Loch Etive is a particular favourite of mine, especially over the winter months. It penetrates deep into the Argyllshire mountains and is often far more sheltered than anywhere else in the country. Chuck in a good range of species and you have a great venue which fishes happily when others struggle.
With a little effort you can also camp as well as fish in the wildness of the upper loch. No roads and almost no people. If you like a bit of solitude and appreciate the sound of silence, then try exploring a little. Often you will be the only creature on the water apart from the odd seal and an occasional otter.
This is a long page and I’ve broken it down into boat, shore and camping sections to make it a little more digestible. My blog is updated fairly regularly and you can check out any recent trips to Etive.
I’ve produced a few videos of camping and fishing Loch Etive – just click on the playlist below to see the lot.
I usually fish from my own boat, as it’s both easier and more productive. Plenty of anglers (including myself) also kayak, although you do need to watch for wind at times. There are also small boats available for hire (try Taynuilt Boat Club) and these seem very popular.
I do sometimes shore fish between Bonawe and the mouth of the loch at Connel, but not often. Usually I prefer lonelier spots away from civilisation, which means between Bonawe and Glen Etive. The fish are smaller but quite numerous, and I spend several nights a year camping up here. Be prepared to hike a good distance over rough ground though!
Launching a Boat
Almost everyone launches at Taynuilt, using the beach alongside the old, stone-built, Kelly’s pier (not the concrete pier at the end of the road, which is much trickier). Easy at HW, but very shallow around LW, any modest sized boat can be launched using a 2WD vehicle. A rope may help recover your trailer in the bottom part of the tide.
Beware a large pile of rocks lying parallel to the head of the pier – as long as you stick very close in to the pier coming in or leaving you’ll be fine. You can sometimes find large piles of seaweed on the beach over winter, and a fork can be handy if it gets too extreme.
“Up” or “Down”
Once launched you can go “up” the loch by passing through the Bonawe Narrows and heading NE to reach the very remote country described above. Alternatively, head west “down” the loch into more genteel territory. Fishing-wise it’s a bit of a toss-up, but I have probably had more fish down towards Airds Point and Ardchattan. I usually end up doing a bit of both.
The very deep water (almost 500 feet) found NE of Bonawe is an interesting experience but rarely seems to produce much except small fish. However there are other marks well up the loch which hold good rays and spurdogs. The upper limits, say between Inverghiusachan and Glen Etive, are generally home to very small spurdog, although you’ll find mackerel here over the height of summer.
Boat Tactics
Everyone has their own opinion, but tactics are pretty straightforward – a modest sized mackerel bait on a 2/0-6/0 hook fished on the bottom will take most species. Many embellishments are possible (luminous beads and muppets are very popular), and baited hokkais can also be a killer, but it doesn’t pay to agonise over the options.
More important is to replace baits regularly and not let them sit washed out for an hour or more. I usually use a 12-20lb class rod with braid and a small multiplier and add a 6 or 8 oz weight, but it is perfectly possible to fish a spinning rod and 2 or 3 oz of lead (you just need to be patient waiting for the lead to hit bottom in deep water…). Tackle losses are minimal, unless a spurdog bites through the line.
I nearly always use mackerel for bait, but bluey is notably effective for thornbacks, and squid catches too. Don’t rely on catching mackerel for bait as the loch can be fickle – hordes one day, none the next. That said, mackerel do seem to over-winter in Etive and I’ve caught them in both winter and spring.
Even in deep water you’ll often find the fish switch on as the light fades, and I’ve had many good catches simply by fishing on after dark for an hour or two – although it can make for a more interesting run home in pitch darkness if you’re fishing well up the loch from your own boat.
Shore Fishing Etive
I don’t fish the lower parts of Loch Etive too often from the shore and am definitely not a good source of advice on these marks. That said, I love shore fishing the more deserted upper loch. The fish are smaller but fairly numerous and I often have a fish and camp session. Spurdog in the 1-3lb range are the most realistic target but they will reach over 10lbs.
I usually target spurs and rays, so a straightforward pulley rig tied from 80-100lb line is all I need. Beads locked in place by a crimp provide added protection from a spurdog’s teeth. Normally I use a single 4/0 hook and a 6 or 7oz grip.
Mackerel strip is my preferred bait and seems to do the job just fine. Much of my gear is almost as old and decrepit as me, so you absolutely don’t need state of the art kit.
As for marks, most areas seem to hold spurdog at some point. I prefer to avoid the strong tides found in the Bonawe Narrows, or the shallow marks near the Priory – some good fish definitely come from these spots, but it seems very hard work with quite a few blanks.
