Nice to see these faces again and with a new recruit, it was Mikes retirement hol and what better way to celebrate than with Steve, Sam and Matt fishing the fantastic river Ebro. The river has provided plenty of action in previous visits normally after the dams had been open. But in November there was little chance of that happening and the Fig Tree was in fine form so good time to be here. First thing Sunday morning all well feed truck loaded lets go see who’s in the swim, nobody great so camp set up rods in place so lets see what happens. First on the rods was Matt and just into dark he was in, not a monster but at 50lbs plus a great start for Matt’s first Ebro trip.
That evening we were due a bit of rain but it started at 10pm and poured down all night!!! I arrived at 8-30am the following morning track nearly un passable but didn’t need to tell them that the dam doors were open!!! as the river and no rods in the water told the storey. Now was this down to heavy rain or just a day cleaning the river out of weed?? We didn’t hang around to find out has the river was very close to the track so two trips made and all the very damp camp was back at base. Not a good start and the second time they have been here when the doors have opened!!! Anyway by 4 pm the water started to go down so two trips back and camp set up again back in business! Steve was on strike and again into dark a spod rod was away…. fantastic fight on the softer rods and he and Sam as his wingman were soon cradling a new PB at 78lb.
A better night passed with some smaller cats and carp but it was the text message from Matt that was of interest as it read Ton Club just started!!! On my arrival there it was roped up nicely, they weren’t sure on the weighing so we got the huge fish back in the sling and the scales went round too 129lb cracking fish and definately in the Ton Club.
Well with everybody catching some great fish, well except Mike who should be steeling the show seeing it was his show!!!! but there were plenty of days and nights to go. That evening spod rod away and it was Mikes turn, good scrap, Mike kept saying its not a cat, but by the way the rod was bending it was, strong fight keeping low, I was convinced but as it started to tire up popped a huge carp. Ohh big surprize as the carp had been staying away from the area but after now knowing what it was wobbly jelly legs time!! but it was well hooked and soon we had it on the mat. Huge fish perfect condition and never previously seen a hook all 43lb 3oz of it.
Well very fitting as Mike keeps Koi Carp back home and given the choice he would have gone for the big carp rather than cat. Still a few days to go and it was Sam to get amongst the cats with a 84lb beastie. More fish came nights were cold so the typical early morning just into dark times were producing fish. Following morning and I was met by a very wet cold Sam, apparently trying to score a goal like Michael Owen used to, resulted in Sam’s trainer flying and did it fly straight into the river good side up so it floated down stream!! by the time it got to the sunny patch some 500 yards down stream it was starting to sink so down to his pants in he dived straight in and saved it!! Mean while back by the rods there was a dark shape tied up, Steve had felt the full force of a biggie that night proper scrap taking best part of half an hour to land, they done well as to not drag it up the bank and simply roped it up, so they knew it was big but not what it weighed. Whilst cooking breakfast the rods were away, Matt landing a 99lb cracker and Sam again with a great fight resulting in another one for him at 84lb. What did the biggie weigh, we were going to try and get all 3 fish photographed together but the big one was a bit lively so we done it first, scales went round to 136lb.
Long fish at 2m 38cm and a very happy Steve and company, what a trip, lots of fish caught some real big cats, plenty of others to keep the lads on their toes, Mikes carp a cracker, all this with heavy rain, river in flood, cold nights, only one shoe its enough to make you want to cry!!!!!! but thats fishing and makes stories to tell, and I’m sure they would rather catch the fish they did in adverse conditions, then sun bathe.
This weeks total added to the last 2 pushed the tally to 6,800lbs truly incredible end to the season and with one more session to go!!!
Until next time Paul
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