Freestone · Mixed · North East / Aberdeenshire

Ythan

Ythan terrain map
Terrain map

Small northeast freestone river with a specialist reputation — one of Scotland's finest sea trout fisheries, with larger fish than you expect from a river of this size.

Good · Atlantic Salmon
Goodlive now
A good day — worth the effort
River steady at a fishable height. A reliable day. Match the fly size to the water height and cover the lies.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.69 mLast reading 1h ago
  • Water temp12.8°C
  • ClarityClear
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.69 m
Last reading 1h ago
Water temp12.8°C
ClarityClear
Weather11°C
WindNW 10 km/h
Pressure1021 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead7.1 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

Water temperature for atlantic salmon
Ideal
13°C est.ideal 1014°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for atlantic salmon
When
Morning into early afternoon.
Where
Pool tails, steadier runs, and any water with pace.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
13 ft #8/9 double-hander in spate, 10 ft #8 single in low water. Floating line plus a fast-sink tip. 12–15 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 10 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalModerate confidence

Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1

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

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

Small northeast freestone river with a specialist reputation — one of Scotland's finest sea trout fisheries, with larger fish than you expect from a river of this size. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. Declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. Summer sea trout (June–September, peaking July–August) dominate; salmon present but secondary. Brown trout in the upper reaches. The lower river is tidal and the estuary (a nature reserve) concentrates fish. Fish sea trout with smaller dries and nymphs in broken water; night fishing productive. Accessible fishing relative to famous neighbours.

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyModerate
  • ChemicalUnknown

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC023231

Why this score · for atlantic salmon
  • Temperature10030% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon11 February → 31 October
Related guides
Booking & contacts