Boat camping and Shore fishing | Loch Etive in Autumn

A late autumn trip to a mirror smooth Etive combines wild camping, shore and boat fishing. A bit of campfire cooking and star gazing too! Plenty of fish from both boat and shore coupled with a relaxing evening beside my campfire made this a trip to remember - apart from a mild heart attack when my drone went AWOL!

[@TheRealColt]

Timing on that was just checking your channel out. Always look forward to your adventures mate 👍 from the northeast England but the highlands are where my heart is. The west coast o Sutherland is the best places I’ve ever been.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks - a cracking autumn day on the west coast is hard to beat. Sutherland is one of my favourites too, just a little hard to line up the weather over the winter - at least when I've time off to get up there.

[@thomasfrench7212]

Many Thanks for another excellent relaxing video Doug. You seem to prefer Loch Etive to loch Leven, any special reason. Cheers, Tom.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Good question! I do fish both, but Etive is bigger, wilder and much, much better for a quiet overnight camp. Leven has a road running right round it, whilst much of Etive has only a rough path. Leven is mainly a ray venue whilst Etive offers fewer rays but plenty of spurdogs (I've never had a spurdog in Leven, although I've heard of the odd one being taken).

[@paulstone9667]

Very nice!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks! Loch Etive is usually very pretty but it was truly outstanding on such a calm and sunny autumn day. Magic place!

[@ashleyhoward8926]

An excellent account, thanks. Your last few trips have shown beautiful weather, followed by less beautiful 2nd days. Great stuff !

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Ash, two good days in a row would be great but you know what it's like in the west. It's not entirely accidental, as I'll always go for a dry start and wet ending to a trip if I can. I don't mind drying off at the end of the day in a nice warm car, but if you get soaked hiking in to a mark then it's a whole lot harder to warm up in a tent (even with a tent stove!).

[@davesmith559]

I felt as if I was there, very relaxing, always good thanks

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it. I was just lucky to get the conditions lined up perfectly, against a backdrop of autumn colour. I just need to up the average size of fish a little now!

[@paulrobinson2168]

Another great video, made up of lovely shots, especially the two openers and big loch small boat shot. Easy to watch as always, very enjoyable👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks a lot, although Etive was very kind to me on this occasion - flat calm, sunshine and autumn colours made it pretty easy. Absolutely gorgeous place to be on a day like this.

[@richardjohnson3463]

Idylic setting. Thanks for sharing your adventure

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - as you tell, Etive is one of my favourite places!

[@bigraymie]

Glad you got your "Wee flyin' machine" back Doug.... great video mate.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Cheers - kind of a heart stopping moment that one, and not the only wee accident the drone's had either. Just passed it's first birthday and still going strong though 👍

[@leehirst8081]

Absolutely dream fishing.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Not too sure about the size of the fish to be honest, but it's a fantastic place to catch them and just chill out. Definitely one of my favourite places for an overnight camp 👍

[@jpirie9017]

Ive said it before I could watch hours n hours of your videos there always great and the drone footage in this one was spectacular Doug

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - I actually found it quite hard to decide what to cut out as the loch was looking very pretty indeed. The drone footage was nearly spectacular for other reasons too, perhaps a useful reminder to me not to get carried away!

[@alantipple3684]

Great watch as always thank you for sharing 🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks for watching - it was a great trip and very relaxing, apart from a near death experience for the drone. Live and learn though!

[@tamlyon4435]

Brilliant vlog Doug ....some fantastic shots of Ettive . 👏

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Well Etive doesn't really need the hard sell treatment in conditions like these! It's a very photogenic place even when the Highland mist sets in.

[@DavidTYork]

Lovely film Doug - Happy New Year! Nice to see the fish kept you busy.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks, you too! These fish were pretty small even by Etive's standards, but for me they're really just an excuse to get out on the water. They do keep you on your toes though.

[@ianfirkins6460]

Stunning! Keep persevering with the drone 🙂

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks - the drone is good fun but I've still got a lot to learn. It certainly adds a whole new perspective to things, not to mention the odd heart attack!

[@familyfishinggb8178]

Wow glad I’ve just discovered your channel. We was stayed at loch awe last year and had a day out at Oban and had a look at Etive for this year. The ideal few days would be a bit of pike fishing on Awe then some fishing on Etive wild camping like you did. Great video 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks for watching👍 I actually need to give Loch Awe a try, as I've never fished it despite driving past every time I head to Etive. If you're boat camping on Etive just be aware that it's quite exposed to SW winds, so best avoid these if you don't want to spend the night worrying about your boat!

