NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF ANGLERS FISHING THE INVER & KIRKAIG RIVERS

Attached are detailed notes to assist you whilst fishing these lovely rivers. They were largely compiled by Peter Hay, one time Factor of Assynt Estates, whose knowledge of both rivers was second to none.

For both rivers we would recommend double handed rods of 12 – 14 feet, unless you find very low water conditions, when a single handed rod will suffice

These notes should be read in conjunction with the General Guidance Notes to be found on the home page of our website.

The Lower Inver

This beat contains a variety of pools, those at the top being more open that the smaller faster running pools on the lower beat.  With the flatter New and Star Pools in the middle the only place where it is necessary to wade is if one fishes the Pollan from the right bank.

In the faster lower pools, especially in medium to high water a larger fly is needed than elsewhere, and a dropper may be unwise with the many rocks a fish may try to get round.

In low water in bright conditions, light tackle and small flies give the best chance, though in the Gravestone and the pools below it one can not go too light as one may need to put a fair amount of pressure on a fish to prevent it leaving the pool.

Please note that the Lower Inver is now fished as two rotating beats, each of 2 rods with changeover at 1pm.

The top lower beat consists of 8 pools from the Whirl Pool to the Scramble.  The bottom lower beat comprises 12 pools from the Cow Pool to the Carpenters Pool.

Both beats are fished from the south or left bank only.  Access to the beat is via a locked gate.

TOP LOWER

Whirl Pool

This is one of the most prolific pools, producing fish in all but very low water.  The stream above the stepping-stones needs a fair height of water when fish may lie anywhere, but a favourite spot is against the fence on the far bank.  In very high water it is well worth going round the corner further up where fish will lie against the far bank.  Most fish are hooked from the stepping-stones where the water is quite shallow but deepens suddenly a few yards down and the fish tend to lie on the lip of the shelf.  In low water they will be further back, often against the black water of the whirl on the far side.

The corner from the wooden pier can often produce a fish and in high water the tail of the pool can be productive.

Below the Whirl Pool itself there is a little run above the fence and in certain heights of water this can be worth a cast.

Dyke Pool

A few casts at the top of the pool can be worthwhile in high water but most fish are caught in the middle of the pool, from the path to the water down to and from the prominent rock on the near side.  Fish tend to lie on the far side of the stream and in high water the bottom wooden pier is well worth fishing, casting well over to the far bank.  This pool tends to be best in the second half of the season.

Island Pool

Except in very low water this can be one of the best pools in the river.  Fish lie anywhere in the stream and on the far side in the top half of the pool.

Cast well over to the far bank, mend your line and let the fly swim round across the stream as slowly as you can, letting it come right round to the near bank.  After fishing the stream climb the bank and fish the next bit from the top.  Again cast well out across the stream and let your fly come round close to the near bank avoiding any drag on the line.  In high water fish will lie far down into the tail.  Go out onto the wooden platform known as the pulpit and cover as much of the water as you can as fish may be lying anywhere, but mind the trees behind.  I caught my first salmon here in 1941.

Run Above the Red Stream

This needs high water, 2’6” and above, and with this all three platforms are well worth a try, casting out across the stream and letting the fly come round as slowly as you can.  The corner below the bottom platform is also worth a cast with the fish lying above the stone in the middle and close to the near bank.

Red Stream

This little run is small and the water needs to be right.   There is a good viewing point from the bank above where one can usually see if any fish are there and if they are there, there is a good chance one will take.  But take care not to disturb them as you climb down to the water.

Red Pool

This is a pool of contrasts.  At the top it is quite fast and a fly cast to the far side allowed to come round slowly to the near bank often does the trick.  Fish sometimes lie close to the near bank a little further down and a favourite lie is above the v shaped rock in the middle at the start of the flatter deeper part of the pool.  Below that before the path climbs fish can lie anywhere, and again a cast to the far bank with the fly coming round slowly is the best chance.

Fish can lie anywhere in the deep water further down and it is rare not to see a number of fish lying in the tail.  If they are near the surface there is a good chance one will take, and often they lie out sight close to the near bank.

Basin

A difficult pool to fish with a high bank behind and the water some way below.  The ‘castle’ cast is required, lifting ones fly high in the air and letting the line take it over the water.  Fish lie in the dark water at the head of the pool and against the two rocks out on the far side of the stream.  In certain heights of water they will take towards the tail, but usually it is possible to see if there are any fish there before spending too much time there.

