Solo Kayak | Hot Tent | Fishing on Loch Etive in January

A calm but cold solo kayak along a calm Loch Etive on a couple of raw January days. I set up camp in an isolated spot, abandoned centuries ago by charcoal burners and hidden just above the shoreline. My wee titanium wood stove wards off the chill and creates a fine hot tent on a wet night. Fishing is very quiet but I pick up enough to avoid a blank from both the shore and the kayak. Hopefully my next trip is a little warmer though!
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[@donnywilcox]

We will pass each other on the loch one day Doug. Despite living beside it I have only been out in the boat 6 times since the New Year. Not the best of weather as you will know. Two days ago was lovely though ..I got several large spurs while watching 4 sea eagles flying round the boat ..just a couple of bays down from where you camped. It felt like spring had arrived although its back to strong winds and rain all day again. Enjoyed watching your take of the loch ..thanks for posting it

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Donny - 6 trips! Mind and leave a few sticks for poor frozen campers😀😀. I've never seen as many as 4 eagles up there although I did see mum, dad and junior out on a training session once. This time there was a solitary sea eagle hunched on its perch and keeping a close eye on my kayak, but well out of range of my camera. To be honest, it's the wildlife, scenery and isolation of the upper loch that makes it so attractive for a quiet overnight stay - the fishing is usually fairly limited these days. As you say, we'll undoubtedly bump into one another at some point, hopefully not too literally and preferably not in the middle of the Corryvreckan!

[@davelynoutdoors4277]

Thanks for the great video, beautiful scenery, stunning looking place 👌👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks for watching - it is indeed a beautiful place and I really enjoy getting out there for an overnight camp and fish. Seriously refreshing - especially if it just pours down 😄😄

[@tomgray4378]

Hi Doug, another great video as usual, thoroughly enjoy watching your wee outings, some fantastic scenery and first class editing too.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Tom, I need the fantastic scenery in the background to make up for the miserable old git in the foreground 😁 It's funny, but some videos are much easier to pull together and edit than others. I usually have some sort of plan for the video but it normally unravels after the first 5 minutes! Someday I'll put up a video with clips from all the trips that didn't quite make it to KZbin - there are quite a few now!

[@sachatroy]

Good stuff 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Glad you enjoyed it - hopefully a few more fish and a bit more sun next time 🙂

[@garrybryant4565]

Another great video Doug. Etives a beatuful place when the weathers good, however its a long drab wind tunnel when it clouds over and rains. Some great drone shots, and a nice mixed bag of species there. always good to watch 👍

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Garry - I know what you mean about Etive being a wind tunnel, and I've never had good fishing when the breeze picks up. I can handle a bit of rain, but wet and windy usually just means you get a hard time of things! Luckily for me Etive is usually pretty photogenic even when the fish are in hiding 🙂

[@markgilmour5757]

We were staying at red squirrel in a hot tent, and took a drive down to that car park on that day. What a coincidence! Thank you for the videos, I like your adventures!

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hot tents are just wonderful, and just transform winter camping. The drive down Glen Etive is lovely too, especially if it's clear enough to see the mountain tops and the road isn't overcrowded.

[@gordoncarass2360]

The fishing might be terrible at the moment but Etive is as stunning as ever. Another great video Doug. Best wishes Gordon.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Gordon - I've not had much more success since that video but at least the days are lengthening and it might just become a little less baltic 🙂 We'll see what the weekend brings!

[@ashleyhoward8926]

I thought it was Crocodile Dougdee with that knife of his. Looks as if it was a most enjoyable trip, not least with the stove. well done & thanks for posting.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Croc Dougdee 😮😲 - my kids stalk me on here sometimes and I'll never live it down... As for size, you should see Trev waving his parang around 🤣🤣. That wee stove is just fantastic on a chilly, wet night, and no problem to store in the kayak.

[@Anglersanddanglers]

Been looking forward to this one, another great video Doug despite the poor fishing. That tent stove certainly looks like it brings things up a notch in terms of comfort too. I keep threatening to bring my kayak up - definitely on the list of things to do.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Liam👍 The tent stove certainly helps a lot, especially when it's soggy and you just need to dry out a bit. Cooking takes a bit longer than an open fire but works out OK. Etive's not your only option for a kayak either - you can access decent remote camping spots on Sunart and other lochs, including freshwater.

