I’ve fished and camped around Loch Etive quite a few times this year, but this was only my second visit with a kayak. Launching at the head of the loch I was greeted with calm but cool and misty conditions. Just as well I’d taken the tent stove along too!
Paddling along in the clag, I was glad of the one piece fleece undersuit and kayak waterproofs. It was definitely a bit on the raw side.
I wasn’t in a hurry and it took around 90 minutes to reach my destination – a rocky beach that regular readers will probably recognise.
Stiff with cold (and probably age!) I took a few minutes to offload gear and generally loosen up. Then it was time to lob a couple of baits out to fish whilst I sorted out the camp.
Sorting out took a little longer than anticipated as there was quite a bit of spurdog activity 🙂
A while later I snapped a photo of this coaster making its way up the loch. It’s the first cargo boat I’ve seen in several years this far up Etive, and was hauling timber. You can see the collapsible mast on it, presumably to make it easier to get under bridges and power cables.
I eventually got my tent set up in between spurdogs. My One Tigris Iron Wall and tent stove had come along for this trip, together with a fair pile of wood to keep me warm 🙂
The spurdog were the usual small stuff I catch this far up the loch. Good fun and a nice accompaniment to a bit of kayaking and camping, but nothing too exciting
Night Falls
With light fading quickly I fired up the stove and rescued my headtorch from the depths of my rucksack.
Popping tip lights onto the rods I cast out again and set to work getting some dinner ready.
I was pitched right on the beach and only yards from my rods, so it was an almost ideal setup for a lazy angler. And with a defrosted chill con carne, this lazy angler didn’t even have to try very hard for his dinner either!
Sitting in the warmth of the tent I could still keep an eye on the rods as they fished on. In reality, I didn’t give it too long and only picked up a couple more fish before hitting the sack.
A New Day
Next morning was fine and calm, but the air was chilly and I was glad of the heat from the stove. My first move was to get baits in the water, followed quickly by sticking a pot of water on for a coffee.
The spurries were still around and a couple came ashore even as I cooked up breakfast.
The air warmed as the sun rose and I enjoyed the backdrop of the Glencoe mountains as I fished.
I had taken along a spinning rod in case I fancied fishing from the kayak, but there was enough activity to keep me busy from the shore. Besides, it’s harder to brew up a coffee on the plastic log 🙂
The autumn colours are fading a little now as the leaves fall, but Etive is still very scenic throughout the year.
Towards the end of my session I’d a pleasant surprise in the shape of this little ray. That’s the second Etive thornback I’ve had from the shore recently, after a long period when none at all showed up. Hopefully there are some more around!
By mid-afternoon it was time to pack up for the paddle back. The days are short at this time of year and I really don’t want to be stumbling around in the dark trying to load a heavy kayak back onto my car!
