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.

Fair · Trout
Cormorant · 10-14
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Loch of Spiggie
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
58% confidence

Loch of Spiggie is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 26 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Cormorant
Cormorant10-14
River-specific pick for this water.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Moderate breeze
SE 26 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp10.7°C
Air temp12°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1023 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

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

Head to
Wind driftSE wind
North-western end

A southeasterly has held for most of a day, running warmer than the water (12°C air against 11°C water). Expect fish at the north-western end — the bank it is blowing into — where the drift piles food, colour and warmth together. 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

Lake Olive may strengthen through the middle of the day as conditions warm.

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.

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
57%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp100%

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

Other water nearby · 3
Tingwall Area Lochs
27 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

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. 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.

  • 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.
  • 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 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