[@150rents]

nice calming vid

[@raykeogh1972]

Interesting Doug , what where you actually fishing for? Or do you just like putting your rod in the water and see what you pull out. The colours on the first day blew me away. Superb. I enjoyed it all thanks for sharing Ray K UK 🇬🇧 YNWA.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

To be honest, this far up the loch I'm fishing mainly for scenery and solitude, of which there's plenty! There are some decent fish here with the odd double figure spurdog but most are pretty small. I'd say 90% of what I catch are spurdog or whiting, and you can get plagued by tiny little spurs at times. You also get spotty dogs and the odd thornback ray, mackerel, pollack and codling - and brown trout too, to add variety.

[@raykeogh1972]

@@Corkwing-DougK what time of year was that Doug as in what month. I don’t know wether to take all of March off work or all of May. When do the Midges wake up? Lol

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Ray, this was in November last year, although I've fished on the loch most months over the years. If I had to pick one month to explore Scotland it would probably be May - long hours of daylight and about as sunny and dry as this country ever gets. Expect some midges though, growing in number and savagery during the month 😁 The downside is that most of the summer species won't be around and the fishing can be a bit thin. If you're going to focus on fishing then I'd choose September as all the summer fish, including mackerel, will still be around. So will the midges, but they'll be thinning out. Downside is that daylight is fading and the weather can be very hit or miss, although usually pretty mild. My advice is always to follow the forecasts as there can be huge differences between east and west coasts, or between the inland lochs and more exposed areas like the islands.

[@raykeogh1972]

@@Corkwing-DougK Great advice Doug and I will take, not only is it good advice but it gives me quite a few thousand pound more in my pocket that I can save through March and April lol.. Thanks again Doug. Month of May off work it is. HHHhmm yeah maybe 6 weeks off then.

[@dumitru-gabrielmailut7378]

Looks so peaceful... Could you sleep overnight there in your boat?

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Just back from another night there 🙂 I normally camp ashore and moor the boat, but I have slept aboard before and it's quite comfortable.

[@thenortherntideriders]

Been watching alot of your videos recently , love the fact you just get up and head off into the wilderness and enjoying every minute, thats what life is all about 💙 if you don't mind me asking what drone are ypu using atm as its great photage👍 kutgw 🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Ryan, thanks for your comment. I use a DJI Mini 2 and it works pretty well for me - fairly light for carrying and not too complicated to use with a little practice.

[@samain11]

Hi Doug, first time I have seen your content. I have the same boat I think. Looks like a coastliner. I have a 15hp 4 stroke Suzuki as main with a 2.5 aux. I see that you have a 25hp which is big for a 14ft boat and would like to know how you get on with it as my 15 feels a bit challenged when I leave Plymouth Sound for the open sea.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi - my Orkney is actually one of the new Longliners rather than a Coastliner, so 16 feet, and 25hp is the max it's rated for. I believe the Coastliner is rated for 20hp (with remote steering) which might be worth thinking about if you're struggling with 15hp. I know there is a big difference on the Longliner if you move from 20 to 25hp. Facebook has a couple of groups focussed on Orkney Boats so it might be worth asking there, as there are some very knowledgeable owners on it. Cheers, Doug

[@samain11]

Cheers mate, that is what I thought. just looked like a coastliner thats all.@@Corkwing-DougK

[@johnkerr1115]

Hi Doug. Another good video. I love Loch Etive myself and fish it when I get a chance to get time to get up with my Longliner. I always launch from the shingle beach next to Kelly's pier but do you know if it's possible to launch right up the top at Gualachulain? I noticed there looks like an old slipway there.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

There is a slipway right at the top of Etive, but it hides behind locked gates so it's really unusable unless you can get a key from someone. The Glen Etive road wouldn't be much fun with a trailer either, given the amount of traffic on it nowadays. You can launch a kayak or inflatable, if you can carry it a few yards to the waters edge but not anything on a trailer.

[@johnkerr1115]

Thanks Doug good to know was going to check it out a day . I take it Kelly's pier is the only launch site on the loch? The problem I have when launching at Kelly's pier is it's the ramp from the shingle beach into the back road is rough and sore on my trailer as it bottoms out.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

@@johnkerr1115 Hi John, Effectively I think Kelly's pier is the only show in town. There are other possibilities but I think they're all owned privately or by fish farms, so probably out of bounds.

[@johnkerr1115]

Thanks Doug

[@lucyoctavius6070]

Pls shared on tiktok.