[@dreichoutdoors5274]

Ok the drone shots got me. The loch looked amazing. I'm going to have get the canoe back out next week 😄 I'm still resisting the temptation of a hot tent though.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks - the drone adds a different dimension, although it's not the easiest beast to use if your trying to do things at the same time as fly and shoot some video. I'm getting better at it though. The hot tent is definitely a luxury item but it is wonderful when it's up and running - I manage OK on cold, frosty nights but the stove is most welcome on damp, raw days.

[@anotherangleUK]

Credit for getting out when it's cold. Nice set up you have there. I'm using the same kayak. Keep the videos coming.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks 👍 It was definitely chilly as soon as the wind picked up even a little bit. I like the Peception but I think I'm pushing the weight limit a little when it's fully loaded with fishing, camping and camera gear - plus myself, of course. She definitely behaves better once I set up camp and lost some of the excess!

[@anotherangleUK]

@@Corkwing-DougK I think the rudder kit must make a big difference, mine doesn't have that and can be a struggle in some winds and tides.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

The rudder is a big help in some circumstances, particularly with the wind blowing from behind you. I fitted the rudder kit after getting a hard time on Etive one day, weathercocking badly in quite windy conditions and really struggling to stay on course. It doesn't make so much difference if you're punching into the wind and I don't automatically use it when I'm out. Overall I'm very glad I fitted it as it does give a margin of safety in poorer conditions, mainly by reducing the physical effort required to stay on course.

[@alantipple3684]

Great watch as always will have to find that parking spot to get out in my kayak or sib when I come up there later in year thank you for sharing 🎣

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Alan - it's just the car park at the very end of the road down Glen Etive. Be aware that it's quite small and will probably be full much of the time over the summer, and there aren't really other options to launch at the head of the loch. You also need to carry any gear to the shoreline - only about 20 yards but you'd struggle with a heavy outboard, for example. There is a slipway but it's several hundred yards further along beyond a locked gate. If I'm there in summer I'd normally launch much further down the loch at Taynuilt, coming off the Tyndrum to Oban road.

[@alantipple3684]

Thanks for getting back to me I have launched at taynuilt last year and only like coming up there out of season as I like the peace and quite would love to bring my strike liner up but 500 miles is a bit too much

[@gingerbeerkid1967]

Great camera work and editing 👌been looking forward to this for a couple of weeks or thereabouts Thanks

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Awesome, thank you! I've a couple more hanging about which I need to try and finish off - sometimes I find it works better if you just park them for a few weeks and take a fresh look after that. With a little luck I should get out for some fresh material too, as the days lengthen and the sun shines a little more often!

[@newlanky2]

hi doug, do you ever eat the spurdog/dogfish or bulluss, they used to be in chippies many years ago called rock salmon. they are very good to eat mate.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Thomas - nope is the short answer! The spurries I catch in the sea lochs are protected, so its catch and release only. I could keep a doggie or two but the prep hassle puts me off (skinning and soaking to remove ammonia). I do like cod, haddock and the occasional deep hooked pollack, together with a few mackerel and herring over the summer but that's about it usually. Oh, and the odd ling made into fishcakes and perhaps a trout or two.

[@daveated]

Any probs at that car park Doug ? Pretty remote down there.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

I've never had a problem, although I'm not there at peak times in the summer. The fact that it is so remote also means that the chances of real trouble are fairly slim on a January night - I'd be more wary around the central belt, for example. Actually there are usually camper vans and the like staying overnight even during the winter, and I've usually found their owners to be very friendly types. Driving a rather beat up Skoda probably helps too!

