Well what a year, my 10th On The Ebro so many good fish caught, lots of laughs on the way but what a terrible start!!
Season 2013 started back in February when Rob arrived for a bit of early season carp fishing, The Ebro had filled with rain and snow melt early this year and unusually the dam here in Flix had already been open since January. Still no problem up at Riba Roja above the dam all is well so we did 2 nights here. Very cold nights a few fish showing but no bites. After a day off we went upstream looked at Fayon but went on up to Caspe. Here at the so called “Sea of Aragon” they store most of the Ebro’s water and already in Feb it was nearly full. Good sheltered spot found but we stayed for 2 nights, water temp just 5 degrees a few fish moving but it just wasn’t happening so Rob went home with a very unusual Ebro blank, not a good start! Next to arrive were Alan and Jack, they had been here twice before catching some very good fish but the conditions in late March were unchanged, dams open so we went straight up to Mequinenza. Two days with nothing we decided on Riba Roja, Here we done a 48 hr session but even with lots of fish showing not a bite! Oh dear worst start possible but conditions were bad. I now had nobody over for 4 weeks people enquired but I put them off due to the river conditions, but gave me a bit of time to get my rods out because there were fish showing at Riba Roja.
I did 3 48 hr sessions at Riba Roja from mid April through to early May, The fish switched on mainly due to the “new bait” I had acquired. Hawiian Pineapple with Butric acid rolled by Kent Particles was the bait and it produced instant results. By early May we had caught over 100 carp to over 42lb good fishing but I had customers over soon who wanted cats so I was willing the river to calm down.
Tony Mick and Nick arrived in May, great to see them all again but even they hadn’t seen the river here in Flix this bad. Luckily The river had dropped a metre so we managed to squeeze 3 rods in down the bottom of the garden. Fishing just 2 rod lengths out we managed some great sport with cats of 102lb a couple of 80’s and carp to just short of 30lb. We fished days at Riba Roja where we had so many runs but turning them into fish banked proved hard but they all had fish including a real cracker for Mick at 42lb 12oz along with his 102lb cat he was leading this years competition with cats and carp!!!!
Next to arrive were Bobby and Graham, again conditions just good enough to fish 2 rods out at the garden, Cats to 78lb and a nice 30lb carp was the best of their trip. I had 2 days spare and managed to sneak out a cracking 41lb 2oz common from the margins new PB for me. Then arrived Barry and Les, I took them down the Town stretch to a cracking back eddy where I had seen some carp and cats surfacing. But as we were fishing the first morning the river started to rise again, within an hour it was unfishable and they didn’t come here for the carp so time to talk tactics. We decided on Mequinenza, here the Segre was being held back by the Ebro so looked good. Dingy needed here and soon we had the baits out in the old river bed. We fished 4 days here mixing it with 24 rods of Catmaster Tours and proud to say on 2 day we out fished them with our 6 rods!!!!! Barry and Les went home with 5 fish including a 103, 80,70 and a 60. So great, much of the river was unfishable but here on the Segre the cats were feeding and with people turning up I had a plan B. Next in was Mat and John, only problem was it had rained very hard in the Pyrenees so how would it effect the Segre? We arrived midday to find a very swollen Segre we got some rods out just in time as the worst thunder storm I had ever fished in went over us!!!! Not sure where to shelter we sat in the car for an hour as the lightening flashed around us. As it eased we got the rods in and headed home but it seemed the storm was following us, terrible drive home. Next day we made the journey to Mequi but it looked terrible no fishing here, we went to Riba Roja some 60km down stream from Mequi but 3 days fishing produced nothing, the River was a total mess!!!!! We nicked a 77lb cat from the garden at the end of June but it was hard work the dams had now been open 6 months letting through on average over 1200 cubic metres of water per SECOND!!!!! How long would this last, all year!!
