244
a stunning loch
Mainland, Shetland

Gossa Water

water managed by Shetland Anglers Association

Route Download GPX Directions
Duration: 00:17 Distance: 1.45 km Ascent: 0.0m Difficulty: 19 / 100
Low alkalinity Shallow Low shoreline complexity Low elevation Small
Image © Copyright David Nicolson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. More information about this image at Geograph.

Gossa Water lies inland of the Ayre of Atler, set among low coastal moor. It is a shallow loch of roughly 22 hectares, with low alkalinity and a simple, sweeping shoreline.

Fished in the past for its large runs of sea trout, the loch is now little fished. Brown trout average about 6 ounces, with some larger fish.

The easiest approach is to follow the burn up from the Ayre of Atler; where it forks, turn south-west to the loch. The route climbs steadily west-south-west for about one and a half kilometres, rising by around 60 metres, and reaches the water over open moor.

  • Mainland, Shetland
  • Lake
  • Brown trout and Sea trout

Permission & Tickets

Fishing permits can be purchased at either the Lerwick Tourist Office or the tackle shop, Rod and Line, which is in Harbour Street in Lerwick. The SAA organises a number of fishing competitions during the season running separate boat and bank leagues and the visiting angler will be made most welcome at these. Details will be supplied with your permit.

You can also buy a permit online from the Association's website.

Boats for hire – The Association has several boats for hire, and at present these are located at the following lochs – Loch of Benston, Loch of Asta, Loch of Northouse, Loch of Clousta, Loch of Tingwall, Sulma Water and Punds Water. These can change, but details of boat locations and hire can be got from the tackle shop.

Clubhouse – The SAA owns an unlicensed clubhouse, situated in Burns Lane in Lerwick, to which the visiting angler is most welcome. Hours of opening are from 8.30pm and 11.00pm on most Tuesdays and Fridays.

Waters nearby

Waters within 5 miles of Gossa Water

Petta Water
Mainland, Shetland
1

Petta Water lies in low ground not far from the coast, with the A970 running along its eastern shore. It is a small, shallow loch of roughly 11 hectar ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Sae Water
Mainland, Shetland
2

Sae Water lies close to the sea, set in low ground a little over a kilometre inland. It is a very small, shallow loch of roughly five hectares, with a ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout and Sea trout
Loch of Voe
Mainland, Shetland
3

Loch of Voe lies close to the coast, with the B9071 along its southern side and the A970 to the west. It is a small, low-lying water of roughly 18 hec ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Dury Voe
Mainland, Shetland
4

The Shetland Angling Association has recommended this location as one of the possible spots to catch sea trout, which can be found in various places a ...

  • coastal
  • Sea trout
Laxo Water
Mainland, Shetland
5

The loch lies to the north of Laxo and is reached by following the right hand branch of the burn northwards for about half a mile and this will bring ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout and Sea trout
Loch of Skellister
Mainland, Shetland
6

A deep, dark water with trout of 8 ounces average but there much larger fish lurking in the depths. ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Burga Water
Mainland, Shetland
7

A small, shallow water lying close to the road to Levaneap which has good quality trout of 10 ounces with some better fish of more than a pound. ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Marrowfield Water
Mainland, Shetland
8

Marrofield Water lies on Mainland Shetland, not far from the sea, set among low, open moor. It is a very small, shallow loch of roughly 6 hectares, av ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Smerla Water
Mainland, Shetland
9

Smerla Water lies in open moorland south of the Loch of Gonfirth on Mainland Shetland. It is a small, shallow loch of roughly 16 hectares, low in the ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Loch of Stavaness
Mainland, Shetland
10

Park at the end of the road at Neap and a half mile walk over the hill to the north takes you to this largish loch where the brown trout average about ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout and Sea trout
Loch of Houlland
Mainland, Shetland
11

Loch of Houlland and Freester are shallow lochs both hold trout of 8 to 12 ounces with some better fish of a pound or more. Both lochs become weedy fr ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Sand Water
Mainland, Shetland
12

Used to get good runs of sea trout but is now fished mainly for its brownies. This is a shallow loch and the water can become dark and coloured in hi ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout and Sea trout
Loch of Freester
Mainland, Shetland
13

These two small and shallow lochs both hold trout of 8 to 12 ounces with some better fish of a pound or more. Both lochs become weedy from midsummer a ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Loch of Lunklet
Mainland, Shetland
14

This group of lochs lie up in the hills between Aith and Weisdale and would be a great day’s fishing for the angler who likes walking and solitude. Pa ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Lamba Water
Mainland, Shetland
15

This group of lochs lie up in the hills between Aith and Weisdale and would be a great day’s fishing for the angler who likes walking and solitude. Pa ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout
Loch of Benston
Mainland, Shetland
16

Owned by the SAA, this is one of Shetland’s premier lochs and many large trout have been taken from this water over the years. They average more than ...

  • lake
  • Brown trout