[@gunn690]

Another great video! Pretty sure it was you who passed me in January another time when I was camping on the shore. How do you find the kayak? Been thinking of getting myself one. The sib I have is great but setting up and breaking down can take a lot of time. Quite like the idea of being able to launch almost immediately for camping and fishing.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Peter, I think a SIB is more versatile and practical for sea fishing - faster, longer operating range, more space and easier to fish from - BUT I really do enjoy just paddling quietly along in the kayak and the feeling of being in close contact with the water. When I'm spinning or drifting with light gear then I find the kayak works fine, but anchoring is definitely more hassle from my perspective. I think I'm evolving into using the kayak in freshwater or in very good conditions at sea, and mainly for lure fishing or simply transporting myself to a decent shore spot. I chose the Triumph largely because it was a decent compromise between a fat fishing kayak and a sleek cruiser and it's worked out that way for me. I think you're right that a SIB takes more time to get set up, but I also need to fit roof bars to the car and strap up the kayak so it's not instantaneous either. You do need a drysuit or drysuit trousers as your backside will be partially submerged on most kayaks and your capacity to haul camping gear is a little limited (but still loads more than a backpack). The next edition to the Corkwing fleet is currently on order in Norway, so watch this space 🙂 - it's a light collapsible canoe aiming more at multi-day trips on freshwater, but it tells you how much I've taken to paddling around in silence!

[@gunn690]

Hope the new kayak works out well. You can never have enough Boats, Kayaks or Canoes 😂 had an issue once with starting my outboard when I was out on etive, thankfully managed to get back to taynuilt but could have easily been a very long row back in fairly choppy water with a 2.8m sib full of camping gear.. been a little paranoid of the engine not starting while out in remote areas. Engine and carburettor all serviced now so should run perfectly again for the year ahead. At least with a kayak wouldn’t have that issue! 😊

[@Corkwing-DougK]

True enough - I've had the same thing on Loch Leven myself. Small outboards seem inherently less reliable than their larger counterparts, possibly because they tend to be a bit more abused. At least in a sea loch you're going to drift ashore somewhere rather than get blown completely over the horizon!

[@ТониСопрано-к3т]

Привет Дуг какая рыба лучше всего ловится на острове мулл и какие виды можно ловить?

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Вы получите минтай во многих скалистых районах, хотя большая часть Малла имеет высокие скалы. Возможно, окунь с пляжей вдоль юго-западного побережья с мая. Возможно, шпоры и скаты из более глубоких вод вдоль северного побережья используют наживку из скумбрии. Я добился большего успеха на Скае, чем на Малле, но это не тот остров, на котором я много рыбачил. Удачи!

[@ТониСопрано-к3т]

Спасибо большое

[@paulrigby8024]

Hi can you please tell me what your tent is and also what the stove is thank you

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Hi Paul, The tent is a OneTigris Iron Wall - I'm not sure if they're still available or not. I'd say it is an OK tent and it does what I need it to do, but it isn't super high quality. My main criteria were weight (it is very light, especially if you can substitute a walking pole or stick for the central pole) and ability to house a stove (obviously!). I'm not using it in very exposed mountain terrain or in significant snow, and I don't think it's suitable for such conditions, although it can handle a decent amount of wind. It's got quite a large footprint but is only a 1 person tent if you're using the tent stove. I've used it mainly with a kayak but also carried it and the stove in my rucksack. It works fine for me but there are probably better options if you can handle a heavier weight. Someone else asked about the stove a couple of weeks ago, so I've just copied my reply. It's a folding titanium stove that I picked up on AliExpress a few years ago - I don't think the exact model is still around but if you search for titanium wood stove you should find some equivalents. Mine is branded ThousWinds but I doubt if that means very much. Stainless steel versions are a lot cheaper but aren't backpackable. They're very light but the titanium is very thin so they will warp a bit with use and obviously need care in use. I'd recommend one with folding legs like mine and not ones which use threaded rods and butterfly nuts to put the stove together. Also make sure to get that little window in the front - it's altogether cosier looking on a cold night. I should also make it clear that I'm not trying to keep the stove going overnight and I carry a normal winter sleeping mat and bag - I doubt the stove would be effective for more than an hour or so without topping up the wood supply. Cheers, Doug

[@paulrigby8024]

@@Corkwing-DougK Fantastic thank you for replying I was thinking for my kayak also tents are ok but like the thought of the stove again love the videos thanks Paul

[@clintromine802]

Hard to hear you in much of the video.

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Sorry if the sound wasn't up to scratch, but there are serious limits to what you can do, particularly working solo on a kayak in quite wet conditions. Even worse if any wind picks up! I've tried a couple of different mikes but not found one that works very well and is practical to use in the field.

[@riverninja23]

All looks and sounds great Doug 👍🏻

[@Corkwing-DougK]

Thanks Aaron - audio is a pain with videos as it's awful easy to get it wrong 😢