Well as the tough start to this year continued it was great to have more regulars in … them being the “Crazy Gang”…As I waited eagerly for Tony to run straight pass me as usual at the airport and Pops strolling through the doors followed some time later by Nick!!!!! Umm well Tony didn’t disappoint as he flew past me with his caramel crunch flavoured puffy cigarette thing boiling away!!!!! But no Pops it was Darren and new guy Martyn……change of plan then and hopefully next year Crazy Gang please….Darren had to be on best behaviour being future Son in Law but after a quick chat we sorted it!! and new guy Martyn who had done plenty of time on the bank also in high heeled sequin boots in his Glam Rock days!!!!! What will this week bring??????? Well after a quick change of clothes and boots for Martyn!!! We were off to the Fig Tree . Truck loaded with drums guitars and sequins…….I mean rods more rods and bivvys we were soon set up nice and cosy ….4 cat rods 2 carp and 3 mugs of tea. As always with the Crazy Gang and new and future members drinking tea is an obsession…..now I like a cuppa once my eyes are fully open but Tony and gang didn’t stop …….at least they had a kettle this time (Pops!!!! If you read this). So as I got all the rods on the spots and they drank tea we were all hoping that the river would wake up and give us a great weeks fishing!!!! 15 20 minutes passed and rod 4 was rattling, Martyn first up and was into his first ever cat fish, not a monster at 15lbs but a start….I got kebabs in for dinner washed down with tea of course!! and I left them to it for the night. Next morning I arrived to news that they had done battle ….not with a cat but a big carp which was resting nicely in the retainer . Breakfast washed down with tea time to have a look!!!! Wow now that was a great surprise not only bigger than the estimate but a real Ebro stunner all 41lb 4oz.
Darren 41lb 4oz
Darren had got us off to a great start as he had done last year with a cracking 38lb common. We fished hard all day with just another small cat to show for our efforts but we were all off the mark. The night came with the carp rods placed nicely and the cat rods out with plenty of freebies and lots of fish showing….Next morning no cats again but the carp retainer was wet!! Martyn this time with a cracking 33lb common.
Martyn 33lb
Where were the cats????? The next evening looked very bleak, dark clouds loomed over us so we quickly packed up camp and had a lovely meal at the Tapas bar. Coming off that night proved to be a great decision as it poured down all night very heavy rain…..Morning came with breakfast on the balcony looking out to a very wet Nature Reserve ….we left the fishing till the rain eased up that afternoon but got some cat rods out where we managed another small cat. Following day we slipped and slid down the track back to the Fig Tree, other venues had been mentioned but after a good down pour and a pre-baited Fig Tree we decided to finish the trip off here. Tea and toastie making facilities and camp set up we were going to have to improve if we were to get this season started!!!!! Well apart from 240 tea bags, 2 loaves of bread, packets of cheese and ham…ohh 32litres of water and 2 gas bottles not much to tell you…..the lads had fished so hard and done their best but 2 better cats at 30lb + and a 40+ together with a few more tiddlers and Tony with a nice 25lb carp was all we could manage.
Tony 25lb
So it ended Tony being a regular here for the last 7 years (thanks bud) had never seen the fishing so hard but what with another trip booked for October we should be able to get our own back then. At least we managed some nice carp which meant as hard as this year has been we have still caught some very nice fish each trip. I’m off to buy some more tea bags and gas and let’s hope the river starts fishing well again soon!!!!!!
until next time Paul
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