Stillwater · Peat · Shetland / North Mainland

Lunga Water

A calm Shetland loch, Lunga Water, near West Sandwick on the island of Yell, lit by dusk light.

One of Shetland's larger northern lochs — a wild, peaty water set in open voe-and-moor country.

Fair · Trout
Tippet and Red · 10-12
Fairlive now
Good drifting conditions on Lunga Water
Good wave on — drift country. A useful wave. Work the productive shore.
57% confidence

Lunga Water is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSW 11 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
TR
Tippet and Red10-12
River-specific pick for this water.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Light breeze
SW 11 km/h
N
SW
from the south-west
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp
Air temp17°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
May-August
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Potty's Palmer on the bob and Sedgehog on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work Potty's Palmer on the bob and Sedgehog on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

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

Top prey shown — see all 5 with Pro.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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
Trout fly box

A very distinctive mixed style: bushy top droppers, sedgehogs, snatchers, midge imitations, Pennels and mini lures all have a place.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Shetland Anglers Association permit.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
85%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp100%

Conditions are ideal for Lunga Water — wind, cloud and temperature all line up.

Other water nearby · 4
Gallery · 2
  1. A calm Shetland loch, Lunga Water, near West Sandwick on the island of Yell, lit by dusk light.
    Lunga Water near West Sandwick, Yell, Shetland, at dusk.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

One of Shetland's larger northern lochs — a wild, peaty water set in open voe-and-moor country. Lunga Water holds a good population of brown trout and the occasional sea trout. Less fished than the southern and central lochs, it rewards the angler willing to walk a little further. The surrounding landscape is bleak and beautiful — otters, great skuas, and red-throated divers share the water. Fishing here is as much about the experience as the catch. The trout are genuine wild fish that have never seen a pellet.

  • Loch
  • Peat
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Temperature (cool) is in the sweet spot for summer fishing.
  • Daddy Longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March6 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026) — Shetland sea trout system. Present but on diminished stock baseline versus historical levels. Condition-dependent; local knowledge required.

Related guides
Booking & contacts