The Fishings

River Irvine fishings are held between the Lave Saw Mill Dam, on the North bank to Annick Mouth and on the South bank (from the notice board at Lave Saw Mill Dam) downstream to a point approx. 700 yds below the Dual Carriageway bridge (A78) at the tail of Pool 16 Sand Washer.  There are 18 named pools on the club stretch of R. Irvine.

• 1.   Dam Pool
• 2.   Sandy Bend / Horseshoe Bend
• 3.   Gibson’s Pool
• 4.   Holm’s Pool / Streams
• 5.   Wilson’s Corner
• 6.   No.11 Stream
• 7.   Red Bridge Pool
• 8.   Milligan’s Pool
• 9.   SKEFCO Streams
• 10. SKEFCO Flats
• 11.  Beecham Flats
• 12. Shewalton Dam
• 13. Crock Rock
• 14. Burn Wood
• 15. By-Pass Bridge
• 16. Sand Washer (south bank boundary)
• 17. Horseshoe Bend
• 18. Water Meetings (Annick mouth)

The River Annick is a delightful little trout stream where light tackle is the order of the day. The streams provide first class trout fishing, however it is not easy as the water can run crystal clear. Dry fly can be very effective, however upstream nymphing or spiders also take their fair share of the fish.

There are 13 named pools on the club stretch of R. Annick. For clarity, and to differentiate between rivers, these are listed alphabetically and shown on the “joint” map – which is copied again for reference. 

• A. Mill Pool
• B. Viaduct
• C. Cats Hole
• D. Perceton Dam
• E. Shared fishings boundary
• F. Broken Bridge
• G. Black Bridge
• H. Gabions
• I. Dump Hole
• J. The Doctor’s
• K. The Graveyard
• L. The Willow Hole
• M. Slatehole

Fishing is shared on R. Annick with Irvine A.C. from the mouth upstream to Perceton Bridge. Exclusive rights are held from Perceton Bridge upstream to Cunninghamhead.

The Club waters are stocked regularly with brown trout ranging from fingerlings to 10″ or 13″ and all stocked fish are Triploid – in accordance with the requirements of Scottish Government legislation. Annual runs of grilse, salmon and sea-trout gives the membership further variety of species to seek throughout each season.

From April 1st 2016, in common with other parts of Scotland, a conservation law has been introduced by The Scottish Parliament which requires us to return, unharmed, all Salmon caught.

We fully expect this measure to be temporary until a full fishery survey has been completed on the whole catchment area.  A sustainable fishery management plan will then be presented and the situation reviewed in the light of its findings.  DAC has, in January 2017, contributed their agreed share of the survey costs.

Visitors hoping to catch Salmon or Sea-Trout are able to do so throughout the season,  but the highest catch returns are recorded in the months of August, September and October when fresh fish run the river with every rise of water level.  Brown trout are caught throughout each season.

Spinning accounts for most fish caught although fly fishing is becoming more popular.