DAY 1. FROM THE SHORES OF LOCH ETIVE
with a long awaited scotland trip upon us we set off to our destination early doors sunday 24th july
with a big thanks to lucky who sorted the hotel and running cost for us all to relax and enjoy what was to be a memorable trip to loch etive . our plan was shore boat and jetty fishing to snare the mighty spurdogs
with some great help from our friends in the know we had a few hidden marks that would enable us to target
spurs from the shore . as soon as we booked into the hotel. it was off to our 1st mark . but what we didnt anticipate was the heat wave and sun that greeted us it was 27 degrees now this could be a problem we thought we arrive at our chosen mark there was a few stagglers potted about the banks and talking to a local they had spurs in the morning so it was looking good



we had some inside help in tactics (cheers guys)and out with 2 rods each baited with whole squid and a large sandeels
and mackie was the chosen baits on pennels size 6/0 80lb mono traces . casting out 70yrds and seeing your line end up under your rod tip was earie just shows how deep this mark was . all seemed quiet and peacefull
untill the unexspected when luckys rod shot down we just froze looking untill lucky hit into it and it was game on . not sure what he hooked into but we new it must of been a good spur as it was lost after a 5 mins battle up the deep bank 80lb mono bit through . we lost a few fish and a change of tactics to 100lb wire traces proved a wise choice . i then had a knock then a pull down the adreneline
kicked in from us all as i battled with a good spur and the beast was landed my 1st ever shore caught spur
and what a belter 10lb

not to be put out after loseing the battle several times with the mighty spur lucky also landed his 1st pb
spur 5lb

the fight from theses fish in deep water was amazing and what a fantastic venue with the sun beating down
a cry from batey well it had to happed didnt it he couldnt let the side down yes he was fighting a decent fish
the jammy aris landed it the smile says it all 11LB

fishing slowed dow with just the odd gurnards and spur

and time was catching up to us so it was back to the hotel for some well earned refreshments
and a curry

and then it was off to bed

DAY 2 ON THE BOAT ON LOCH ETIVE
after a not so good nights sleep and eyes like dinner plates (thanks to luckys outlandish snoring)
the weather was warm overcast and a tad breezy we arrived on the jetty at airds bay to collect our boat
for the day with the cooker and all the food tackle loaded i started the engine and put it into geard and quickly bumped into the jetty should used reverse . after lucky parked the car he then attempted to board the boat not realiseing it was 1 foot of the jetty and he stepped of right down in between the boat and jetty into the water it was the funnyest thing wed ever seen the tears are running down my face as i try to write this we were howling with laughter sorry lucky had to mention it
well with the help of batey trying to get the engine started we were like the 3 stoogies but eventually we were off to the deeps

we arrive at the mark past the quarry with the side wind rolling through the loch and it was hard trying to hold on the drift but the fish were present and soon we were into small spurs



there was plenty of these fellas to keep us busy untill we were able to anchor and the sun began to shine again

so it was time for us to put the frying pan on for our feast only to realize mr baites forgot to mention
we didnt bring gas with all that food and no way of cooking it all we had to eat was dried bread

well with the bread feast over it was back to fishing and it was ray time we had a good few rays on board


rounding the boat session of nicely so it was over to captain lucky to take us in . now here another chuckle brothers moment when lucky attempted to put us along side the jetty hitting it head on . with this batey jumped ship onto the jetty and tried to guide us in when lucky beached the boat and reversed into the bank .we then saw batey legging it along the jetty before the owner came back but we did manage to moor her up in the end and batey came back to tie her up it was funny and boy did we laugh about that episode . but top banter and a great day on board the good ship of hope . it was dow to oban for our tea then back to shore fishing
THE EVENING AFTER THE BOANT ON THE STONE PEIR
here to finnish the day off we fished for mackies and anything that took the bait till about 9pm

only gurnards and strange crabs showed here


it was time to head back to the hotel for our refreshments again and then it was time for bed and the orchestra of luckys nasal jamboree

FINAL DAY TUE MORNING
after a full breackfast we paid up and loaded the car to do a few hours at the priory before heading of home
but lucky left the cooler plugged in the car all night so a flat battery . we managed to push start it to the embaressment of the full view of the hotel guests . so off again we whent with the sun again blazing down
and with great views over the connal bridge to the priory we set up ready for another final assault


with baity the star man this morning was into the gurnards and some nice ones to .
along with pollack and a jammy lone mackeral there are photos somewere i think luckys got them
we didnt have long here when the rays showed up 1st batey

and one for me and lucky

sadly it was time to pack up for home lucky fancied a paddle so we got him to clean the boxes whilst he was at it

it was a weekend we wont forget brilliant banter and some great fishing with all round with great thanks to our friends on some valuable donking info which helped make our trip go superbly and next time
we will be camping on some hot marks carnt wait
heres just a few more of the hundreds of photos taken


and a final brilliant scene from lucky

and there ends a fantastic weekend on the etive
cheers jags