The really deep water further up the loch is fun to experience a few times, but again seems to involve quite a lot of work for the fish taken. If you haven’t cast into 300 feet of water and spent over a minute watching your spool empty as the bait sinks to the bottom, then you should definitely try it. Just don’t assume you need deep water to catch spurdogs – you absolutely don’t.
That leaves water in the 40-150 foot range, without a strong tide, as my preferred environment round here. Fortunately, a lot of Etive’s shoreline falls into this category so you’re spoiled for choice. My experience is that fish usually show up at some point, provided you’re prepared to wait for a while.
Shore fishing does seem to be better at night, but you can catch perfectly well in the sunshine – although typically from deeper marks.
Other Species
All my comments above are really looking at bottom fishing, whether afloat or from the shore. You’ll pick up spurs, rays and dogfish mainly, with some whiting and the odd codling, ling and other species. However there are other approaches too.
Trout
There is quite a large population of brown trout in Etive, especially in the upper loch. Mainly small fish, but I find it fun to catch spurdog with one rod whilst picking up trout with another. Something I’ve only tried in the last couple of years, but it adds interest. I haven’t tried this yet, but it is possible to fly fish for them too.
I’ve had most fish along the seaweed close to the shore, on a Mepps or small Toby. Equally you can catch them trolling behind a kayak or boat.
Pollack
Etive holds a modest population of pollack, although I rarely target them here. I’ve never had large fish, my best being 5lbs 6oz, but they make an alternative to chasing bottom feeders.
The usual pollack tactics will work, with metals, soft plastics and ragworm all catching. If I had a more reliable supply of rag then that would probably be my preferred approach.
Codling and Ling
There are reasonable numbers of codling and ling in Etive, although I very rarely target them. Many of the Etive fish have internal parasites which is pretty offputting if you plan on cooking your catch. I also use the west coast as an opportunity to catch something different to my usual east coast staples.
A few anglers do target larger cod but these appear to be few and far between. Decent ling are a bit more common, although I’ve never had one make close to double figures.
Camping
Combining fishing with a night’s camping is an attractive option if you head up the loch. There are many choices for a shore angler prepared to hike and travel light. Ditto for a kayak or SIB angler able to move their craft above HW mark. Even from a hard boat there are quiet spots where it’s possible to moor up for the evening and take a tent ashore.
Just keep it quiet and litter-free and there’s no reason for anyone to bother you. Travel light and leave no trace is a pretty good mindset to adopt.
Generally I prefer to camp outside midge season if I can and I’ll take a bit of cold over a swarm of no-see-ums any day. The main drawback of a mid-winter camp is really the lack of daylight, which is why camping alongside your fishing mark makes life easier.
Many camping spots around Loch Etive have long established fire pits, and I don’t feel guilty using them. However, the ecosystem here is fragile, so please don’t set campfires all over the place. Driftwood or dead branches are fine – but chopping green wood from a living tree is just pointless vandalism. I normally take firewood in with me if I have a kayak or the boat, and usually a basic supply even if I’m hiking.
Etive Trip reports…
You can see all my posts relating to Loch Etive here.
thanks for your informative post. Staying at Dundonald Landing right on north shore of loch etive for a week in Aug 16. Taking kayaks but mostly looking at shore fishing, hopefully from the jetty that is right in front of the cottage. Any ideas on what I can hope/expect to catch at that time of year and any suggestions for where to head and tactics?
Thanks
Hi Chris,
I’ve never fished near the landing, but it may be very similar to the mark known as the priory which is about 1 km east of you. Fairly shallow water and night fishing seems to be best for spurs and thornbacks. There is also the windsock mark (the airfield to the west of you) which is mainly fished for spurs but has a strong tide flow. Google “Etive windsock” will bring back loads of shore reports. I’ve had some success fishing the little point just west of the Abbots Isles on the south bank, which has easy parking and access to a bit deeper water (60-80 feet). If you’re prepared to walk a bit then there are marks on the north bank about 1-1.5 miles west of the quarry at Bonawe, but these are more for the novelty of shore fishing into 250+ feet than for better fishing.
August is pretty similar to the winter months in terms of fish, although I can’t recall many large spurdogs at this time. Mackerel can be hit or miss in Etive but the fishfarms at Ardchattan and Airds tend to attract them – sometimes quite small though. As long as you stay clear of any workboats the guys on the farms are generally friendly enough. Mackerel is pretty much all you need for bait, although rag will take Pollack around the rockier areas. Some of the shallower parts of the loch, say 20-60 feet deep around the edges, are stuffed with small codling and other tiddlers which are suckers for small baited sabikis. Most will be undersized but there is the odd bigger one, and you can pick up decent ling and other species when fishing for spurs, either on baited hokkais or using a leger style rig. Using the kayak will definitely improve your fishing unless you fish at night, and has the bonus of avoiding the midges.
