Being a family holiday fishing had to be done around other family activities. Once we moved base to Fort William my options were a bit more limited (ie. not so free fishing!).
We went a great walk up Glen Nevis – in fact we did it twice with different start points, but starting on the lower river and walking up to the “Lower Falls”, I think the local name is Polduibh Falls. This is the upper limit for Salmon and Sea Trout angling on this gin clear spate river, above here you can currently fish for wild Brown Trout without a permit.
Covering a pool on the upper Nevis
The first day after completing the first leg of the walk to the Lower falls, we walked on upstream to Steall Falls and on the way I stopped for a wee cast. In total I did about 30 mins fishing at each outing, and though the fish were small I have to say they were amongst the nicest colours I have seen in Brown Trout. One fish was about 5-6 ozs- a giant in these waters I would imagine and the red spots were almost flourescent.
I caught 6 or 7 fish from roughly a single square yard of the River on the first outing and another 6 or 7 missed hook ups (the hook gape was a bit big on my barbless hook for the small fish I think) on the second visit but I still landed a couple here and at another pool upstream.
Well worth a cast in the passing on very light tackle, I used my 4 weight XF2 plus but you could fish much much lighter though to be honest I don’t think the fish worry too much about presentation!
General Info:
Information on fishing the Upper or Lower Nevis can be sought from Fort William Rod and Gun shop.
A permit is required below the Lower Falls and is Sea Trout and Salmon fishing only. As it is a spate river its very dependent on rainfall, the river seemed quite low while I was there and was utterly gin clear. I saw no anglers on the lower river.
A Typical tiny Brown Trout
The walk from the Glen Nevis Visitor centre to the Lower Falls is about 2 hours there, you can return by the same route or via a forest track on the other side of the valley- the head of the West Highland Way actually. Wear stout boots as the path along the River is often wet in places and muddy- its a bit up and down. If you want to continue to Steall Falls allow another 45 mins on top of the 2 hours outward hike, and cross the river at the lower falls and proceed up the other bank of the river. There is a road up the “left” bank but walking is safer on the track and more pleasant. Casting is restricted in many places and many of the attractive pools require a lot of clambering to reach- take care as the river carves some deep gorges. If stopping to fish add a lot more time to the walk!
You can drive up to the lower falls or the Steall Falls if you wish.
