Sunrise on the Segre |
The sun rises over the hills and so begins our Spanish adventure. Having arrived the night before we had a couple of San Miguel's in the bar with our guide (John 'here's a story for you' Deakin), for the week followed by an early night in anticipation of the 7.00am start. The weather forecast was for a sunny start to the week getting colder on Thursday and Friday. Thankfully their forecasters are as good as ours and it was warm and dry all week.
My view for the next six days |
I then had an aborted run at about 9.45pm and that was the end of the action for day one.
Day Two-Tuesday
A cloudy start made way for glorious sunshine by 10am and then at 3.30pm we had a tremendous thunderstorm that lasted a whole three minutes followed by more sunshine.
The fishing was slow throughout the day. At 9pm I struck into my first fish of the trip, 38lb. At least I was up and running.
The action was fast and furious that evening and we landed a total of six cats for a massive 533lb.
I had a 68lb fish.
John had a 58lb fish and a super 138lb specimen which Ryan (the apprentice guide) helped him display.
But Steve thrashed us both with an 87lber and an excellent 144lb beauty(photo to follow).
Day Three-Wednesday
Following that cracking night we were buzzing and full of expectation. The inevitable happened, we blanked! This often happens, lots of fish then no fish and it had me worrying. Three days done, halfway through the week and I was the only angler without a 'ton' fish. I couldn't come all the way to Spain and not have a biggie-could I?
Day Four-Thursday
John started us off with a 25 and finally my moment arrived when I landed my 'ton'. I breathed a sigh of relief as the scales went round to 119lb.
I could go home fairly pleased but now I had a new target, I wanted to beat my pb, a 126lb fish caught 18 months ago.
Steve added his second ton of the week weighing 121lb, he was flying! (photo to follow)
Day Five-Friday
It was my turn for the early fish and I started with what we guessed to be a 20lber (not even weighing these now but I would be made up with this fish in England!)
and I followed that with a 116lber
Catfish are not the prettiest of fish but they are amazing looking creatures, this one however had an awful growth on it's side and a hunch back. We took a quick picture and back it quickly went. It didn't need too much stress.
That evening Steve added a 25 and a 40 and I also had a 25. By now we weren't even photographing these fish just putting them straight back. Fish size is totally relative to the water you are fishing and this river spoils you.
Final Day-Saturday.
The final morning of our tour we decided to head up the hills above the Ebro dam and try for something a bit different. The Spanish claim to have the best freshwater Bass fishing outside America and we saw plenty of them but it was pretty frustrating. John managed to land one of about a pound and I hooked and lost one that was a bit bigger.
About mid afternoon we went back to the serious business of Catfishing. It was way back on Tuesday when Steve had had the biggest Catfish and John and I wanted to try to beat it.
At 10.15pm one of my rods hooped over and stayed there and I knew I was connected to a good fish. It took line from a fully tightened clutch which none of my previous fish had managed and when I managed to get it into the margins I knew I had a new personal best. 152lb of solid Spanish Catfish. Doesn't Steve look really pleased for me!
My third pb in four weeks and a biggest ever fish.
Thankyou |
What a beast.
Well done mate! |
A week long total of 17 fish between the three of us weighing 1,473lb at an average of 86.6lb per fish-job done!
Thanks to John and Ryan, our guides and 'Catmaster' for a wonderful week.
Awesome !
ReplyDeleteThat's what I call,
"A holiday and a half."
Some seriously good fishing being done there.
Well Done Joe !
Thanks Marc, it was brilliant.
DeleteThat should get you a few points on the challenge board, Joe!
ReplyDeleteLike loads... 245.16% !!!! :)
It weighs pretty much the same as I do! Extraordinary fishes.
I added it to the challenge board and roared into the lead but took it off again in the interest of fair play.
Delete'It weighs pretty much the same as I do'- I reckon I could reel you in too with the tackle we used!
Brilliant Joe, another thing on my "to do" list
ReplyDeleteYou have to do it at least once Rob, I will warn you it is addictive though so once may not be enough!
DeleteExcellent fishing there and well done with the pb - you need another trip to get that 'biggest cat' title back. As you say they will become addictive, I've fished for these monsters in France, Kazakhstan, Spain and of course England and they still fasinate me.
ReplyDeleteYou do need to keep that 'abroad' and 'home' prospective in order to maintain the interest in local fish. You will catch carp out there that might be dreams here, but they are 'abroad'.
You're right Phil but I still get excited at catching big Tench, Roach, Bream, Chub etc, keeping my feet on the ground so to speak. Off Tenching this weekend and just as excited about it. Still get that can't sleep thing the night before any trip!
ReplyDeleteSounds a Great holiday Joe, I thought about doing it for my 40th but never followed it up, still theres always my 41 st next year !!
ReplyDeleteI would do it again if you fancy it, love it!
DeleteThese pictures really relates to a memorable and a well enjoyed fish catching tour. All the photos are superb but the last one with that long fish is really unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much
Delete