If you have the kayaks you’ll be missing out if you don’t spend a day exploring the loch above Bonawe narrows – with or without a fishing rod – as there is some spectacular scenery up that way. There is an issue with litter on some of these marks and (unsurprisingly) quite a bit of sensitivity locally about this, so do take care on this point.
Unless you’re comfortable about the Falls of Lora I wouldn’t head westwards in a kayak from where you are…
Have fun!
Doug
Hi taking two sibs and three men up for first fishing camping trip on etive,makin our way to rhuba barr,apart from the rocks at the launch in taynuilt have we any other things to avoid wen on the water,,is there also safe car parking close to launch
Hi – you’re usually OK for parking just where you launch at Taynuilt. No real hazards on the loch, although I wouldn’t want to be out in a SIB if it turns windy. Possibly watch for the submerged rocks at Inverliver Bay (other side from Rhuda Barr), although they are charted and mapped. Best to stay away from the mouth of the River Awe as well, to avoid submerged branches.
Rhuda Barr is a lovely wee bay for camping, so please treat with respect 🙂
Hi i am planning a wild camping trip this weekend and looking to fish. Do i need a permiot or permission to Fish and is there anywhere on the north shore of the lake you would recommend to pitch for the night?
Thanks
Hi,
You don’t need a permit for any of the sea lochs, assuming you’re not targeting salmon/sea trout. I only tend to camp well up the loch, mainly in places which are hard to reach overland. I wouldn’t describe the north shore (say from the quarry upwards) as great camping country, but there are a few spots where it’s possible. It’s likely to be midge hell this weekend though…
I’d really like to come and fish Loch Etive on the Kayak, it’ll probably be in a months time. Can you recommend a half decent place to fish for a couple days? Also what wind direction is calmest for the Loch as I’ll keep an eye out on the forecast. And lastly what species are showing this time of year? Hope for some mackeral too. Sorry for the essay any help is much appreciated!
Hi Martin,
The species on Etive don’t change that much over the year, so you’re targeting thornbacks and spurdogs at anchor and smallish codling and some pollack nearer the edges of the loch. I definitely wouldn’t rely on finding mackerel for bait though – there can be loads around, or be very hard to find, usually the latter.
Wind? None is obviously best, but failing that then NW or SE are probably best – but the wind can vary tremendously from place to place on the loch as it is so affected by the mountains and surrounding valleys. I tend to avoid it if the forecast is in double figures, although that’s because I find catches nosedive rather than any safety issue.
Marks to fish? One problem with Etive is that the fish seem to move around, which can make it difficult to find them with a slow moving kayak. You can catch just about anywhere – sometimes! I’ve caught just off the mooring buoys at Taynuilt, and between the fish farm and Airds Point, and I regularly try down near Ardchattan. If you go through the Narrows at Bonawe there is reasonable fishing near the fish farms on the south bank – the ones further up the loch are in 300 feet of water. Simple mackerel baited rigs are best, but with wire or thick mono to stop spurs biting you off.
Good luck!
Doug
Thinking of a trip to etive this weekend. Is there an area that can be shore fished at any tide state that is suitable for camping? Any help appreciated. Thanks.
If you’re prepared to walk a bit then there are deep water marks on both sides of the loch that you could camp on, heading NE from Bonawe Narrows. About 3 miles from the quarry at Bonawe there’s a spot you could camp right alongside the water on an old pier, if you were discreet. There are other places around the loch as well but not necessarily where you can fish, camp and not hack off the locals (there’s a lot of people unhappy with the behaviour of campers who generate too much noise and rubbish). You can also hike and camp from the Glen Etive side – but the hike can be hard going and the fish are smaller, although definitely better from a camping perspective.
Hi – firstly what a great site ! Brilliant information. I am hoping to take up a warrior 175. I have 2wd. I have been up before but hired a boat. tFC boats were pulling boats out there in airds bay on the gravel/rock clearing with a small jetty – do you launch there ? It was just at the point TFC is marked on the map. If not what is Kelly pier like and are there any access restrictions ? Thank you very very much
I launch at Kelly’s pier, which isn’t the same one as TFC use but is on the other side of the bay, parallel with the River Awe. I don’t think you can use the TFC pier for launching, unless it’s been greatly improved in the last few years – everyone I know uses Kelly’s pier.
