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.

MIDDLE INVER 

Upper Beat

The upper beat starts at the Grilse Burn and continues down to the Upper Bridge.

Upper Grassy

The top of the pool fishes well with a smallish fly and floating line in high water, starting at the rocks at the top of the pool and finishing all the way across.  At normal height, fish from the end of the top pier across to the rock opposite the top of the long pier.

Fish down the long pier at medium height water with a large, well-sunken fly.   Try to fish separately each of the streams opposite the bottom pier.

In very high water, wade down the bottom half of the pool (using trouser waders and a wading staff) all the way to the very tail of the pool.

Lower Grassy

Not worth fishing in low water.  In high water, start by wading above the pier.  At medium height start from the pier where the shallows run into the deep.  Fish in the tail of the run are very hard to catch!

Round the corner, when the stone is covered with water there is often a good fish above or below it.

Further down, where the road comes down to the river there is a rock off which the fish lie at medium to high water.  It is very difficult to hang a fly over them without trouser waders.

Further down still, there is a run below the very steep bank where at very high water the river runs into the ‘loch’ at the top of The Narrows, and the odd fish may lie there.

Pier Pool

This is the name usually given to the upper of the two piers at the top of The Narrows.  The top does not fish until the pier is covered with water.

Exercise great caution when the pier is well covered, and do not use too long a line fishing down the ‘neck’.

The ‘neck’ itself below the sunken cairn fishes well at medium to low water.  Beware – unless you can persuade your fish to swim above the cairn (when it will usually follow you to the shore), you will have to scramble up the cliff and down to the First Pool to land it!

(For this reason, you may want to fish the First Pool before attempting the ‘Neck’’).  If possible, have a companion watch your fly from a concealed position at the top of the bank.

First Pool of The Narrows

There is a ‘pot’ into which it may be worth dropping a large fly from the top of the cliff.

In the pool itself, the fish lie from the centre to the far side of the pool.  The top half takes a large fly especially when the river is high, but a rather smaller fly is recommended for the bottom half.  Try and hang the fly as close to the far bank as you dare!

Rock Pool

A high water pool, best when fish are running in July.

Round Pool (Rowan Tree Pool, on old Maps)

Start with a large fly at the very top of the pool and fish from the far bank to the middle of the pool.  Then try a cast with a smaller fly from the pier.

Billy’s Run (Names after Billy MacAskill, a famous ghillie)

About fifty yards below The Round Pool is a run where fish – occasionally large – lie above a large stone.  In sunshine they can be seen very clearly from the path at the top of the cliff.  If you hook a fish, you will almost certainly have to follow it downstream – over the cliff top! – and down to The Black Pool to land it.

Black Pool

A pot above the pool, fished from the cliff top, holds the odd fish.  At the top of the pool itself, scramble down the bank and if possible onto the rock from which you may well hook a fish first or second cast!  From here you can fish with an increasingly long line (and smaller fly) all the way to the triangular rock in the water, halfway down the pool.

The pier itself fishes at all heights of water, slowly and carefully right to the tail of the pool, and then back up it to the top of the pier.

Although fish normally run up the far side of the island, very occasionally a fish may be seen below the pier, especially by the roadside at high water, and is then quite likely to take.

N.B.  Only once, to my knowledge, has a fish gone down from the Black Pool to be landed in the Upper Bridge! (The rod, a long one was swung under the bridge).

Lower Beat

The Lower Beat runs from below The Upper Bridge to the tail of the Brackloch Pool.

Upper Bridge

A good grilse pool at medium to high water.  Fish can often be seen from the road leading to Inveruplan House.  They usually lie in the tail of the pool.  If hooked, the fish may well run down to The Minister’s Pool, which you may therefore wish to fish first.

Minister’s Pool

The best spring pool – first fish of the year is usually caught here.  Not so good later on.  Fish lie all the way from the very top to the tail.  Use a large sunken fly in the run at the top.  If  playing a fish, beware of the large sunken rock in the centre of the pool.

Washing Pool

Start where the shallow runs into the deep, fish with a floating line and small fly (except in high water).  Grilse often lie further down than one might suppose.  The fish in the run on the far side at the top of the pool are almost un-catchable!  Back the pool up after fishing down it.

Inveruplan

At medium to high water, paddle across to the centre of the pool (trouser waders and staff at high water!) and wade down the centre of the pool, casting to the far back.  Curiously this pool does not fish well from the far side.

I once fished from the other side without success, then waded down the centre from the road and caught three fish.

Often a good brown trout may take your fly.

Lower Bridge

Above the bridge is an attractive looking run but the fish seem to travel straight through it.

Below the bridge the fish always run up the far side of the island.  It’s always worth having a quick cast off the bridge.  At medium height, fish right down to the tail of the pool.

Deer Pool

A splendid pool at all heights of water.  Start at the foot of the pier with a very short line, work up the pier and then fish down to the second cliff.  At very high water, go down and fish the very tail of the pool.  At medium to high water, the far side fishes all the way down to the tail, but the run at the top is disappointing.

Brackloch Pool

Above the pier, the river fishes well when a little above normal height using a long floating line and one or two small flies.

The pier fishes best with a good upstream breeze and occasionally produces a big fish – but I have had fish in flat calm.

With high water, it is well worth wading the tail of the pool.

Long Pool

This pool can fish well in most heights of water.  Start well up at the top of the run and fish the fly well round as fish can lie well up in the stream and close to your bank.

Fish the whole pool carefully as fish can lie anywhere, but concentrate on the lower half of the pool.  In high water the tail is well worth fishing, with fish lying right to the very end of the pool.

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