Stillwater · Mixed · Scottish Borders

Coldingham Loch

Wide view across Coldingham Loch, a spring-fed trout fly fishery in the Scottish Borders near St Abbs.
Fair · Rainbow
Kate McLaren · 12-14
Fairlive now
Daddy Longlegs expected on Coldingham Loch
Useful ripple, fishable wave. Worth a session if the wind holds.
59% confidence

Coldingham Loch is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindW 33 km/hFresh breeze
Today's fly
Kate McLaren
Kate McLaren12-14
Retrieve, in the film
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Fresh breeze
W 33 km/h
N
W
from the west
Wave60 cm wave
Water temp—
Air temp22°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1016 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Rainbow
When
The daddy longlegs are on. Buzzers may also come into play as the day warms. The breeze will be blowing terrestrial insects onto the water — check the wind lanes and downwind margins for rising fish.
Where
Work Black Pennell on the bob, Ke-He on the middle dropper, and Marabou Damsel on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.
The plan
Plan A

Work Black Pennell on the bob, Ke-He on the middle dropper, and Marabou Damsel on the point. Have a sedge or murrough pattern ready on a short leader for the evening rise.

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 — at anchor

Windy conditions suit anchoring in productive areas rather than open-water drifting.

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
Daphnia SwarmHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Rainbow fly box
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
45%
Cloud50%
Wind30%
Temp60%

Conditions are away from Coldingham Loch's sweet spot — it usually fishes best in ripple wind with cloud skies.

Other water nearby · 5
Whiteadder Water
16 km
Brown trout
Blackadder Water
29 km
Brown trout
Markle Fisheries
33 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
Chatton Trout Fishery
41 km
Rainbow trout · Brown trout
West Water Reservoir
80 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 5
  1. Wide view across Coldingham Loch, a spring-fed trout fly fishery in the Scottish Borders near St Abbs.
    Coldingham Loch
  2. Coldingham Loch seen from an elevated position with surrounding upland grassland, Scottish Borders.
    Coldingham Loch from the hillside
  3. An angler fishing from a boat on the open water of Coldingham Loch, Scottish Borders.
    A boat angler at Coldingham Loch
  4. Angler fishing at Coldingham Loch with the lochside cottage and boathouse in the background.
    Fishing at Coldingham Loch
  5. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Why this score
  • Wind conditions (windy) are not ideal for this water.
  • Daddy longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 15 March → 31 October
Related guides
Scotland Playbookloch & river fishingSmall Stillwater Playbookstillwater tacticsThermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperature
Casting instructors near here
Booking & contacts