Many thanks! It might be a wee while yet before the next one as I'm off hiking for about 3 weeks. Not even sure yet if I've got the space for any fishing gear on this one 😀😀 Cheers, Doug
Another great video Doug to round off 2023. I have a question, although I have seen you fish Loch Etive many times I would be interested to know if Spurdogs are present all year round or are they seasonal visitors? Good luck for 2024. Gordon.
Hi Gordon - definitely there all year round, although I fish it most during the colder months when the open sea is harder to fish. You might also find better fish around in Oct-Jan but it's hard to pick up real trends. I fish the upper loch because I'm really just chilling out hiking/kayaking/camping with a bit of fishing on the side. You can certainly get a lot of spurdogs up around Barrs but most will be small (sometimes shoals of really tiny ones). For better sized fish I'd try between Bonawe and the mouth of the loch, but it can be harder to track them down.
Another excellent hike 'n fish fish video to end the year in a magical setting. I'm more of a drive n' fish/ drive n' launch type these days🙄. All the best for 2024 Doug.
Hi Charlie - I was thinking I would end the year with a whimper, given the generally crap weather and some car problems, so I was pretty chuffed to get one fine day to play with. I know what you mean about the drive'n'launch approach though, as the walk gets harder on the knees. However, I might be trying some longer distance hiking this year (did the WHW a few months back), so days like this double up as training sessions😁😁
Many Thanks for another excellent video Doug, superb video while waiting on the bells at 12. So looking forward to viewing your next trip. All the best for 2024.
NIce to take the chance to get out!, and that is a lot of water! Thnaks for all the videos and looking forward to 2024 viewing, I hope you have a great year. As you release the fish, have you tried circle hooks and dingle dangles for fishing for the spurdogs? Less chance of deep hooking and damaging the fish. I dont know if you have seen 'Billy Fishing' on RU-vid, but he makes and uses these and I think they are excellent, you just vary the size and core for what you are after. Here is a link in case you are interested to Billy making one. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yd2hx12UQkY.html
Well, you're right enough that some of my fishing tactics are a little last-millennial and could do with an overhaul - it's awful easy to become complacent! I've not used this type of rig before, although I can see it being useful for species like skate in particular - something to try for 2024🙂 I do use circles, and particularly semi-circles, for some species although I've had mixed results with these. For me the biggest impact has probably been switching increasingly to barbless/crushed barbs for tope and spurs, as it makes releasing the fish much easier - I do this mainly when boat fishing but it should work OK from the shore too. I've watched a few of Billy's videos before, although mainly the jealousy invoking ones from Norway😁😁 - so I'll check out a few of the technical ones too. Cheers, Doug
Long drive there and back(6hrs total?) for a few hours fishing, I suspect you enjoy the walk and just being beside the water as much as anything, the granite blocks are Bonnie, always liked their colour, might head up with boat in a couple of days, may try out from Burntisland for cod or shore fishing somewhere don't know yet, nice video and scenery. Thanks
Pretty much spot on - roughly 5 hours in the car, 5 hours hiking and 5 hours fishing! You're right of course, I really like the hike along the loch even though it's not the easiest ground to walk along. It's very scenic and usually very quiet too. Got to watch the granite though - some of the blocks are pretty slippy and it can be really treacherous if it all freezes up. I carry a locator beacon as you're pretty much on your own if anything goes pear shaped...
I was in two minds whether to haul the drone along but I was glad I did as it does add another dimension. These sea lochs (Etive/Leven/Linnhe) are often amongst the calmest places in Scotland, even if it's blowy in Oban - they're just so far inland that they escape many of the winds hitting the "proper" coastline. They certainly have their off-days and catch plenty of rain, but there's a reason you'll often find me out on them over the winter. A few more fish would be nice, though😁
I always look forward to, and enjoy your videos , The loch always looks great ,My wife and I, and our dog are planning a couple of days canoeing and camping and fishing on loch Etive this year , And I cant wait , Have a good New Year. cheers Colin
Awesome, thank you👍. I really should point out that the loch always looks great because I chicken out of fishing on the many days when it's wet and windy! I hope you enjoy your trip - there are plenty of camping options, especially with a canoe.
Hi Mark - you certainly picked a lovely spot to tie the knot, unless the midges were out in force that day🙂. Etive is one of my favourite places to visit and spend a night or two - it's a very beautiful and peaceful loch.
