Stillwater · Mixed · Scottish Borders, GB-SCT

Coldingham Loch

Wide view across Coldingham Loch, a spring-fed trout fly fishery in the Scottish Borders near St Abbs.
Fair · Rainbow
Kate McLaren · 12-14
Fairlive now
Buzzer on Coldingham Loch
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
58% confidence

Coldingham Loch is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNW 21 km/hModerate breeze
Today's fly
Kate McLaren
Kate McLaren12-14
Retrieve, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Moderate breeze
NW 21 km/h
N
NW
from the north-west
Wave40 cm chop
Water temp—
Air temp19°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The buzzer is on. Daddy Longlegs may also come into play as the day warms. Drift conditions look good — cover the wind lanes. The breeze will be blowing terrestrial insects onto the water — check the wind lanes and downwind margins for rising fish.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dabbler and bumble on the bob, Hebridean daylight small-attractor family on the middle dropper, and Buzzer and midge family on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Dabbler and bumble on the bob, Hebridean daylight small-attractor family on the middle dropper, and Buzzer and midge family on the point. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.

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

Watch for Sedge towards evening — this could be the best window of the day.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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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
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
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 · 5
Whiteadder Water
16 km
Brown trout
Blackadder Water
29 km
Brown trout
Markle Fisheries
33 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Chatton Trout Fishery
41 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
West Water Reservoir
80 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 5
  1. Wide view across Coldingham Loch, a spring-fed trout fly fishery in the Scottish Borders near St Abbs.
    Coldingham Loch
  2. Coldingham Loch seen from an elevated position with surrounding upland grassland, Scottish Borders.
    Coldingham Loch from the hillside
  3. An angler fishing from a boat on the open water of Coldingham Loch, Scottish Borders.
    A boat angler at Coldingham Loch
  4. Angler fishing at Coldingham Loch with the lochside cottage and boathouse in the background.
    Fishing at Coldingham Loch
  5. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Buzzer is in its seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 31 October
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts