Stillwater · Peat · Outer Hebrides / Lewis

Loch Roag System

View of Loch Roag near Hacklete on Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, with calm sea-loch water and distant hills.

A complex interconnected loch system on Lewis's Atlantic coast, where fresh and salt water mix in a landscape of extraordinary beauty.

Fair · Atlantic Salmon
Stoat's Tail · 8-12 double
Fairlive now
Decent — worth a look
Low and clear — careful approach country. Low water tactics — small singles, riffling hitch in the smooth glides.
50% confidence
What moved it
  • LevelDry recentlyNo gauge reading
  • Water temp15.5°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
Stoat's Tail
Stoat's Tail8-12 double
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp15.5°C
ClarityClear
Weather13°C
WindW 29 km/h
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent1.3 mm
Rain · ahead5.8 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
16°C est.ideal 10–14°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Atlantic Salmon
When
All day — lough fishing is best in a good wave. Early morning and evening can produce in calm conditions.
Where
Work the drift lanes from the upwind shore across the productive zones. Cover bay edges, underwater reefs, and any areas where the bottom shoals.
Method
Fish a sensible line-and-fly combination for the height and pace of water.
Kit
10 ft #7/8 single-hander, floating line, 10–12 lb fluoro leader. Boat seat and waterproofs for the drift.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Anglers curse mayfliesMost likelyLower confidence
    #20–22 · Spinner
    Go tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
  • Blue-winged oliveAlso possible
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 12 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 3 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

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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
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Atlantic Salmon fly box

Rougher, darker and more traditional. Stronger weighting on dark wets, bushy bob flies and commotion-making patterns.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Multiple estates and clubs control different sections
  • FishHebrides is the best starting point for booking
  • Tide tables essential for sea pool timing.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Fishing better nearby · 3
Grimersta River & Loch System
5.0 km
68
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Loch Morsgail
14 km
67
Brown trout · Salmon · Sea trout
Loch Langavat (Lewis)
20 km
61
Brown trout · Char · Salmon
Gallery · 2
  1. View of Loch Roag near Hacklete on Great Bernera in the Outer Hebrides, with calm sea-loch water and distant hills.
    Loch Roag near Hacklete, Great Bernera, in the Outer Hebrides.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

A complex interconnected loch system on Lewis's Atlantic coast, where fresh and salt water mix in a landscape of extraordinary beauty. The system includes several linked lochs feeding into the sea loch of Roag. Salmon and sea trout enter the system from spring onwards and push through into the freshwater lochs. Brown trout are resident throughout. The mix of brackish and freshwater venues means the fishing character changes markedly between different parts of the system. Sea pools at the tidal interface fish best around low water when fish concentrate. A unique hybrid fishery that demands an understanding of tides and weather. Peat-stained moorland water defines this river. Atlantic salmon stocks are Category 3 (declining) — all salmon must be released.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs, seasonal patterns vary by region

  • Loch
  • Peat
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature6630% weight
  • Flow4525% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 11 February → 31 October
  • Trout 15 March → 6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Outer Hebrides sea trout system. Sea-lice pressure from Hebridean salmon farms has affected stocks across the entire west coast. 2025 Scottish sea trout rod catches at record lows. Condition-led; local knowledge essential.

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureAtlantic Salmonsalmon tactics
Booking & contacts