Loch of Freester
Mainland, Shetland
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 ...
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Colin Smith
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Loch of Benston
Water managed by Shetland Anglers Association
Type
Lake
Species
Brown trout
Moderate alkalinity
High alkalinity indicates water fertility and can signal the presence of larger trout. Fish in alkaline waters have a wider variety of invertebrates to feed on.
Shallow
The depth of a lake has significant impacts on its ecology. Reduced heat and light in deep lakes inhibit algal growth.
Moderate shoreline complexity
A lake with a high shoreline complexity will have numerous bays, points and peninsulas.
Low elevation
Lakes at a higher altitude can take longer to warm up during the season and may not fish well until summer.
Small
Larger lakes with good spawning often contain lots of smaller trout. Smaller lakes with limited spawning can produce larger trout.
Loch of Benston lies close to the Shetland coast, in low-lying ground where the land barely rises before meeting the sea. It is a loch of roughly 28 hectares, shallow to moderate in depth, with a moderately irregular shoreline of bays and points that give the bank angler plenty of varied water to explore. The fetch is short and the surrounding catchment is largely peat, though the water itself is reasonably productive, with moderate alkalinity.
This is one of Shetland's better-known trout lochs, owned by the SAA, and it has a strong reputation built over many years. The trout average better than a pound, and fish exceeding six pounds have been taken here. Wading is safe across much of the loch, and it fishes well from a boat — the Association keeps a hire boat at the north-east corner, where there is a parking area. As the season advances the loch becomes increasingly weedy, which shapes where and how the fish are best approached. A size limit of twelve inches applies, and any trout below this must be returned.
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