It’s best to keep close to Kelly’s pier when launching and follow the line of the pier as you go out into the loch until you are completely clear of the pier. About 20-30 yards parallel to the pier is a shoal area which isn’t at all obvious at mid-tide, and keeping 10 yards parallel to the pier avoids this hazard. The first minute of my video on Etive – https://youtu.be/FwmNPxxMGYQ – shows me launching a 165 at Kelly’s pier around HW.
The ground here is fairly firm stony sand and I’ve never had a problem with bogging down the trailer. However the beach does get a bit steeper towards HW and you might wheelspin getting a 175 out with a 2WD – try towing parallel with the beach rather than heading straight up and you’ll probably be OK. At this time of year you might need to clear weed from the beach to improve access, but it depends on whether there’s been a recent storm or not. My inclination would be to launch around HW and recover perhaps 2 hours after or 2 hours before the next HW. You can recover at any time really, but the beach is quite shallow and you might need to rope a trailer out if you recover 2 hours either side of LW.
Hi there,
Do any of you know if I need a permit to fish the mouth of the river Awe, Airds bay. I would assume not as at that point is part of the loch and salt water.
Any help here appreciated,
Nick
If you’re after salmon or sea trout then almost certainly yes, but I don’t know who has the rights there or how to get a permit. For “normal” sea species like spurs, rays, cod, etc. then no permit is required anywhere.
Hi looking to take my 17ft boat up at the start of august to camp and fish. My only question is that when going ashore to camp are there places to moor the boat or while i require a temp mooring over night. Thanks
Hi Derek,
I only ever camp up the northern part of the loch, above Taynuilt, and you’re on your own up here. I attach a pulley system to my anchor and use that to moor a little off the shore. There is a good bay on the northern shore near Barrs and several options opposite that beach, but it very much depends on the weather and wind direction whether you can find a safe spot or not. In many places the loch is deep close inshore which complicates things.
where’s Barrs about? Place doesn’t seem to show on a map. Hopefully going next week with my boat for couple of days. Cheers
Hi Calum – Barrs is on the northern bank of the loch, about half-way between Bonawe and Glen Etive. You might find quite a lot of very small fish at this time of year though, especially if you head further up towards the head of the loch.
Hi,
Im planning on a friday fishing with overnight camp at loch etive in a months time. Hiring a boat hopefully from the boat club. Could you recommend any camping areas that are accessible via car / small hike. And anything we would need to watch out for. Thanks if you can!
Hi James,
There aren’t that many places you can camp and fish without taking a fair hike from the car. It’s possible to do both round by the church at Ardchattan on the northern bank, and there are a few other spots along this road where a tent could be squeezed in. There are a few spots beyond the quarry at Bonawe as well, although you’ll need to walk a few hundred metres to reach these. Camping is a very sensitive issue because of the nuisance and mess left behind by some, so keeping things tidy is important.
Midges are the most obvious problem in August, and can be hellish on a calm evening. Also, don’t assume that you’ll get mackerel for bait easily – sometimes there are loads, sometimes they can be very hard to find, so I usually take my own.
Great read……thanks
Hi,
Is the tipi a Klondike? I wonder if I could pitch it single handed on a calm day if my mate isn’t around.
Thanks.
Hi Ash,
It is a Klondike and is actually a really easy tent to pitch. I’ve put it up several times on my own without difficulty. It’s fairly heavy though, and can take a fair bit of drying/airing back home after a rainy night. Exceedingly comfortable with a pair of carp beds and log burner!
Thanks Doug,
That’s handy to know, I got one on Monday In Edinburgh & the stove & water boiler are in the post. Loch Etive beckons for March with a big bag of sticks. I got an arran 16 last summer & we’re ready for the off (slowly) asap. Having sold our old bigger moored boat, this is summer No 1 for trailer sailer fishing Thanks for all the info on line, it’s a great help. See you on the water one of these days.
Hi Doug ,I did message a while ago saying your vids inspired me to get an Orkney LL, 17 ft, well I tried her at N wales , she was ok but very ploddy on the 9.9 Mariner 4 stroke, but My brother and I are taking her to visit Loch Etive ,in two weeks , can you tell me where Kelly’s pier is please , I would be on the A82 then A85 to Taynuilt ,would I then go left on the B845 past the Iron furnace ending at Taynuilt Pier ?or do I head towards the TBC to find Kelly’s Pier, Hoping for lure fishing from the boat and Camping for a few nights with a baited Rod out.Any tips for catching and finding Kelly’s pier please .
