Next in were Malcolm and Chris, having never fished the Ebro what would they make of it?? My plan for them seeing that they arrived late Saturday night was to nick a couple to get off the mark Sunday here in Flix, then Monday morning set off to Riba Roja and a do an overnighter. All weekend there had been a match on at Riba Roja my bright idea was to make the most of their baiting up and the fact that some good carp to 17kg had been caught. Sunday past with them both off the mark and 3 PB’s Malcolm with a 27lb common and Chris with an upper double carp then a small cat. Monday morning truck packed and off we go, not sure if anyone else had my bright idea we arrived and the swims I had in mind were vacant. In went some boilies and we soon had 6 rods out on my spots so all there was to do was sit back and wait and enjoy the sunshine. Wait and wait and wait well we didn’t even see a fish top all day but never mind we had all night. Morning came nothing!! very quiet and when they don’t show they don’t feed! 8am after a recast 1 of Chris’s rods screems off, Chris pulls into a welcome fish only for the hook to pull. Half hour passes and I’m in only for the hook to pull but action at last. 10 minutes pass and I’m in again this time a good strong fight just when it looked I had it beat hook pull No. 3. Well we very quickly wrapped up camp and left Riba for another day, some bright idea that was!!!
That evening we decided to concentrate on Flix, the river was flowing but 6oz of lead held lovely and the lads were soon nicking some good carp the next few days plenty of 20’s and lots of 19’s were landed as was a nice rare Mirror and a couple of small cats, but where were the Big Cats?
Malcolm mainly fished for predators back home so had his sights set on an Ebro cat but the water was cold so we held back with very heavy baiting but we were sure there were cats present. Day 4 passed and slowly but surely their tally was getting bigger with more good carp coming great sport and as night fell Malcolm was into some thing that pulled back. Good scrap and at last target fish caught in the shape of a 68lb cat, very welcome getting one in the bag. Next few days passed more carp, more 20’s but with nearly 50kg of pellet gone in no big moggy. Happy with his 68 and Chris happy getting plenty of action I mentioned not to give up as so many times the “dream fish” comes right at the last knockings!!
Day 7 and more carp, now up to 25 plus carp and cats and the last night possibly last chance to catch a Big Cat soon came round. 8-30pm and the expected thunder storm which had been brewing arrived right over our heads. Very loud thunder amazing lightening display and an absolute down pour put pay to their trip. Half hour passed with us looking out at the storm till we decided to go and have a beer in the village. Few beers downed and back home with the storm passed by, up early for one last go.
Morning came and the lads were up a bit later than normal and from the house looking down they were holding cameras not rods in their hands. Morning have you got one? Yes and a good one replied Malcolm! I didn’t hear you go down this morning? I didn’t I went down last night!!!! Sneaky as Chris didn’t hear him go down either, 2 carp and a good cat roped up. Most would have gone to bed not Malcolm he “Sneaked Down” and by 12 mid night was into a proper fight. 15 mins and all on his own Malcolm landed and roped up a good one ….but how good?? A pull on the rope revealed a very wide cat, could it hit the magic “Ton”. We popped it into the sling, the scales flew round once (well that’s 120) and settled at 131lb. What a great result and hats off to Malcolm, not only for not giving up but in the pitch black playing landing and roping up a big moggie is far from easy.
That was that, one last 20lb carp in the afternoon brought the tally to 30 odd fish 9 being 20’s and 4 cats, great weeks fishing and another example of never giving up!! there is always a chance even at the last knockings!!!!!! Well done to you both, very well deserved.
Until next time Paul
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