Stillwater · Mixed · Shetland / South Mainland

Loch of Spiggie

Loch of Spiggie terrain map
Terrain map

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
Sedgehog · 10-12
A respectable few hours, if you choose your moments
Glassy and bright — hard work without a breeze. Hard work without breeze. Look for the dimples.
47% confidence
limited data

This venue is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 4 km/hCalm
Today’s fly
Sedgehog
Sedgehog10-12
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Calm
NW 4 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
WaveFlat calm
Water temp—
Air temp12°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1020 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for trout
When
April-September; peak May-July
Where
With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Potty's Palmer on the bob and Mini Lure on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or buzzer-under-bung approach may be more effective than a drifted team.
The plan
Plan A

With limited drift, anchor or fish static from sheltered positions. Work Potty's Palmer on the bob and Mini Lure on the point. In the calm, a single dry fly or buzzer-under-bung approach may be more effective than a drifted team.

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.

Bank

Flat calm suits bank fishing near features — points, weed beds, and inflows where fish patrol.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July 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
ML
Mini Lure
10-12 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
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
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud 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
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
  • Lake Olive is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout15 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