Hi Bryn,
The B845 to Taynuilt jetty is what you want, and you pass Kellys pier on the way (it’s just past the Bonawe Ironworks). If you hit Taynuilt jetty and the end of the road then you’ve overshot – best to avoid launching at Taynuilt jetty as it’s hard work. Launch on the stony beach just alongside the old stone pier and stick close in to the pier until you reach the end, as there is a pile of rock about 20 yards to one side of it. Best to launch near HW as the pier almost dries out. Check before you launch as there are the remains of an old telegraph cable near the top of the beach with a lot of sharp rusting wire! Drive 20-30 yards just beyond the Etive cruises car park on the pier itself and through the dodgy looking puddle to access the beach area (ground under the puddle is firm).
Please don’t camp on the beach area as this upsets the locals, but no-one seems to worry about cars being left there overnight. There are some good camping spots well up the loch, but the boat will limit you a bit if you need to moor off.
You can spin for pollack on Etive, but it’s not great and I spend most of my time bait fishing. Mackerel is all you need to target spurdog and ray, and just about anything else in there.
Fish move about quite a bit, so don’t waste too much time in one spot if nothing bites. There’s dozens of fishy looking spots and holes on the chart, and most of these hold fish at times. You don’t need 500 feet of water to catch, and I generally fish anything between 120 and 300 feet.
You do need an anchor and a decent amount of chain and rope though!
Fantastic Doug ,thank you very much, I have a one man 6 ft plastic dinghy in case I have to ferry stuff to the shore , and have an anchor n chain for my L L. I am a keen naturalist as well as an Angler and I assure you I will be discreet, quiet and will leave nothing but a little wake behind my boat and some ashes from my camp fire. Cheers Doug.
Hi again Doug , getting excited about my first fishing trip to Etive , with the Long Liner, we have decided as its such a long way, to spend 4 days on etive and then pop across to Oban to spend 3 days on the S coast of Mull , can you advise me on a good place to launch around Oban and a safe place to leave the Truck n trailer please ? thanks for any help. regards Bryn .
Hi Bryn,
The two main launch sites at Oban are Ganavan (seen in my videos) or at the Puffin Dive Centre at Gallanach. Ganavan is an old seaplane slip which leads on to firm sand and is easy to use with a public carpark at the top. The carpark may or may not be chargeable at this time of year, and I’m not sure how you’d handle a couple of overnights – you might need to phone the council on that one. Gallanach is south of Oban and a little closer to the fishing, and you’d need to negotiate with the dive centre regarding costs and overnighting. The slip is perfectly OK, but it’s narrow and reversing onto it is a bit tricky.
Most of the fishing here is done on near Kerrera, especially at the south end between the island and Mull. A few hundred metres W/NW of Bach Island you hit 500+ feet and this is where I tend to skate fish. I’ve never done much fishing on the south coast of Mull, except from Loch Buie westwards, which is a long way from your launch point and very exposed to swell – this is pretty rough country and difficult to land except in very calm conditions. Loch Spelve might give you some options, but I’ve never been there. You don’t want to try for skate in a larger tide, and you’ll need something like 2lb of lead on a smaller one – no big tide run, but the depth has quite an impact on how you hold bottom.
Your other option, if the weather isn’t great, is to head round to Loch Sunart and Lochaline, via the Corran ferry. More sheltered water and you can launch at several spots on Sunart, or using the ferry slipway at Lochaline (obviously, check the timetables!). Both can be dour spots, but offer decent skate, spurdog, ray and conger.
Hi Doug,
My anchor warp is only 25m including a few metres of chain, which I say is too short. What length do you take to loch Etive? Also, I assume you fix a pulley system to a mooring float, so what length of looped line do you take ashore when rigging a temporary mooring? I don’t know the loch at all, & expect some deep water off some beaches or landing spots.Thanks,
Ash.
Hi Ash, I carry 220m of rope and about 10m of heavy chain attached to a 5kg Bruce anchor. You’ll rarely be anchored in less than 100 feet of water and often up to 300 or more. The deepest part of the loch is 500 feet, although I rarely fish there. For these depths you really need to use the Alderney ring method to retrieve the hook. When I’m mooring I just detach the anchor from my rope and attach an Alderney ring to the end of the chain – then feed my rope through the ring, with the ring acting as a pulley. Make sure both ends of the rope are firmly attached to the boat(!) then drop the anchor and power back ashore. I’ve found 220m is enough for this, although it can get a little tight at some spots. I only moor in calm conditions and you need to be aware that wind can funnel quite nastily down Etive.
