Loch Hope

Current conditions

Weather prospects. See the 5-day forecast. (This takes you to the Met Office page for Durness. Use your browser's Back button to return to this page.)

How to interpret this snapshot

Water and weather conditions are the most important fishing variables. Wind direction and strength are particularly relevant, as they affect whether dapping is viable, and if so, how the boat should be deployed: you can see the current Met Office forecast via the above link.

The following notes explain the significance of the snapshot data at the top of the page. For specific guidance on how to translate this into fishing action, see the Fishing Map: but if you are new to the loch, you should consider taking a ghillie.

Water level. The figure comes from the guage opposite the Keeper's Cottage, by the North End car park. A zero indicates that the level is at or below the bottom of the guage, a fairly rare situation (referred to locally as 'desperate') which means that few sea trout, and no salmon, are likely to be attempting entry to the Loch from the sea. Less than 6" is deemed 'Low', and 30" or more is 'High' - both being negative indicators. Optimum levels are thought to be between 12" and 24".

Water Movement. Rising water indicates that the Strathmore river, which feeds the Loch at the South End, is in spate; this is the time when fish will be moving up towards the river. Dropping water shows that the Strathmore is low, so the fish may be gathering in readiness for a spate. As the Loch is large, there is considerable time-lag in the movements; it can take 3 - 5 days from the end of a period of rainfall for the Loch water to fall back to its previous level.

Water Temperature. Reading taken from near the level guage. A temperature outside the range 14F - 68F is an unfavourable indicator, but does not preclude catches. Water temperature is generally stable, and tends to rise slowly through the summer.