • Lake Olive is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Shetland sea trout system. Present but on diminished stock baseline versus historical levels. Condition-dependent; local knowledge required.

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureEuro Nymphingsubsurface methods
Booking & contacts