Mayflies
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020093
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow16°C est.ideal 10–14°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 clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
- Blue-winged oliveMost likely#16–18 · DunDuns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
- Anglers curse mayfliesAlso possibleLower confidence#20–22 · SpinnerGo tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
- Green drakeAlso possibleLower confidence#8–10 · DunDuns are up — the Spent Gnat spinners fall at dusk.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · August 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.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Morning mist on the River Shin, Lairg, Sutherland Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
- Temperature5630% weight
- Flow6025% weight
- Clarity9520% weight
- Feeding Time5015% weight
- Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 11 January → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Falls of Shin is a famous salmon-watching landmark; the Shin also holds sea trout in its lower reaches. Scottish sea trout at record lows nationally in 2025. Sea trout secondary to salmon here.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
River Shin
Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow16°C est.ideal 10–14°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 clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Mayflies
- Blue-winged oliveMost likely#16–18 · DunDuns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
- Anglers curse mayfliesAlso possibleLower confidence#20–22 · SpinnerGo tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
- Green drakeAlso possibleLower confidence#8–10 · DunDuns are up — the Spent Gnat spinners fall at dusk.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Through the year
0–3 scale · August 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.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Morning mist on the River Shin, Lairg, Sutherland Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020093
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
- Temperature5630% weight
- Flow6025% weight
- Clarity9520% weight
- Feeding Time5015% weight
- Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Salmon 11 January → 30 September
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Falls of Shin is a famous salmon-watching landmark; the Shin also holds sea trout in its lower reaches. Scottish sea trout at record lows nationally in 2025. Sea trout secondary to salmon here.
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations