Mayflies
Stoneflies
Caddisflies
Gammarids
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020305
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal12°C est.ideal 10–16°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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 18h
12h(now) — Autumn Needle Fly
Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 75%
Also:Black Gnat74%Autumn Olive55%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost9 food groups active
Peak activity at 18h — Caperer (Caperer, Weather boost)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Supporters see what else is on the menu.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 3
The Nairn is a compact, association-led spate river — about 40 miles long, with strong ordinary-angler value and three target species. The headline access is Nairn Angling Association, FishPal-described as arguably some of the best salmon and sea-trout association water in Scotland, with six miles, four rods and 34 named pools (the association's own site says an eight-mile stretch — log that as a boundary discrepancy, not a silent fix). The board runs a 2026 conservation policy with practical, gauge-tied method rules. The useful question is height: low clear water is hard, a fresh falling spate transforms it, and brown trout sit in a separate lane from the salmon story.
Nairn Angling AssociationMembers
The main public-access route and the heart of the river — the association (founded 1923) controls a long association stretch around Nairn with affordable day and visitor permits, no ghillies, and a five-year average around 113 fish.
Middle NairnEnquiry
Potential salmon, sea-trout and brown-trout water above the main association stretch — held as context until controllers and any visitor route are verified.
Upper Nairn — brown trout contextEnquiry
Headwater and upper-river brown-trout context flowing off the Grampian Highlands — not a salmon-first product.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
River Nairn — image via Wikipedia (River Nairn) Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 1 February → 7 October
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
River Nairn
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Ideal12°C est.ideal 10–16°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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Likely species
Caddisflies
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 18h
12h(now) — Autumn Needle Fly
Stage: Creeping nymphsApproach: Heavy nymphActivity: 75%
Also:Black Gnat74%Autumn Olive55%
Peak emergence windowWeather boost9 food groups active
Peak activity at 18h — Caperer (Caperer, Weather boost)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Supporters see what else is on the menu.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Survey-backed · regionalHigh confidence
Backed by regional invertebrate surveys; no sampling on this exact reach yet.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
CapererHatch
2
3
3
2
Heather FlyHatch
2
2
Autumn DunHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Fly box · Atlantic Salmon
Beats · 3
The Nairn is a compact, association-led spate river — about 40 miles long, with strong ordinary-angler value and three target species. The headline access is Nairn Angling Association, FishPal-described as arguably some of the best salmon and sea-trout association water in Scotland, with six miles, four rods and 34 named pools (the association's own site says an eight-mile stretch — log that as a boundary discrepancy, not a silent fix). The board runs a 2026 conservation policy with practical, gauge-tied method rules. The useful question is height: low clear water is hard, a fresh falling spate transforms it, and brown trout sit in a separate lane from the salmon story.
Nairn Angling AssociationMembers
The main public-access route and the heart of the river — the association (founded 1923) controls a long association stretch around Nairn with affordable day and visitor permits, no ghillies, and a five-year average around 113 fish.
Middle NairnEnquiry
Potential salmon, sea-trout and brown-trout water above the main association stretch — held as context until controllers and any visitor route are verified.
Upper Nairn — brown trout contextEnquiry
Headwater and upper-river brown-trout context flowing off the Grampian Highlands — not a salmon-first product.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
River Nairn — image via Wikipedia (River Nairn) Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020305
The full read · show the working · for Atlantic Salmon · confidence 75%
How the river scores — hydrology factors
Water heightMedium Ideal0.0
Recent riseNone0.0
Falling after liftNot Applicable0.0
Water temperatureCool To Moderate0.0
Time in seasonOpening Period0.0
ClarityClearing0.0
Hydrology base0.0
Legal gate: Unknown Check Local Rules
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 1 February → 7 October
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts