Well with Christmas coming up fast I didn’t think I would be able to get the rods out until the New Year. Also the weather here hasn’t been great, very cold with fog and mist stopping the sun from showing all day for nearly 2 weeks. But after having a look up at Riba Roja and seeing a few fish showing we decided to put some bait in and have a go the following day.
Fishing with Dave we arrived midday ish set up camps and out with 2 rods. My head said scale down but we have lost a lot of fish from here this year (you will know if you came here this year) so I stuck to the norm. Getting bites is the easy part tackling the snags and Zebra mussels is the hard bit. So I went with 50lb floro leader size 2 continental 35lb braided hook link, bait well there is ONLY one bait in the winter here On The Ebro ( but don’t tell anyone) and that is Essential Opal by Mainline topped with a pineapple pop up perfectly balanced off the hook. Just before dark I had a small common the mist was forming so after dinner we got into the bags and wait and see if the Opals would do the biz. Up to 3am I had had 8 runs landing only 3 all doubles, loosing fish is not nice but it’s part of fishing here and have to except it….. to a point.
Dave had a mad half hour at 4am 4 runs landing 3 again doubles. Morning came with a very thick fog but lots of fish crashing out even though you couldn’t see them. Time to go with my head, both rods in, dip into the cat fishing bits bag and found the 250lb leader, next size 8 wide gap X with 25lb mantis hook link no need to change the bait!!!!! Now that is what I call scaling down! even though the leader may be a bit excessive!!
Dave left me too it, so out the rods went just as the Sun was starting to show itself, half hour went by when the left rod rattles off. Now I’m sure my leader will hold! but what about my silly little hook, no problem a good strong steady fight which normally means in a better fish, resulted in a cracker. Roach man Ron was on hand to take a couple of pics of me and a lovely 33lb 10oz common.
I fished through till 5pm and added 4 more carp without dropping any!! all beautiful upper doubles. Just goes to show little hooks do stay in and 250lb leader doesn’t spook the fish!!!! or did they think it was just another tree truck laying on the bottom!!
This really is the last time out this year, hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy New Year and look forward to seeing lots of you again next year.
Paul
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