Fishing venues in Orkney Islands

Trophy-potential Sanday brown-trout loch where OTFA records exceptional specimen fish and advises conservation-minded fishing.

Popular visiting-anglers’ wild-brown-trout loch with relatively open drifts and comparatively few skerries.

Westray brown-trout loch within OTFA’s long-running North Isles stocking programme.

Very small specimen brown-trout water between Skaill and Harray; OTFA advises restraint because the loch cannot sustain heavy angling pressure.

Orkney’s largest and best-known wild-brown-trout loch, with extensive skerries, bays and shallows and strong bank/boat potential.

Deep South Hoy brown-trout water in OTFA’s stocking programme; steep banks make much of the shoreline unsuitable for wading, and Arctic char have also been reintroduced.

Mainland wild-brown-trout loch forming part of Orkney’s principal free-fishing group and supported by OTFA access facilities.

Responsive wild-brown-trout loch regarded by OTFA as particularly suitable for newcomers and junior anglers.

Specimen “trophy water” where OTFA reports trout averaging over 2 lb; access is explicitly reserved to association members.

Brackish-influenced Mainland loch and one of Orkney’s six principal free trout waters, offering a distinct fishery beside Harray.

Stocked North Isles brown-trout water on Stronsay included in OTFA’s visiting-anglers’ guide.

Trophy-potential Sanday brown-trout loch highlighted by OTFA and Orkney tourism guidance for visiting anglers.

Stocked Sanday brown-trout loch in OTFA’s North Isles group, with fish supported by a long-term stocking programme.

Westray trout water included by OTFA among the stocked North Isles lochs.

Peat-stained wild-brown-trout loch known for high-quality fish; wading and boat fishing are both described by OTFA.