Water levels in Scottish rivers

 
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River water levels or river heights in Scotland

Map of river level locations
Locations of SEPA river stations.

Before going fishing, it is very helpful if the angler has access to local information. If for example you are planning a fishing trip to the River Tay or the River Dee or the River Tweed you will want to know the conditions. Perhaps the most requested piece of information is the water level of the river which you can find here. Fish do not normally take well on a rising river, they may take well during the first few inches of a rising water whilst it is still clear but usually as soon as the water starts to colour they will stop biting and will remain difficult until the river level stablises. Once a spate or flood has peaked the fish suddenly become interested again and trout, salmon and sea trout will take avidly whilst the water is dropping. A dropping and clearing river presents the fisherman with the best fly fishing chances for sea trout and salmon. At the peak of a spate the water will often carry lots of sediment, silt and sand in addition to much larger debris. It will be turbid and cloudy making it hard for the fish to see the fly. As soon as the levels start to fall the dust will settle so to speak and the water will start to clear. In the Highlands of Scotland most of the rivers waters turn into a dark colour, like tea or lager caused by the release of tanin from the peat bogs and this signals the prime fishing time in most cases, until the water level drops to normal again. And so the fly fisherman needs to know the water height and whether it is steady, rising of falling and in addition he needs to know what the river is likely to do in the near future and so an accurate local weather forecast is always appreciated. Following the link will allow you to access weather forecasts for several regions in Scotland. Scottish river levels at the under noted locations of particular interest to anglers are obtained from SEPA, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and these show show the change in river level over the last two to three days. An increase in river level is normally associated with rainfall in the catchments, however certain sites are subject to artificial control by, for instance, hydro power stations that may artificially influence the level of the river. The graphs show the river level relative to a local datum and may not directly represent the depth of water. To give the user some perspective on the relative level of the river a 'base level' has been given for each site. The base level represents a typical summer level in the river. The SEPA site includes a number of additional locations that are not listed here. Click on the river name below to access the data from the SEPA web site.

River water level for anglers in Scotland from the following important locations.

River Allan Water at Bridge of Allan

River Earn at Abreuchill

River Nith at Friars Carse

River Allan Water at Kinbuck

River Earn at Forteviot Bridge

River Nith at Hall Bridge

River Almond at Almondbank

River Earn at Kinkell Bridge

River North Esk at Logie Mill

River Almond at Newton Bridge

River Endrick Water at Gaidrew

River Orchy at Glen Orchy

River Alness at Alness

River Ericht at Craighall

River Oykel at Easter Turnaig

River Annan at Brydekirk

River Esk at Canonbie

River South Esk at Brechin

River Annan at Woodfoot

River Ewe at Poolewe

River South Esk at Gella Bridge

River Ardle at Kindrogan

River Findhorn at Forres

River South Esk at Tannadice

River Ayr at Mainholm

River Findhorn at Shenachie

River Spey at Aberlour

River Blackwater at Garve

River Forth at Craigforth

River Spey at Boat o' Brig

River Brora at Bruachrobie

River Garry at Killiecrankie

River Spey at Boat of Garten

River Carron at Sgodachail

River Girvan at Robstone

River Spey at Grantown

River Clyde at Daldowie

River Helmsdale at Kilphedir

River Tay at Ballathie

River Clyde at Hazelbank

River Inver at Little Assynt

River Tay at Kenmore

River Conon at Moy Bridge

River Irvine at Shewalton

River Tay at Pitnacree

River Cree at Newton Stewart

River Leny at Anie

River Teith at Bridge of Teith

River Creed at Creed Bridge

River Lochy at Camisky

River Teviot at Hawick

River Dee at Park

River Luss Water at Luss

River Thurso at Halkirk

River Dee at Polhollick

River Lyon at Comrie Bridge

River Tummel at Pitlochry

River Deveron at Avochie

River Nairn at Firhall

River Tweed at Boleside

River Dochart at Killin

River Naver at Apigill

River Tweed at Peebles

River Don at Haughton

River Ness at Ness-side

River Tweed at Norham

River Earn at Kinkell Bridge

River Nith at Drumlanrig

River Whitadder at Hutton Castle

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