Loch Etive
Loch Etive is one of the most unique sea lochs in the UK. It is approx. 20 miles from the head of the loch to Connel Bridge, where it joins the Firth of Lorn forming the spectacular Falls of Lora, the only two-way tidal falls in Europe. Due to the two sets of narrows, at Bonawe and Connel, the loch has an extraordinary tidal system which gives a two hour difference between high water at Connel, and Bonawe, a distance of only 5 miles. This also has an effect on the salt content in the water - the surface layer of the water at the head of the loch can be almost fresh. The loch is over 400ft deep in places.
As you can imagine this environment attracts a very wide range of fish. It is one of the few places we have encountered where you can catch brown trout and pollack on the same tackle at the same mark! It is a good place to catch a wide range of species and it is relatively easy to catch half a dozen different types of fish in one session.
The bottom end of the loch is easily accessible from the A85 and the B845. Unless you have a boat, which is by far the easiest way to fish the loch, you'll have to walk to gain access to the northern end of the loch. There are footpaths from Bonawe and Taynuilt which run along opposite sides. At the bottom of Glen Etive is a single track road which joins the A82 at the Kingshouse Hotel. There are slipways at Connel, Bonawe and Taynuilt.
During summer months the northern end of the loch can produce some nice brownies, sea trout and the odd rainbow trout by the usual methods.
The most popular marks on the northern shore are Ardchattan Priory and Bonawe Quarry. There are also another two or three marks along the forestry road past the Quarry. Popular southern shore marks include Connel Bridge, the bays west of Achnacloich, Airds Bay and Taynuilt Pier.
The spurdog fishing in Loch Etive is excellent. The Scottish shore record of 15lb 3oz was caught here in 1991 and we're sure it will be beaten in the near future. Specimen size fish are caught regularly (as you'll see from the angling reports pages). There are some excellent shore marks for pollack with fish around the 6lb mark fairly common. Bottom fishing from the shore will produce a wide variety of sea species but boat fishing will yield a larger variety.