The Inver River , Larne, Co.Antrim. The Inver is a small spate river approximately 6 miles in length originating on Thorny Hill on the uplands below the better known Shanes Hill. Fed by springs and small burns the river drops several hundred feet from its source becoming a fairly fast moving water for most of its fishable length before finally entering Larne Lough. The river holds a good stock of wild brown trout, a genetic mixture of indigenous trout and hatchery fish stocked in the early 60's by Larne & District Angling Association. The Association, the forerunner of the present club, fished the Larne reservoirs, Ballyboley & Ballymullock and whilst not having the fishing rights of the Inver , regularly stocked the river with salmon, brown trout and sea trout fry, the last recorded stocking of sea trout being in 1969. The Association was dissolved in 1985 when both reservoirs were drained and capped. Historically, the Inver has always been fished by local anglers who enjoyed casting a fly over hard fighting, beautifully spotted, brown trout rarely exceeding three quarters of a pound in weight! However, every year, given suitable water , August, September & October saw a small run of salmon accompanied by a significant run of sea trout. Over the years, many superb fish were caught legally using flies, spinners or worms but the majority of the bigger fish were hauled out using nets or gaffs ........ as an unregulated river with no club to protect it , poachers had free rein to do as they pleased.
The Inver is a small spate river approximately 6 miles in length originating on Thorny Hill on the uplands below the better known Shanes Hill. Fed by springs and small burns the river drops several hundred feet from its source becoming a fairly fast moving water for most of its fishable length before finally entering Larne Lough. The river holds a good stock of wild brown trout, a genetic mixture of indigenous trout and hatchery fish stocked in the early 60's by Larne & District Angling Association. The Association, the forerunner of the present club, fished the Larne reservoirs, Ballyboley & Ballymullock and whilst not having the fishing rights of the Inver , regularly stocked the river with salmon, brown trout and sea trout fry, the last recorded stocking of sea trout being in 1969. The Association was dissolved in 1985 when both reservoirs were drained and capped. Historically, the Inver has always been fished by local anglers who enjoyed casting a fly over hard fighting, beautifully spotted, brown trout rarely exceeding three quarters of a pound in weight! However, every year, given suitable water , August, September & October saw a small run of salmon accompanied by a significant run of sea trout. Over the years, many superb fish were caught legally using flies, spinners or worms but the majority of the bigger fish were hauled out using nets or gaffs ........ as an unregulated river with no club to protect it , poachers had free rein to do as they pleased.