Thanks Doug,
That’s exactly what I needed to know, better safe than sorry.
Ash.
Hi there
I’ve used my small 3.3 rib on inland water for many years but never on the sea will i have to register it with a coast guard or licence it to use on loch etive can’t seem to find anything online do i still need insurance? Was planning on launching at taynuilt is there anything i need to do before using my boat at sea? Sorry for the noob question lol but its all new to me
Thanks chris
Hi Chris,
There aren’t any real restrictions on using your rib at sea, and somewhere like Etive is a good stepping stone between an inland loch and the open sea. You don’t need to register with anyone, have formal training or insurance – although you might well want to consider some of these if you’re not familiar with the sea. VHF radios are the only area where you’ll need licensing.
Tides are the main difference, especially if the wind blows against the tide flow, but Etive is generally not too bad in terms of tidal flow as long as you stay well clear of the Connel area.
Safety kit is important, but I assume you’ve already got lifejackets, etc. I’d also have a look at my page on inflatable fishing if you haven’t already done so.
Hi there, I’ll be in the Loch Etive area on Sat 31st August for a few hours with my 8 yr old son. He’s keen on fishing; I’m not an angler myself but I’m a wildlife photographer who’d like to get some shots of spur dog being reeled in, a fish my son would also love to see close up. We don’t really have enough time to go out on a charter but wanted to find a local angler(s) trying for spurs to see if they might help us with this. Would you or do you know anyone available? Any good spots even where shore anglers tend to congregate so that I could ask them? Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi James,
I do go over to Etive occasionally in the summer months, but usually only if I can’t think of somewhere better to go! At this time of year there is much more variety elsewhere and the midges tend to be too plentiful for my taste. I suspect most anglers will be fishing dawn or dusk (or into darkness) which may also be a problem for you. It might be worth having a drive along the north shore road towards Bonawe, and maybe a walk through the quarry area just past the village as many anglers fish this area. The pier at Taynuilt (beyond the old ironworks) will probably have someone fishing, but probably not targeting spurdog.
Cheers,
Doug
Hi Doug,
Love the website and the Youtube channel. I am planning to go to Etive for my first ever solo fishing/camping trip. Looking to “get away from everyone” for a day and night. Can you recommend somewhere i can park the car then walk for 30mins or so to get to a decent spot for fishing/camping? Appreciate it.
Scotty.
Hi Scott,
Anywhere I do a fish and camp on Etive is 2 hours or more of a walk, as getting away from it all, fishing and camping aren’t easy to line up.
Your best bet is probably to park at the quarry at Bonawe and walk on through and along the track. There are several spots you can camp along there, but I’m not sure about the fishing. A bit further along I’d be more confident about the fishing, but camping away from the track might be tricky (I’ve never tried around there). Some of these marks will take you into 300 feet of water, others will be fairly shallow.
Do keep an eye on the forecast if you’re camping, as Etive can be pretty miserable in a S or SW wind – I’m pretty fussy about weather if I’m out over winter, as it makes a massive difference to your enjoyment!
Hi doug
Ive just found your page its fantastic iam away to etive on the 20th so iam ready for a cold camp and fish.what other fish apart from spurdog would i have a chance of catching???
Just back from an overnighter myself. Up the loch where I tend to fish you’ll get doggies, whiting and the occasional Ray. Further down towards Bonawe you can add small codling and the odd pollack. Poor cod and grey Gurnard too. There are a lot of other species too but most are rarities.
Hi Doug,
Looking to visit the Loch tomorrow in my Arran 16 for a spot of fishing, i’ve fished the shore many of times just never from my boat, the weather forcast is predicting 8mph winds and gusts of 15mph.. Do you have any idea what condition the loch will be in with winds like that?
Cheers
Dario
Hi Dario,
It’ll be fishable OK, especially early on when it looks quite a calm forecast. Etive can be a very mixed picture – really quite squally in one part of the loch whilst almost flat calm in another, so be prepared to move round a corner if it gets too uncomfortable. I think you’ll have some wind against (a small) tide late morning to early afternoon so the narrows at Bonawe might be bouncy at that point. Ardchattan, Airds and the fish farm up past the Bonawe narrows are all worth thinking about. Good luck 🙂
Hi Doug, thanks for your informative website and great videos. Inspired by your videos my friend and I, intend to fish and camp on loch Etive. I’d be grateful for some help! My friend has a sit on kayak and I have an open canoe. Where would be the best place to put in with manageable tides and somewhere safe to park for 4/5 days (I did think of Taynuilt?) also looking for a flat area with a water source in order to camp. And just to confirm, you don’t recommend eating the fish?
