- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020339
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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 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 2 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
See what else is on the menu with Pro.
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 · 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
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 3 · 2 reaches
The Lochy is the best-structured salmon river on the west coast — four rotating beats of roughly 2.5 miles, up to four rods each, 38 named pools, with extra fishing on the pools below Mucomir Dam and the Tailrace estuary beat. Rods rotate through the beats over a week; access is by FishPal and estate booking rather than walk-up day tickets. Don't score it as a simple small spate river: Loch Lochy above buffers flow, and the Mucomir Dam controls the head of the system. One current honesty flag: after Storm Amy in October 2025, an estimated 75,000 salmon escaped from a Mowi farm and anglers caught suspected farmed fish in the river — surface escaped-farmed-salmon reporting guidance where relevant. Confirm the Lochaber DSFB conservation code and grade before fishing.
River Lochy — rotating beats · 2 beatsDay rods
River Lochy rotating beats, Lochy Tailrace & estuary
The 2 beats
River Lochy rotating beatsBallot
River Lochy (via FishPal)
The river's core product: four rotating beats of around 2.5 miles, up to four rods each, 38 named pools, rods rotating through the beats over a fishing week. The strongest west-coast salmon import — bookable through FishPal and the fishery direct, often as a weekly let with ghillie support.
Statutory C&R on salmon before 1 April; no Sunday salmon fishing. Verify the current Lochaber DSFB / River Lochy conservation code and Scottish Government grade before fishing. Best on a falling flood — the river rises and drops fast. Report any suspected escaped farmed salmon.
Lochy Tailrace & estuaryAgent booking
River Lochy (via FishPal)
The lower extras: the Tailrace estuary beat and the pools below Mucomir Dam, which take fresh fish straight off the tide and from the regulated head of the system. Accessed through the main fishery alongside the rotating beats rather than as a standalone day rod.
Statutory C&R before 1 April; no Sunday salmon fishing. Tailrace and dam-influenced water behaves differently from natural river flow — local rules and safety take priority. Verify access route through the fishery.
Visit official site ↗Loch Lochy boat fishingGuide / lodge
A separate loch/boat venue, not part of the river beat product: Loch Lochy is sold as a loch package with permits, boat hire, lifejackets and tackle if needed, and an optional ghillie.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 3
Gallery · 2
An angler fishing the River Lochy near Fort William, Highland. 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 15 February → 15 October
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations
River Lochy
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
Fair conditions based on river hydrology and migration patterns.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6am
Hatch predictions
Today's headline hatch shown — see all 4 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 2 guilds with Pro.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey
Hatch predictions
See what else is on the menu with Pro.
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 · 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
March BrownHatch
2
3
2
GrannomHatch
2
2
Large StoneflyHatch
2
3
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box
Beats · 3 · 2 reaches
The Lochy is the best-structured salmon river on the west coast — four rotating beats of roughly 2.5 miles, up to four rods each, 38 named pools, with extra fishing on the pools below Mucomir Dam and the Tailrace estuary beat. Rods rotate through the beats over a week; access is by FishPal and estate booking rather than walk-up day tickets. Don't score it as a simple small spate river: Loch Lochy above buffers flow, and the Mucomir Dam controls the head of the system. One current honesty flag: after Storm Amy in October 2025, an estimated 75,000 salmon escaped from a Mowi farm and anglers caught suspected farmed fish in the river — surface escaped-farmed-salmon reporting guidance where relevant. Confirm the Lochaber DSFB conservation code and grade before fishing.
River Lochy — rotating beats · 2 beatsDay rods
River Lochy rotating beats, Lochy Tailrace & estuary
The 2 beats
River Lochy rotating beatsBallot
River Lochy (via FishPal)
The river's core product: four rotating beats of around 2.5 miles, up to four rods each, 38 named pools, rods rotating through the beats over a fishing week. The strongest west-coast salmon import — bookable through FishPal and the fishery direct, often as a weekly let with ghillie support.
Statutory C&R on salmon before 1 April; no Sunday salmon fishing. Verify the current Lochaber DSFB / River Lochy conservation code and Scottish Government grade before fishing. Best on a falling flood — the river rises and drops fast. Report any suspected escaped farmed salmon.
Lochy Tailrace & estuaryAgent booking
River Lochy (via FishPal)
The lower extras: the Tailrace estuary beat and the pools below Mucomir Dam, which take fresh fish straight off the tide and from the regulated head of the system. Accessed through the main fishery alongside the rotating beats rather than as a standalone day rod.
Statutory C&R before 1 April; no Sunday salmon fishing. Tailrace and dam-influenced water behaves differently from natural river flow — local rules and safety take priority. Verify access route through the fishery.
Visit official site ↗Loch Lochy boat fishingGuide / lodge
A separate loch/boat venue, not part of the river beat product: Loch Lochy is sold as a loch package with permits, boat hire, lifejackets and tackle if needed, and an optional ghillie.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 3
Gallery · 2
An angler fishing the River Lochy near Fort William, Highland. Terrain map
Water quality (WFD)
- Ecology: Moderate
- Chemical: Unknown
SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC020339
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 15 February → 15 October
Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)
Related guides
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts
Clubs & associations