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

Upper Inver

A Fishing Guide

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

UPPER INVER

General

This beat is adjacent to the A837, and starts at the sluice gates on Loch Assynt and goes down to where the burn from Loch Bad nan Aighean enters the river at the west end of the ‘Battlefield’.

The beat contains Loch Garbh and Loch an Iasgaich, the latter without doubt being the best holding pool on the river.

Flies used on the beat tend to be small, particularly when the water is low.  In high water conditions, normal sizes are used, going up to 4/0 (2 inches) in September.

In low conditions light tackle is required, particularly on the lochs where the fish easily see the nylon and line.  In these conditions, a trout line is more than adequate provided there is plenty of backing.

Loch Garbh

The stream out of the sluices flows down over a stony stream into this loch.  Fish may be caught in all heights of water just where the stream bed shelves down into the loch.  In high water, fish lie on this stream bed.  Waders are required to fish this from the road side.  It also fishes from the south side by walking across the sluices.

Fish may be caught from the road side in high water for about one hundred yards down the loch.  Wading out on the south side in September can also be successful.  The bottom of the loch where it draws out can also be good at the correct height of water.

River between Garbh and Loch an Iasgaich

This bit of water should not be missed, and in some conditions it may produce the only fish.

There are a series of runs and small pools, all of which can hold fish in different heights of water.  The last pool is the Bridge Pool with the footbridge over the neck of it.  Salmon lie above the bridge and below it down the south bank right into the tail in high water.

Between the Bridge Pool and the Grilse Pool is really trout water, and good trout can be caught here.

The Grilse Pool

This is through the gate on the old road into Loch an Iasgaich.  It is the pool above Loch an Iasgaich and holds fish in high water.  The fish lie off the rock on the far side and down into the tail.  Not a good taking pool but well worth a quick try.

Loch an Iasgaich

This holds a very large amount of fish and on its day can give the very best of sport.

First one must fish the stream into the Loch from the hut side.  This must be done standing well back, as the fish lie just where the gravel starts dipping into the depths of the loch.  Crunching about in waders, or flashing a long rod with heavy line, will surely spoil your chances.   Approach it carefully and fish it gently.  Then take the boat across and land at the sandy bay on the south bank.  Then fish the stream again very carefully from this side.  Do not wade further down than the two stones.  NEVER EVER WADE ACROSS THE NECK OF THE STREAM.  This will scare the fish, and put them down.

Fishing from the boat can be very successful if there is a good breeze.  Smallish flies are the most successful, with the dropper cutting the surface.  Fish will take very close to the boat so there is no need to use a large rod and heavy tackle.  If a fish is hooked from the boat, it is best to beach the boat on the road side of the loch and play your fish from here.  Otherwise the fish is likely to get into weeds with the inevitable disastrous result.

In heavy water the tail of the loch is good, from where it draws out down to below where the burn comes in on the south bank.

Turn Pool

About fifty yards below the burn is the Turn Pool.  This in high water can be most productive as can the burn mouth itself, and the run down to the Turn Pool.

After the Turn Pool there are one or two ‘runs’ down to the River Purification Board’s wooden hut.  These are worth a quick try in all heights of water except very low conditions, when it is too shallow.

Below the Purification Board’s hut to the end of the beat, where the burn from Loch Bad nan Aighean joins the River Inver on the north bank, is only worth fishing for salmon in high water conditions late in the season.  Early on fish pass through it quickly on their way to Loch an Iasgaich.  In low water conditions this stretch of water can be very good for brown trout, particularly with a very small dry fly.

Return to Previous Page