Steven McVean
Manager at Angling Active for over 10 years
Qualified SGAIC single handed fly fishing instructor
Scottish Youth International Fly Fisher
Winner of “The Salt” The UK Kilchoman Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival
At Angling Active, we’re lucky to have a team made up of genuine anglers, people who don’t just sell fishing gear but live and breathe the sport.
Few embody that spirit more than our store manager, Steven McVean.
Steven’s journey in fishing started early. Like many lifelong anglers, it began as a young obsession, endless days spent on the water, learning the rhythms of rivers, tides and fish behaviour. That early passion quickly grew into something more structured and competitive, as he went on to represent the Scottish Youth Fly Fishing team. Competing at that level gave Steven a strong foundation in discipline, technique and the finer details that separate a good angler from a great one.
Fly fishing has always been at the heart of his angling story. Over the years, Steven has developed into a highly skilled competitive fly fisher, refining his approach through both national and competitive scenes. His dedication and skill were most notably recognised in 2015 when he won “The Salt” The UK Kilchoman Saltwater Fly Fishing Festival, a standout achievement in the saltwater fly fishing calendar.
More recently, Steven has continued to build on his expertise, achieving SGAIC qualification, further cementing his knowledge and credibility within the angling community.
Today, Steven also shares his experience more directly with fellow anglers through casting tuition, helping anglers of all levels improve their technique on the water. Whether it’s tightening up a beginner’s foundation or fine-tuning an experienced caster’s loop control and distance work, his approach is practical, patient and built entirely on real-world experience.
As store manager at Angling Active, Steven brings all of that knowledge into the shop every day. Whether it’s helping customers choose the right setup, offering insight on local waters or sharing hard-earned tips from years on the bank and in competition, his advice comes from doing, not theory.
What stands out most about Steven isn’t just his achievements, but his genuine enthusiasm for helping others enjoy fishing as much as he does. For him, angling isn’t just a sport, it’s a lifelong pursuit, shaped by dedication, competition and a constant drive to improve.
If you’ve visited the store, there’s a good chance you’ve already benefited from his knowledge. And if you haven’t yet, well, you’ll be in very good hands when you do.
We are proud to announce Steven is now available as our in-house single handed fly casting instructor, available for casting tuition and can be contacted directly or come and visit him in-store!
Visit Steven's website here: SM Fly Fishing