Mike Steve and Sam were next in, they had been keeping check on the conditions and on the day of their arrival the dam was shut phew, 1st July and it was the first time we were able to fish for the cats properly here in Flix. They had a good trip lots of fish cats to 60lb and Sam with a new PB carp at 32lb. Nottingham Boys next they ended their trip with 60 plus runs, 20 fish landed, 300 empty cans of lager!! Manchester boys followed, lots of action again cats to 70lb but it was now mid July and so hot. They left with over 30 fish landed and many PB’s but no monsters. Brummie Boys next, Ouch first day they had in Salou, next day with them all with sore heads I took them off to do 3 nights at the factory. They fished their socks off in very hot conditions, 40 cats landed to 84lb totalling 1700lb of fish, e3xcellent fishing but still no monsters. Chris and Tony arrived for a 12 day trip, ending with 20 plus fish to 78lb. For me it was Half Time and a 3 week break, we were catching plenty of fish but where were the 100lbers?????
After my break I was really looking forward to seeing Chris and Jonny, their 6th trip but the first in September. They always do well and with the weather cooling just a little I was looking forward to the second half of the season. They started well with 2 70’s but we couldn’t get in the same swim one morning so settled for a swim with a huge Fig Tree over hanging. Just squeezing the ovals in leaving room for cars to pass it was tight but we were in. We had fish straight away including a cracking half mandarin at 117lb and a 35lb common, at last a 100lb plus cat. Ashley and Bev came and again they had fish to 88lb and a few 20lb carp. Following were James and Dad Dave, great fishing but no “Tons” lots of PB’s to 70lb. Next was Paul, Martin and Allen we decided to fish that tight swim under the “Fig Tree” and once again they were straight into fish. They had a fantastic trip Multiple catches of big cats to 99lb, lots of PB’s including 2 30lb carp and a cracking 42lb 2oz common for Allen. James and Stu arrived wanting to fish Mequinenza, but a mentioned the good session we had just had so we gave to Fig Tree a go. Fantastic fishing lots of cats again, lost a huge cat on the carp rods after a 40 plus minute fight but James was smiling with a cracker at 135lb. Mark and Marc came I took them straight to the Fig Tree and they were straight into fish 96 and a 126 half Manderin for Marc, 80lb plus for Marc were their best, they also had some good carp back at the garden. David and Frank next in and within 15 mins of having the rods out David had his dream 101lb cat. They went on to catch so many fish 90’s 80’s 70’s 60’s 50’s 40’s and a cracking 38lb common great fishing at the Fig Tree. Kent Boys next Straight into fish another great October session James landing a 138, Add 101 and James 2 a cracking 125 but they had so many more 50’s 80’s and 2 90’s. Martin and Son Robert gave the Fig Tree a go, end of Oct beginning of Nov and the weather was turning now with cold mornings but it was still producing, 80 and 50’s a few carp and a cracking 126lb for Robert. Roger and Brian came for 4 days I eased them in with some carp fishing at the garden on day 3 I put the cat rods out producing a 93 and a 84. Last in was James, he was here with Stu earlier in the year but wanted a go at the big carp. We nicked a 90lb cat first night but conditions were poor so no monster carp. Last in were Gareth and Kev, 8th or 10th time here (lost count) and now good friends. We tried to fish the Fig Tree but horrendous rain made access impossible. Still back at the garden Kev managed a new PB at 96lb, Gareth 2 good fish an 80 and a cracking 114lber finishing with a carp fest of over 20 carp in 24 hrs including a 36lb mirror for Kev.
And that was the end of a truly fantastic season, the start was terrible, but by moving around we managed to bank some good fish, July came and everybody was catching but no 100’s. September and the Fig Tree was discovered, it produced 100lb plus cats for every group through into November really great fishing.
I would like to thank everybody who came this year making my 10th year one of the very best, your hard work considering it is ment to be a holiday produced some great fish, your custom is much appreciated and many of you have already booked a return trip. Lets hope it starts better than this year and finishes as well.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to season 2014.
Paul.
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