Freestone · Mixed · North East / Aberdeenshire

Ythan

A meandering stretch of the River Ythan flowing through lush green pasture with trees along the banks near Ellon.

Small northeast freestone river with a specialist reputation — one of Scotland's finest sea trout fisheries, with larger fish than you expect from a river of this size.

Marginal · Atlantic Salmon
Silver Stoat's Tail · small double / microtube
Marginallive now
Marginal — persistence required
River steady at a fishable height. A short window at best — fish the sure lies and move on.
80% confidence
What moved it
  • Level0.64 m
  • Water temp18.1°C
  • ClarityClear
Today's fly
SS
Silver Stoat's Tailsmall double / microtube
From the river-specific salmon pack.
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Steady
0.64 m
Water temp18.1°C
ClarityClear
Weather18°C
WindW 6 km/h
Pressure1018 hPa
Rain · recent0.1 mm
Rain · ahead5.3 mm

The nearest gauge doesn't record temperatures, so we've estimated it — defer to the river keeper's advice.

Water temperature for Atlantic Salmon
Warm — slow
18°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
Water at 18.1°C — above the atlantic salmon caution line (18°C). Fish dawn or dusk only. Land it fast, wet hands, no air shots.
Hatch timeline · todayPeak at 6pm

Hatch predictions

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

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 4 guilds with Pro.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 2 with Pro.

Start free trial

14-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
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

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.

What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Water here around 18°C. Nothing cooler within range — carry a thermometer.
Gallery · 2
  1. A meandering stretch of the River Ythan flowing through lush green pasture with trees along the banks near Ellon.
    The River Ythan winding through green meadows near Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Small northeast freestone river with a specialist reputation — one of Scotland's finest sea trout fisheries, with larger fish than you expect from a river of this size. Mandatory catch-and-release applies. Declining Atlantic salmon populations are Category 3 under Scottish Government classification; every fish returned matters. Summer sea trout (June–September, peaking July–August) dominate; salmon present but secondary. Brown trout in the upper reaches. The lower river is tidal and the estuary (a nature reserve) concentrates fish. Fish sea trout with smaller dries and nymphs in broken water; night fishing productive. Accessible fishing relative to famous neighbours.

Sea trout here

Summer-autumn runs (June–September), nocturnal pattern in peak season

  • Mixed
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Moderate
  • Chemical: Unknown

SEPA (Scotland) · UKSC023231

Why this score · for Atlantic Salmon
  • Temperature2430% weight
  • Flow6025% weight
  • Clarity9520% weight
  • Feeding Time1515% weight
  • Pressure8510% weight
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Salmon 11 February → 31 October

Sea trout: Variable seasonal (2026)

Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingAtlantic Salmonsalmon tacticsYorkshire & SpidersNorth Country methods
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts