How (not) to catch a pike | Hot tent and a wild camp in the Scottish Highlands

The title says it all really! Beautiful autumn colours and a grand overnight camp beside a remote highland loch, but a distinct lack of fish. I'd a lightweight titanium tent stove with me, which kept me toasty on a long and very wet night at the end of October. It's a manageable size and weight and wasn't a problem to carry in my rucksack for a longish hike.

[@elawislocka4202]

Love the videos Doug... keep them coming mate they light up the miserable times we live in at the moment..

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Absolutely - we're just about rock bottom in terms of daylight, so here's hoping a few other things brighten up too over the next month or two. I reckon I spend as much time editing as I do fishing these days, but it fills the winter hours!

[@alantipple3684]

Great watch thanks 🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - maybe next time I'll catch a pike as well as enjoy the scenery!

[@CraigyC82]

That stove is incredible!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

It's certainly got it's uses! You've got to remember that it's pretty flimsy and will distort a bit with the heat, but I'm pretty pleased with it. I've only backpacked with it a couple of times, although I've used it with the boat and kayak as well. I might pull together an update once I've used it a few more times - probably summed up as good so far, but not perfect!

[@davesmith559]

Thanks again, another good video.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it. The next one will have some fish in it, guaranteed!

[@DavidTYork]

Nae fish but a lovely film Doug. I love seeing you demonstrate the vast array of camping solutions you have and admire your commitment to get those walking shots, especially when you have a big heavy pack!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Many thanks! Pulling together the pack is one of the more challenging things, assuming I want to actually hike rather than stagger. Trading off camping gear with food, video kit, fishing gear, bait, etc. can mean hard choices at times, but I've gradually got better at figuring out what works for me. I've used the drone a few times for walking shots and it can work quite effectively as an aerial tripod, although I'm not sure how much time and effort it really saves.

[@ashleyhoward8926]

Doug, I'm guessing out of balance too. aircraft are the same & it may even make a bit of noise as if one blade were out of pitch. You will have noticed it if you ever damage a boat propeller too. Good to watch though, thanks.

[@thomasfrench7212]

Many Thanks for another excellent Video Doug, Your such a well organized guy . Looking forward to your next adventure. T.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks for the compliment, although I'm at best partially organised and then only through hard experience! I actually find the best thing you can do is have 3 or 4 venues/ideas floating around at one time and then pick the one that best suits the conditions at the time. Quite often I only decide the afternoon before, although this is only realistic if it's a solo trip. Otherwise you're at the mercy of a last minute change in the Scottish weather which can really make or break a session, especially if you're out overnight.

[@pr1tch1]

Wow that's an amazing spot Doug . Really enjoyed the video. Thanks

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Stephen, it was certainly quite an interesting route to get to it, at least in places. I reckon I walked past several more fishy looking spots, although perhaps not so great for camping. YT has flashed your latest video up to me, so I'll look forward to watching that - hot tents seem to get more popular when the clocks go back and the temperature falls! Good fun though and I'm glad I got mine.

[@chrisdavison2022]

Only recently found your channel, but even though you didn't bag a pike, you delivered on everything else! Where you were is the kind of place I'd love to go one day - but again, on my kayak...! 😎

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks very much. If you haven't already been force fed it by KZbin then have a look at this one on Etive - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn_VgWmFfJqfkM0 (or there are quite a few others too). The fishing is quantity rather than quality but the surroundings are magnificent and the weather can often be better than you'd think. There's loads of freshwater options but Etive would be my pick for a mix of sea fishing, camping and kayaking. Other ones such as Sunart are quite a bit more exposed and less forgiving when it comes to weather, although they can also have brilliant days too. Just don't try it during the summer months unless you want to be drained of blood by the local vampire midges as you huddle around your campfire...

[@chrisdavison2022]

@Doug K Thanks for the info, and noted about the midge! 😬

[@tommyk4724]

What a life you live, really enjoy watching and see your setup, where did you get the stove from definetly going on my xmas list

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Tommy, I was away out at the weekend again (using the stove!), hence the late reply. I bought it from Ali Express but I've not been able to find it there recently. A reader of my blog identified it being sold under another brand name, so if you google for "Danchel Titanium Stove" you should find it. My one has folding legs and a detachable lid to it, as well as a glass window - all things I'd recommend. They're not cheap though, and need care when you're using them too!

[@tommyk4724]

@@Corkwing-DougK brilliant thanks for that Doug ill have a look on line, wont be long before your braking ice on loch etive , enjoy your travels , Tom

[@bobbyfischer6786]

I imagine you live not far from Oban, but may I ask if there is an occasional North East twang in your accent, maybe the granite city? I often fish lock etive and I often frequent the bay with the two semi circular structures and pier made from boulders which has featured in another video of yours. Thoroughly enjoy your videos. Keep on keeping on.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

You're half-right 🙂. I was mainly brought up in Aberdeen, hence the accent, but I'm actually from Edinburgh and moved back here decades ago. Etive is my nearest west coast commute, but it's still a long one!👍

[@bobbyfischer6786]

@@Corkwing-DougK 1983 cup winners cup!!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

😀 I'm not really a footie fan, but I certainly remember that one. I'd forgotten that it'll be 40 years ago this year!

