River Leny, North Bank - Drumardoch Estate

Enquiries about rods should be made directly to the Estate.

The River Leny is a Salmon river primarily, however there are some good Trout too and a few Sea Trout. Known historically as a Spring river, the Leny has changed over recent years to include the Summer and Autumn too. There is little pattern to the season now, however what is exciting about the Leny is it is more reliable than most rivers due to timing. A spate is required for running fish, and the Leny slows the Salmon down long enough for the lucky fly anglers with that day to have a chance. What attracted me to the Leny was the amount of different pools that all perform in different heights. It’s a technical river that can reward returning anglers as they learn it. The surroundings, the care and attention from the estate, the pools, the wildlife, the access, and the chance at a really big salmon in a small river keep me coming back to the Leny every season.

The River Leny, ‘Garbh Uisge’ in Gaelic meaning ‘Rough Water’, drains Loch Lubnaig in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. As the river then crashes through the gorge and eventually opens out to settle into farmland, it meets with the Eas Gobhain in Callander. The convergence of these two rivers form the River Teith. The area is within 30 minutes of Stirling and approximately an hour of Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow.

The Upper Leny fishing begins below the burn on the North bank at the loch outlet. This is just downstream of the car park at the Eastern end of Loch Lubnaig. The fishing for the entire beat is North bank only, left bank. See the map for further details. The lower boundary is at the bottom of the Trean Fields as it enters the garden with the hut on the bank. This is below the weir remains.

The fishing on the Upper Leny is for experienced and sure footed salmon fly anglers that are confident in their fly angling knowledge. A testing river that offers a challenge and the rewards can be exceptional. The bigger Salmon of the River Teith are said to run the Leny. Some fish go upstream further, through the Balvaig and beyond to spawn. The main attraction to anglers is the holding water the Leny offers between the boisterous turbulent sections and waterfalls. There are longer pools than you would expect, and also smaller deep pocket waters.

From the Loch Lubnaig Outlet to Anie

Park in the car park. The section immediately downstream of the burn on the North bank at the loch outlet is tree lined, set back, and pea gravel under foot. Start above the narrowest section of the outflow with a short line. The wading is easy here, however it is easy to spook fish with the glassy water so go stealthily. Cast a long line to the far bank and let it swing quickly, always moving your fly. In Summer and Autumn many fish hold up here before their last push to their spawning grounds. It is the last flowing water before they travel through Loch Lubnaig. Fish as far down as you can wade. In certain levels you can keep going around the corner, some 300-400m. Be wary of gravel bars shifting underfoot. The next section downstream requires getting back in the car. The long layby on the straight is where to park. The layby offers access to St. Brides, Anie and the Bulls Eye pools. These are worth investigating. St. Brides is a well oxygenated pool and fishes in medium to low water, the pools below fish in all levels.

Stank Bridge to Pipe Pool

A gorgeous section of water. Park in the public car park across Stank Bridge from the main road and walk upstream and cross the bridge. Immediately across the bridge there is a path that takes you upstream. Navigate your way onto the small island. The Stank Bridge pool starts here and fishes around the bend to down under the bridge. Downstream from the bridge is Grant’s Pool. Access down from the bridge at the end of the fence and fish through this fast run. The boil does not seem to hold fish but the ledges do. Do not wade here, the fish are on your side especially in higher water. The rocks are very slippery on the bank here. The tail can be tricky to control the line as the main lie shifts to the other side but it is deep at your feet too. High-stick the rod here for best results and feed the fly down into the tail. Come out at the tail of the pool here and find your way downstream through the undergrowth to fish the pools marked on the map to Pipe Pool. There is very little in the way of larger pools, but a sunray or large muddler across the tops of the pocket water in medium height can often stir up a fish. Good sized trout are resident here too and best targeted in low water.

The Falls to Green Shadows

The Falls Pool is the most famous of the River Leny. 50m above the pool is the waterfall which is spectacular, especially so in a spate. Fish can often be seen leaping up the left side, looking at the face of the falls. There is no fishing immediately below the falls. Access to the Falls Pool is by crossing the main road from the small car park near the falls and through the gate with a coded padlock. Follow the track upstream as far as you can get. In high water this pool can be exceptional, and fish will often show in the tail and between the two currents. Cast square and fish as deep as you can. Move the fly fast, the current will do this for you. The boil in the middle at the tail holds fish upstream of it. The next pool worth paying attention to is Black Donald. Walking from the Pass Pool car park down the road is the only access. This road is busy so be aware of cars coming both ways. Black Donald is generally a low water pool. It is very deep and has oxygenated water keeping it fresh. Avoid standing on the top of the boulder, creep along the upstream face of it. The Stehl and Quarry pools are worth a look and are also accessed via walking the main road. Green Shadows is in the garden of the red brick house. It is possible to get on to their lower path via the river bank and walk downstream to the pool at the foot of the garden. Please be very respectful here and avoid going in if there are dogs in the garden. Exit the way you came in at the upstream corner of the garden, and then up the outside fence line to the road.

The Weir to Trean Streams

Park in the public car park over the bridge on the right bank just along from Kilmahog. From here you can cross back over the bridge and walk upstream to below the Weir on the bend and down through Drummonds pool. The Weir pool is almost unfishable now due to erosion. At the tail of Drummonds, come out and cross the road at the bridge and into the field. There is a kissing-gate along from the Lade Inn pub or hotel. Walk down the fence line to a galvanised gate below some power lines and enter. Bochastle pool starts upstream from the gate and sweeps around the bend. This is one of the longest pools on the Leny and is worth concentrating on when fish are running. Opposite the gate and the next two large boils are taking spots. In very high water the fish can cut the corner and run by your feet. Sea Trout can sit in the lower part of this pool and show at night in June. The Mill Pools have eroded and changed course. The estate owners have allowed the brush to grow to try to strengthen the banks. Avoid fishing here please for your safety. There is a gate and a bridge followed by a long path to Trean field. Trean pool has the Leny Burn running into it and can hold fish in the bottleneck. Sea Trout and large Brown Trout have been hooked here also. A large black fly with blue flash is effective for Trout and Sea Trout here. Below the Trean pool are some pockets of water above the end of the beat. The Weir and the Trean Streams do not have much fishable water.

There is ‘The Cabin’ on Loch Lubnaig for a take-away coffee, with the best burgers in the area, the meat is from the local estate. There are places to park (laybys) depending on where you would like to fish. Common sense prevails here. Gates and paths give you easy access to the main fishing stretches. Please leave gates as you find them. There are plenty of cafe/bakery/shops for meals and snacks around the Callander, Kilmahog, and Strathyre area. There are a number of accommodation options at all price points in the area: Self catering cottages on the Leny/Drumardoch Estate, and B&B’s and some hotels in Callander and Kilmahog.