Stillwater · Mixed · Shetland / South Mainland, GB-SCT

Loch of Spiggie

A lone fisherman casts from the shore of the Loch of Spiggie in Shetland, with open water and low hills in the background.

Shetland's most celebrated trout loch — a shallow, fertile water near the southern tip of Mainland that produces some of the islands' best brown trout and occasional sea trout.

Closed season · Trout
Olive Bumble · 12–14
Closed season
Season reopens 15 March. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Loch of Spiggie is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 35 km/hFresh breeze · Gusts to 49 km/h
Today's fly
Olive Bumble
Olive Bumble12–14
River-specific pick for this water.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Fresh breeze · Gusts to 49 km/h
SW 35 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp8.0°C
Air temp9°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1002 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftW wind
Eastern end

A westerly has held for 11 hours at much the same temperature as the 8°C water. No thermal steer either way, but the drift still stacks food against the 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
April-September; peak May-July
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 · November 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
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.

Buzzer team todayfor the conditions now
Point
Black buzzer, orange thorax
Not in this water's box
#10
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.

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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.
  • Single Shetland Anglers Association permit covers this and most Shetland waters
  • Very affordable
  • Published season: trout 15 Mar-6 Oct.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 4
Tingwall Area Lochs
27 km
Brown trout
Longa Water
31 km
Brown trout
Loch of Vaara
40 km
Brown trout · Sea trout
Loch of Sulma
41 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. A lone fisherman casts from the shore of the Loch of Spiggie in Shetland, with open water and low hills in the background.
    A lone angler fishing the shoreline of the Loch of Spiggie, Shetland.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Spiggie is unusually rich for Shetland: the loch has a marl bed that supports good populations of shrimp, snails, and olive nymphs, giving the fish excellent condition and colouring. Trout average around three-quarters of a pound but fish to two pounds are taken each season. The loch is relatively accessible by Shetland standards and allows bank fishing, boat, and float tube. Olive patterns are notably effective here — reflecting the loch's richer food base compared to the typical peaty Shetland water. Evening rises can be spectacular in calm weather.

Width
800 m (875 yd)
Length and width: Wikipedia, Lochs of Spiggie and Brow
  • Loch
  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Good
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

SEPA WFD 2022 (loch layer) — Loch of Spiggie: Good status. Corrected 2026-06-18 (was recorded Moderate). Source: SEPA WFD 2022 classification (spatialdata.gov.scot / SEPA Aquatic Classification Hub).

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC100004

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Shetland sea trout lochs are geographically separated from the west-coast sea-lice problem but share the wider northern Atlantic sea trout stock pressures. Spiggie is Shetland's main sea trout water; present and fishable but on a diminished baseline from historical records.

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

Loch of Spiggie is a loch in Shetland / South Mainland, Scotland. It sits at about 1 m above sea level. Our data lists brown trout and sea trout here. The trout season is recorded as running from 15 March to 6 October. Best window recorded for anglers: April-September; peak May-July. Core methods listed: bank fishing with wets and dries; boat or float tube drifting; dry fly to evening risers. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as good. Nearby waters in our listings include Tingwall Area Lochs at 27 km, Longa Water at 31 km and Loch of Vaara at 40 km.