[@andyroo8011]

Great little film. Looked a good adventure. Just wondered - are you able to say what model/make of tent stove you are using? Many thanks.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I got mine from AliExpress but I'm not sure if the same model is still available. This looks very similar - www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003336371641.html?spm=a2g0o.search0304.0.0.55ce21e5MIDakT&algo_pvid=c18986ad-5f53-425c-aeb6-1d37ce7795e7&algo_exp_id=c18986ad-5f53-425c-aeb6-1d37ce7795e7-15 but you can't use this version without the top lid (as a outdoor firebox rather than a stove). If you're in the market for one then I'd recommend a version with folding legs rather than the type where you have to use butterfly nuts to put them together - easier to use and no small parts to get lost on a cold, dark night. Quite a few of these stoves have both stainless steel and titanium versions, so check before buying. The little glass window is a definite plus and something I'd recommend in any tent stove. A point to watch is that mine is a relatively cheap stove so the titanium is thin - so nice and light but probably not as long lasting as something like the Pomoly which is heavier and more expensive, but also looks better built.

[@andyroo8011]

@@Corkwing-DougK Many thanks for your detailed reply - much appreciated. I've been a life long angler, hiker, climber, camper, canoeist, cyclist, etc. - but never yet ventured into the world of tent stoves. Looks like a whole new exciting world to explore - and something new to maybe spend my pocket money on! I regularly kayak fish the Scottish west and east coasts and have enjoyed watching some of your videos as you've explored these coasts in your boat. Some great film footage. Tight lines.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

You can certainly pop the stove through a kayak hatch and it's not bad in a rucksack either, especially if you ditch a gas stove to offset the weight a bit. They are slower to boil water or cook with, unless you go full on with the fuel (in which case you'll probably die of heatstroke in the tent). The tent I'm using is a OneTigris Iron Wall which is OK but not brilliant. I wanted something light, with a stove port and which was cheap enough I wouldn't be too bothered if I burned holes in it, and it meets these requirements well enough. With a stove in it, it is only really suitable for one person, although it's pretty spacious for gear, etc. It is badly pitched in this video, as my walking pole isn't long enough to act as a central pole unless I balance it on a large stone or log, which I didn't bother to do in this case - i.e. it's a bit floppier than it would be if I'd done a better job!

[@andyroo8011]

@@Corkwing-DougK Many thanks for the additional insight - much appreciated. Tight lines!

[@ashleyhoward8926]

We had pike on mepps whilst trout fishing loch Awe, opposite PortSonnachan hotel, no trout though obviously. Nice cosy & roomy looking set up you have there, but I'm especially impressed with the drone pilotage during casting. I did place a bet on hooking the drone , but no. Well done & thanks for posting.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Ash, the drone footage is interesting as something was wrong with it, and I didn't realise until I got home. There's very heavy vibration in the video as the drone was shaking as it flew (it's not the camera gimbal). My guess is that it tagged a blade on something as it took off which threw it out of balance. It's only that particular shot that's affected but it was almost unusable - it's was still pretty poor after I tried to stabilise it in the video editor. It's actually a really easy shot to take as you just fly the drone wherever you want it and then just take your fingers off the controls - it just hovers wherever you've left it. As long as you don't try to shoot it down with your cast then it should be fine.

[@Adventuristic89]

The old pike fishing is tough at times! I’ve never had a take on trout my most successful baits has been mackerel & lamprey! Pretty much always pop them up off the bottom works best for myself! Nice spot you had 👌

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Well, it probably wasn't the most serious attempt I've ever made to catch a fish but hopefully I'll have another go soon. Trout were always my go to bait back in the day (although we didn't have many other options at the time, being young and skint) but I'll try some other alternatives too. I've plenty mackerel fillets but no actual whole mackerel, so that's something to bear in mind for next summer when I'm stocking the freezer!

[@gingerbeerkid1967]

Was your coffees made with loch water? 😛

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Yup! Although there's a burn running in close by too. There's rarely any problem using the water in the more remote areas of Scotland, particularly outside of the summer months - and it's being boiled of course. I'd probably filter water if it came from a slow moving trickle but your main risk is probably finding something large and dead a few metres upstream. Once or twice I've just used the water direct from a sealoch, as it's been so diluted with rainwater that it's pretty much fresh rather than saltwater. A good slug of malt whisky helps kill off any bugs too 😁