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.
57% confidence

Lunga Water is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 23 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
TR
Tippet and Red10-12
River-specific pick for this water.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Moderate breeze
W 23 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp13°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May-August
Where
Work Mini Lure on the bob and Sedgehog on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Work Mini Lure on the bob and Sedgehog 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

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

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 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Through the year
0–3 scale · August 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
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

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.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Shetland Anglers Association permit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

Conditions are away from Lunga Water's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

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.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their 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