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.
Regards Dave
.
Hi David,
You could launch at Taynuilt or at the head of the loch by coming down from the Glencoe road. If I’m kayaking then I normally use the head of the loch as it’s a bit less paddling to get to my normal camping spots. Parking here can be quite limited, especially at weekends. At Taynuilt you’d be better going to very end of the road and launching where the River Awe enters the loch (i.e. not at Kelly’s pier where I launch my boat) – this will save you a bit of paddling and avoids most of the tidal flow. Tides generally aren’t a big deal on the upper part of Etive, except at the Bonawe narrows, but small tides will be easier to manage.
The spots I camp at are roughly 3-4 miles down the loch from Glen Etive and generally fairly obvious – the east bank tends to have the beaches whilst the west bank is more wooded and rocky, but still with good sites (look for the flat charcoal burners circles scattered in the woods). Water isn’t normally a problem, although I sometimes find myself a couple of hundred metres away from a stream. Nowadays I normally take wood in for a campfire, as you might struggle to find enough dry driftwood. I’d also stick to the beach or shore itself for any fires as it minimises any damage or risk of a fire spreading.
Be aware that the loch is very exposed to wind, especially blowing along its length – I pick nice, calm days which aren’t necessarily typical of what you get there. As for fishing, bottom fishing is mainly small stuff up where you’re camping – spurdog, dogs, rays, whiting and small codling. I’d just put these back, partly ‘cos they are small and partly because I find these fish are often full of worms. Trout and pollack (there are a few up here) might be in better shape but I’ve never tried one from Etive. You’ll get mackerel from mid-summer onwards, although generally small ones, and I think they are the only Etive fish I’ve actually eaten!
Doug, thank you very much for your advice and help.
Regards Dave
Hi Doug,
I’ve been enjoying your videos for a while now so please keep the content coming. As a local to Loch Etive I’ve been canoe camping there for quite a while and recently got back into fishing. Unfortunately I’ve struggled to match my free time with good canoe fishing weather. So, to get round this, I’ve picked up a wee 13″ cuddy cabin fibreglass fishing boat. I’m hoping I can pick your brain for some advice.
When you’re anchoring up using the ring/pulley method and going ashore overnight, how far from shore (or how deep) do you drop the anchor? How much line do you let out in relation to the depth?
How is the anchoring affected by changing tide/wind direction over the course of the night? Is this something I need to be wary of?
I was looking at getting a 5kg Bruce anchor with 3-5 metres of chain and around 60metres of line, would that work ok on the rockier areas on the west shore of the loch?
Sorry for all the questions but any advice would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Martin
Hi Martin,
For overnight mooring I would increase the chain length and make sure it’s fairly heavy. I use a 5kg Bruce with 10m of chain but 7 or 8m is probably enough. If pushed I would go with a 2.5kg anchor and 8m of heavy chain rather than 5kg anchor and 5m of chain – it’s the length and weight of chain that really matters here.
60m of line is too short for comfort and won’t allow you to anchor off and tie to a tree, etc. I carry 200m although I rarely use more than 150m overnight and often as little as 100-120m. I think you’d manage with 100m in most places if you tie the ends of the rope together to make it into a single continuous loop.
I always try and drop the anchor below the LW mark so that I’m confident the boat will remain afloat at all times during the night. The boat will swing with wind and tide so I always try and add a decent margin to this. You could let the boat dry out, but you’d need to be very confident there aren’t any rocks in the area that the boat could bounce on if the wind got up – I wouldn’t do this on the W shore of Etive.
When I’m using the rope to pull the boat out from the shore and towards the anchor I put some welly into it. You want as little distance between the bow of your boat and the anchor chain as possible, maybe allowing a couple of metres for the tide to rise.
I also keep an eye on the line of the rope to make sure it’s not likely to chafe on any sharp rocks overnight. Never had a problem but there’s no harm in checking!
I would definitely practice the technique in daylight a couple of times before trying an overnight – when you’re cold and tired it’s very easy to get confused about which rope to haul on. It can also get difficult to judge if the boat is really below the LW mark or not. It’ll take a while to sort it out the first time you try the technique so pick a good day and watch how the boat behaves whilst you grab some lunch or suss out a new campsite.
The philosophy here is for slight overkill in the arrangements, so that you’re confident enough to sleep through the night and have a sensible margin to allow for a little wind or a simple mistake in estimating tides. Note that if you use a 5kg Bruce and 7-10m of heavy chain for mooring then you’ll struggle to lift that if you anchor up for fishing – you’d really need to buoy the anchor out using the Alderney ring method.