😁 Plenty of Moras around these parts, although I'm not the most careful of owners and it could do with some more love! In Scotland I'd probably be arrested if I just walked down the street with one though - our knife laws are crazy strict. Cheers, Doug
Thanks - it's a cracking spot to fish, but a long way from anywhere. You also tend to pick up smaller fish than you will further down the loch, so you have to be into wilderness as much as your fishing to make it worthwhile. It certainly works for me though, particularly for an overnight winter camp.
The pleasure's all mine - making these videos adds a lot to my own enjoyment of being outdoors. Apart from actually lugging the camera kit around, of course🥵🥵
Thank you very much! To be honest, Etive is so attractive in these conditions that it actually makes it difficult to take really bad footage. I'm happy to take any credit going though😁
Hi Sandy - good fun to make it too, despite the gasping, breathless noises in some parts of the soundtrack😁 Happy New Year to you when it comes! Cheers, Doug
always fished the top end. plenty we trout in the river . never actually fished the loch there, see plenty rises, what gear would you youse , as i beliave the water is brackish
I've never actually fished the very top of the loch, apart from a spot a couple of miles down from the car park - this particular mark is about a 4 mile hike. The very top where the river enters the sea will probably be pretty shallow and brackish, so possibly some flounders about on light ledger gear. By the time you reach the forestry pier I'd reckon you've a shout with whiting and maybe mackerel in summer, although I think it's pretty shallow still. I've fished Aird Trilleachan for little spurs and whiting, and by that point you have a layer of fresh water lying over salt and are hitting 50-80 feet deep. Around there I'd use trout gear for the surface fish and standard beach gear for anything on the bottom - just the same stuff I use in the video. I'd advise grip leads as there is a bit of tide run. I've only ever had very small fish this far up the loch though!
Cheers mate , I thought it was the top bit of the loch . Most people seem to go to the other end for fishing . I think it’s much more picturesque at the top end .
As Nimblehorse says - I walked down from the top end. You're right about the fishing, as it is better down towards the mouth of Etive, but you're also right about it being a lot more picturesque further up. That's the main reason you'll find me up there🙂 Definitely one of my favourite places, especially if I'm camping!
Another lovely video Doug, thank you for all the effort and the videos you’ve posted, I wish you a Happy 2024 and look forward to your new adventures, tight lines 👍🏻
Same to you! There's a few things I want to try out this year, although the trick is always to convert plans into reality - things have a habit of wandering off-piste a little🙂 Cheers, Doug
Absolutely - give me cold, clear and sunny over wet, windy and mild any time. Saying that, this was actually a warmish day until the sun faded😀, so I got the best of both worlds.
Tremendous effort Doug, well done. That's one big day out & I'm amazed you took camera & drone for us, but not the hot tent for yourself. Thanks for everything over the last 12 months.
Hi Ash, It's a few years since I did the round trip in a day and I do usually prefer an overnight camp when I can, as you know. However, the forecast was poor, with a good chance the Glen Etive road might get blocked by snow on my way out - and I didn't fancy freezing to death in a layby waiting for the snowplough🙂
Glad you like them! It's fun to make them but even better when I get feedback too👍 More to come next year I hope, but meantime have a happy New Year! Cheers, Doug
Hi Ian, happy New Year to you too. With a little luck I should get out a bit more often next year, and hopefully pop out a few more videos also. Cheers, Doug
Ive been enjoying my first fishig experience in Scotland this week and I can say youre truly blessed with the quality of the fishing, variety of species and stunning scenery. Perfect vid to end my trip. All the very best for the new year
Hi Matt - I'm not sure I'd choose December for my first crack at fishing in Scotland, but I'm glad you enjoyed/survived the experience! It's certainly a gorgeous place to fish, at least on those days when you can see your hand in front of your face... Cheers, Doug
@@Corkwing-DougK well its not been the best week with weather but I've managed a few. Likely a better angler would have had more but watching the night unfold into day over Linnhe is worth more to me than any fish.
Great to see you out again Doug ! December has been horrible weather wise storm after storm! Brave man going the length that you do on two feet at your age ! But none the less thanks for posting this cracking video off you and the highlands in there winter splendour! 👍👍
Ha! I'm not completely clapped out yet🙂, although I won't pretend my knees don't protest at their mistreatment. With a little luck I'll be out again early in 2024, perhaps on a boat this time! Happy New Year when it comes🙂
