Boat camping in December

Waiting for action in the sunshine

Being firmly towards the “bah humbug” end of the spectrum regarding Christmas I was already thinking of a trip west when Trevor phoned with pretty much the same idea – a couple of days boat fishing together combined with a bracing overnighter in a tent. I’ve never camped in the UK in December before so that would… Continue reading Boat camping in December

Etive shines

Alcatraz lies to anchor

Etive is an wildly beautiful place (at times!), and it’s surprisingly unspoilt the upper loch is given how accessible it is from the central belt. Even if it was a fishless desert its upper reaches would attract anyone wanting to experience the beauty of raw nature and the almost complete silence that goes with no roads… Continue reading Etive shines

Kayaking Desolation Sound, British Columbia

Home for 3 nights, South Curme Island

OK, this post has nothing to do with angling, and I didn’t even take a rod with me to Canada, but we were out kayaking and backpacking in a landscape every bit as grand and far larger than our sea lochs. I’d spent time in Ontario a decade before, including several days canoeing, but BC… Continue reading Kayaking Desolation Sound, British Columbia

Mount Robson and Snowbird Pass

Mount Robson and Berg Lake, from above Toboggan Falls

A few days of R&R and some substantial driving following our kayaking adventure in Desolation Sound, we kicked off a 4 day backpacking trip in the Berg Lake area of Mount Robson. Coming from the south and west, Mount Robson remains well hidden amongst other mountains until a turn in the road suddenly reveals this snow covered giant (it… Continue reading Mount Robson and Snowbird Pass

A little bit of everything on the sea lochs

A nice spurdog from Loch Sunart, November 2013

…and that’s just the weather. Flat calm and warm sunshine one minute, followed by vicious squalls with heavy rain and sleet the next. Not quite what was forecast but certainly what we got when Trevor and I headed west for a couple of days on Etive and Sunart. Sort of summarises the fishing too! An… Continue reading A little bit of everything on the sea lochs

A Night Under the Stars

Moonrise over Ben Starav

The end of September probably marks the end of easy camping in Scotland, not so much because of the cold (and it does get cold!), but the nights start to get too long for comfort. In any case I was happy to take the opportunity of a quiet overnight away under canvas, as it’s one… Continue reading A Night Under the Stars

26-27 July 2011 – Loch Etive

Weather: Hot and sunny, with an afternoon sea breeze Sea Conditions: Flat (and 19.5 degrees water temp in the shallows!) Times: Roughly 1400-1900 on Tuesday and 0800-1600 on Wednesday – about 13 hours altogether Tides: LW approx 1120 at Bonawe on Tuesday, small tides Took my son, Mike, and Bonnie the manic spaniel across to Loch Etive… Continue reading 26-27 July 2011 – Loch Etive

April 17-18 – Loch Sunart

Weather: Calm or lightish winds. Overcast on the Sunday and sunny on Monday. Sea: Calm Time: Roughly 1130-1630 on Sunday, and 0730-1530 on Monday – say 13 hours altogether Tides: HW 1822 on Sunday and 0637 Monday (large tide – 4.5m range) March and April are always fairly slow months for salt water anglers, but… Continue reading April 17-18 – Loch Sunart