Turn Pool

A pool that needs high water and one that does not get fished as much as perhaps it should.  At the turn in the river fish tend to lie in or on the far side of the stream just below the turn, but most are caught in the run just below.

Scramble

This used to be a very good pool, but since the New Pools were built nearly seventy years ago it is rarely fished.  However in high water it is still well worth a cast and the run towards the tail can produce some good fish.

BOTTOM LOWER

Cow Pool

The top and middle of the pool can hold fish in all conditions.  The fly needs to be cast to the far side of the stream and come round slowly with no drag.  In high water the platform at the tail can be very good, with fish lying both over to the far side and the middle.

Upper New Pool

In high water the small platform at the top can be good.  Fish lie behind the stone on the near side a few yards below the platform and in the middle straight from it.  The far side a few yards above the main groin is also a likely spot.  Except in very low water fish will lie between the two stone groins.

With a short line cast just above the far groyne and let the fly swim slowly round.  In higher water fish will lie all the way down the pool, usually in or on the far side of the stream.  The bottom pier with the gauge on it is only good in high water, when they lie anywhere but the stone close to the near side is a favourite place.

Lower New Pool

Fish can take in almost all height of water.  It is always worth a few casts between the two groynes, and fish will take anywhere down the length of the stream.  Except in very low water the middle pier has produced many fish, and in medium to high water the pier at the tail can also be good.

Star Pool

Most fish are taken from the Green Point, but rarely in low water.  They lie on the far side of the stream and close into the near bank.  The Heathery Bank above it is well worthwhile, with the fish tending to lie in and on the far side of the stream.  The flatter water towards the tail has also provided many fish.

Pollan

Usually this is fished from the left bank.  Fish lie in the stream and close into the near bank, but it can also be fished from the other side.  Here it is the only place in the river where it is necessary to wade, and a fly cast into the runs where the shallow water deepens may well produce a fish.

Gravestone

This pool is not fished as much as perhaps it should be.  Fish can lie close into the rock from which one fishes, but most lie to the far side of the stream close to the far bank.

Ladder

This can be one of the most exciting pools in the river.  In lowish water fish can lie close in to the near bank, but most are hooked either in the stream or near to the far bank.  If you get into a big fish and it goes down you are in for an interesting scramble up the ladder and down to the Hogs back, but you need a bit of luck.

Hogs Back

Fish lie near the far bank when the water is not too high and out from above the big rock on your left.  In high water the tail is probably the best bet, when they can lie well over to the far side.

Dog Pool

In medium water this is always worth a few casts.  At the top and middle of this small pool fish tend to lie close in to the near side, and in the tail over to the far side.

Mill Pool

This pool needs some water as in low conditions the many rocks can present hazards.  In medium water most fish are hooked in the stream and perhaps the best taking place is right in the tail by the flat rock on the far side where the mill used to stand.  In high water they can be found close in to the near bank just below the fishing stance, and in really high water it is well worth trying the tail on the near side.

Upper Rocky

Fish can lie anywhere in this pool but most are taken casting to the far side and letting the fly swim across the stream.  Above the stone you can see lying across the stream towards the tail is a favourite lie, and in quite high water below it too.  In these conditions let your fly come right into the near bank.

Lower Rocky

This pool fishes well in most heights of water, the lower the water the nearer fish will be to its head while in medium to high water they are likely to be in the middle of the stream or over by the far bank.  Sometimes they lie almost out of the tail of the pool.

Carpenters

In certain heights of water fish can lie well up in the pool and if they are they can usually be seen.  Most are taken from the middle and towards the tail, casting over to the far side and letting the fly swim slowly across the stream, though the many eddies can sometimes make this a challenge.  In high water fish will lie way down in the tail.

A Selection of Popular Flies

Everyone has their own favourite flies but the following may be a useful guide.  Size varies according to conditions and the river height.  The old maxim a bright fly for a bright day and a dark one for a dully day often holds true.

Silver Grey                     Black Doctor
Silver Doctor                   Green Highlander
Willie Gunn                     Ally’s Shrimp
Thunder and Lightning           Jock Scott
Dusty Miller                    Mar Lodge

In bright and low conditions:

Blue Doctor
Blue Charm
Yellow Torrish

These selections were compiled by Peter Hay, and to bring his selection up to date, we would add

Stoats Tail & Silver Stoats Tail
Cascade

Peter was keen on fishing big singles, but we would suggest that treble flies with a single hook are a good alternative.

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