[@DarioFerrari23]

Hi Doug, hope you dont mind me asking, how do you anchor the boat up when camping on shore? Videos are great btw, i really enjoy watching them

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Dario, I got the method from this post - www.neilmoomey.com/howtos/anchor_buoy/ - although my version is simplified a good bit and uses a large stainless steel ring rather than a section of drainpipe to form the pulley. I go into what I'm doing in a bit more detail on this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5Cuanxtgb6Lgpo (roughly the 22 to 30 minute mark). If you read the post above first then the video probably makes a bit more sense. Although the guy who describes the technique is using it in Alaska, it's not something I'd use in anything other than sheltered conditions and away from strong tides. I actually think it will stand up to a fair bit of abuse, but I like to sleep soundly at night too!

[@DarioFerrari23]

@@Corkwing-DougK Brilliant, thank you Doug! I’ve just recently bought an Arran 16 and i’m looking at places to go and Loch Etive us up there. Tight Lines mate

[@gingerbeerkid1967]

I'd really like to see how you launch single handed, I'm too scared to give it a go, (from Kelly's pier?)

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Kelly's pier is a very easy single handed launch, especially towards high water and when it's calm or the wind is blowing offshore. Launch or recovery towards low water can be a lot trickier unless you're able and willing to reverse your car into the water, or can dry launch and recover the boat. To be honest, whether there's only one of you or three of you isn't the main factor - it's just a very flat, hard packed beach towards low water. I'll maybe write up some more details on my website and post a link here when I've done that.

[@garyroberts8502]

@@Corkwing-DougK thanks(I only have front wheel drive vehicle,but a long rope for recovery,my wheels were spinning once recovering at high on the loose shingle,big band of weed that's quite deep as well)

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Gary, Weed is definitely a problem once the storms dislodge it and the beach gets covered. I sometimes take a garden fork with me as an insurance policy and it can really help when there's a lot of it. I used to work a 2 WD car with my old Icelander, which was probably slightly heavier than the Orkney, and it was generally OK. If I found it wheelspinning the best approach was to try and turn the car so that you're running at an angle across the beach rather than try a frontal attack. With a heavy boat like a Warrior then you might well struggle if you don't have room to make a run at the shingle.

[@garyroberts8502]

@@Corkwing-DougK hi I had to detach boat and angle wheels like you say to get out,then rope boat up,my boat is only wee and light though,I have a huge fear of getting stuck on an incoming tide so now I have electric winch as well as ropes,I've always gone with someone with a 4x4,but would like to try on my own maybe one day like yourself Thanks

[@gingerbeerkid1967]

Everything OK? No vids for a while(same as donny wilcox, he has been quite for a while)

[@paul-ne1bh]

I am going my self to loch etive have you got to pay for your fishing many thanks

[@Corkwing-DougK]

No - Etive is a sealoch and fishing in the sea is free. The only exceptions are targetting salmon or sea trout which would require a permit. Keep it clean and tidy and you shouldn't have any bother.

[@paul-ne1bh]

@@Corkwing-DougK Thanks so much doug we have planed to go this friday we always clean up when we move on, How the hell you camped in that frost in a tent not for me a camper van we are going in I will let you no how we get on many thanks paul

[@johncampbell6114]

@@Corkwing-DougK I very much enjoy your videos ; you show Loch Etive to its best . Thank you . On fishing for trout or salmon , as I understand the law , you can " target " them IN TIDAL WATERS , with a hand-held line and hook , with or without bait or fly , either from the shore or a boat , without a permit or licence . It must be tidal water and it must be hand-held tackle. There are a few good locations for catching seatrout ( 8 - 12oz ish ) from the shore of Loch Etive .

[@123boat]

Really enjoyable video. Tell me, do you ever come across a fellow KZbinr Donny Wilcox ? New subscriber 👍🐟

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I've never met Donny, although we're bound to bump into each other at some point when launching on Etive. Funnily enough I was just about to watch his latest video when you posted your comment. I actually feature in one of his recent videos (the one where he's collecting firewood and losing a lifejacket), but only accidentally and as a tiny red jacketed dot on the shoreline in one shot. I was fishing well up the loch from the shore when his inflatable went past, a fair bit offshore. We tend to end up exploring similar sort of territory, although I'm more focussed on fishing than he is and he's covered a lot more ground than I have. Thanks for subscribing too!

[@123boat]

@@Corkwing-DougK Yes I’ve seen that video. I’ll look at it again to see if I can spot you. I’ve now got the perfect combination of your channel (fishing) and his, combined with the stunning scenery. Will try and pop up later this year with my sib and explore Etive and the surrounding area. 👍