Spate · Mixed · Skye / Trotternish

River Snizort

River Snizort terrain map

Skye's longest and most important salmon river — a typical Highland spate river running north through the Trotternish peninsula to the sea.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Stoat's Tail · 10-14 double
Marginal — persistence required
River lifting fast on the rain. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
40% confidence
limited data
What moved it
  • LevelProxyvia River Carron (Wester Ross)
  • Water temp16.8°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today's fly
Stoat's Tail
Stoat's Tail10-14 double
Regional salmon default — river-specific evidence is thin.
Conditions on the water
Proxy gauge
Level
Rising
Proxy
via River Carron (Wester Ross)
Water temp16.8°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather15°C
WindSW 12 km/h
Pressure1017 hPa
Rain · recent11.7 mm
Rain · ahead6.0 mm

No gauge on this water — conditions are inferred from River Carron (Wester Ross). The trend transfers, the absolute level does not.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
17°C est.ideal 1014°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
Poor — barometric pressure is working for you, but time of day is the limiting factor today.
Likely species
Mayflies
  • Blue-winged oliveMost likely
    #16–18 · Dun
    Duns are up; a sherry spinner fall may follow.
  • Anglers curse mayfliesAlso possibleLower confidence
    #20–22 · Spinner
    Go tiny: 20-22 spent spinner, single fly, long tippet.
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 2 guilds with Pro.

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

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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
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

A balanced Scottish river profile. Early season nymphs and spiders, then more dry-fly and emerger fishing as hatches strengthen on steadier glides and richer water.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Association and private beat model
  • Several beats available as day lets — check Skye Ghillie or FishPal for availability
  • Fly only on most beats.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
About this water

Skye's longest and most important salmon river — a typical Highland spate river running north through the Trotternish peninsula to the sea. The Snizort receives runs of salmon from July onwards, with the peak in August and September after summer spates. Sea trout also enter the system. In low water the river is intimate — small pools, narrow runs, pocket water that fishes well with a single-handed rod. After rain it rises fast and colours quickly (the peat catchment responds in hours), and dropping, clearing water after a spate is the golden window. The lower beats near the estuary fish first as fresh fish push through; the upper beats hold resident fish later in the season. Brown trout are present throughout and provide sport when salmon are not running. Atlantic salmon stocks are Category 3 (declining) — all salmon must be released.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs, seasonal patterns vary by region

  • River
  • Mixed
Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature4230% weight
  • Flow8025% weight
  • Clarity1520% weight
  • Feeding Time1015% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 11 February31 October
  • Trout 15 March6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Skye river — west coast of Scotland. Sea-lice pressure from salmon farming affects Skye sea trout as part of the broader west-coast collapse pattern. 2025 Scottish sea trout rod catch at record lows. Condition-dependent; local knowledge essential.

Related guides
Booking & contacts