Cheers,
Doug
Hi Doug, massive thanks for all the advice, I’ll definitely be heeding it (erring on the side of caution has worked well for me so far). The boat is a very light (read as thin skinned) displacement hull which rules out letting it beach on a rocky shore. It also has a narrow 5 foot beam so not one for hanging over the side to haul an overly heavy anchor, the 2.5kg anchor with more chain sounds like a better choice.
And I already know the pain of judging the low water marks, I’ve had many a long walk dragging a 50kg the canoe back down to the water lol.
As you suggest, it’s time to go practice 🙂
Thanks again,
Martin
Hi Doug,
Well I’ve just returned from my first 2 night camping trip on Etive with the boat. I’m pleased to say it went without any major issues 🙂
I did make the rookie mistake of not uncoiling my fresh 100m rope until I got to shore and needed it to rig up the pulley system. 20 minutes it took me to untangle that mess lol.
Anchoring was straightforward enough. I went with your recommendation of a 2.5kg Bruce anchor and a longer/heavier chain and it seemed to hold well in the sandy mud. To be fair there wasn’t much of a tide this weekend and very little wind but it has at least given me a bit more confidence to try it in more challenging conditions.
Overall it was pretty successful. My main takeaway is that I need to be a bit more organised. I now at least have a better understanding of when I need access to various ropes/tethers and equipment.
As for the fishing … it wasn’t quite as successful lol
Thanks again for your valuable advice. Now off to tidy up the boat 🙂
Martin.
Hi Martin,
Excellent – ultimately the only way to build confidence is to go try it out, and I’m glad it went well. You’re definitely better taking advantage of good conditions as I’ve been doing this for years and still get confused over which end of the rope to pull! (I’m not joking either – fumbling around in the dark when you’re wet and cold is not a recipe for success). With a little luck the fish will play ball for you next time!
Cheers,
Doug
I’ve lived on Loch Etive since 1985 and have learned far more in the last few minutes reading your blog and the comments than I had picked from spending nearly forty years on the spot! Many, many thanks.
I’ve long been tempted to try paravane fishing on Loch Etive. The angle of the loch is perfect for catching light wind under sail which enables a gentle two or three knots heading up the loch. Has anyone triwd this?
One point worthy of mention is that, although Etive is a sea loch, most, if not all, of the foreshore is privately owned so licences fore shore fishing are required from the various angling associations or from the landowners. The owners of most of the non-assocation shore tend to turn a blind eye to shore fishing but it is still only polite to check and obtain permission. The penalty for poaching can be extremely harsh if boats or campervans are confiscated so it also makes good sense to ask first!
Hi Jack, thanks for your interesting comment – I do troll for (small) trout from both my Orkney boat and my kayak, although I don’t use a paravane and am generally fishing the margins when I do this. A paravane will get you deeper and I suspect will pick up more mackerel than anything else, although there must be the odd better trout patrolling deeper water. There are some decent pollack in the loch but they tend to hug the rockier areas and probably won’t be too interested in a trolled lure. I think what I’m saying here is that (at 2-3 knots) I would dispense with the paravane and simply troll a small 7g toby behind my dinghy, preferably close to the bank. That said, Etive is well known for throwing up surprises and the list of species caught from it is lengthy, so you don’t know until you try!
The position regarding permission for fishing is a little more complex. Salmon and sea trout rights will be owned by the crown and you’ll need written permission to target/retain these species or you’ll be committing a criminal offence (this is one reason I steer clear of fishing around the mouth of the River Awe, for example – I prefer not to have to justify what I’m doing!). However, as far as I can tell landowners do not have any particular rights over the brown trout living in the sea, and at worst fishing for them would only be a civil matter. Landowners definitely have no rights over any fishing for any sea species such as cod or spurdog and cannot interfere with you when targetting them.
Saying that, I’m acutely aware that some anglers behave badly and cause offence, usually by leaving litter, chopping green timber as “firewood”, or by fishing pretty much outside someone’s back door. This may or may not be illegal but it is certainly stupid and crass behaviour and I honestly hate it and am embarrassed when I encounter it. It’s not compatible either with good manners or with a respectful approach to a fairly fragile environment. I don’t have any easy answers to this, so just try and promote a view of angling and outdoor life in general that is more in line with leave no trace principles. Maybe more emphasis on responsibilities than rights when it comes to enjoying our wilder lands!
Cheers,
Doug