Magic of the Ebro - Ron Buss
It's now fourteen years since I first took the plunge and went into Europe fishing. My first trip in 92 was to Metz, Carp fishing, and one major lesson was learnt on that trip, plan ahead, get your facts right and make allowances for the unseen - ensure your tackle is up to the quarry you seek, upgrade your line, take extra leads, ensure your chosen hook pattern is strong enough to cope with the unexpected. If you can go on a couple of organised trips whereby you are looked after - all the better, read the weekly's they are a mine of information. Once you have chosen your venue make enquiries about it, ask other anglers who have fished there, make notes, it really pays dividends.
Just recently my son Stephen went to Spain to fish the River Ebro, it was a Guided Tour, but two days into the trip he was so disgusted with the Guides attitude and total DISRESPECT for not only the fish but the whole environment, he left the River and travelled up the country to Mequinenza to where the Cinca and Segre Rivers meet with the Ebro proper. Stephen got into the Guiding side of the fishing and soon it was apparent, going by his results that he was going to be someone to reckon with – at the time of writing this he has accounted for no less than a dozen Albinos, his advert speaks for itself.
The only fishing tackle that I needed to take was a pair of reels, my trusted Shimano Big Pits and a pair of Delkim’s, a small Fox Box full of my favourite bits and pieces, hooks and hook link materials and such, all you do is book your week, travel to Barcelona Airport, where you are met and transported to Mequinenza, no need to take Bivvies, bed chair’s, rods etc. The Carp fishing is not guided as such, your Guide takes you to the River, puts you on the areas that he knows, relates tactics that should ensure you catch fish and then leaves you to it.
Let face it, us Carp Anglers are a funny old lot, the last thing you want is someone faffing round you when you’re fishing. However, should you latch into the unexpected the Guide is only a phone call away and avoiding unforeseen circumstances can be with you in minutes. The Catfish tours on the other hand are Guided and your Guide is on hand all the time, and believe you me when you have a Cat Fish of over one hundred pounds trying to drag you off the bank, your Guides reassuring calm attitude is a real confidence boost - Believe me I've been there.
All you need on the Catfish tours is your camera, all tackle is supplied, listen to what your Guide is telling you as he will explain what to expect when a big fish takes - So that you are totally prepared - Bless Him, suits me Sir.
I am trying not to turn this piece into an out and out Promotional but I will give my son a Big up because without his help I would have been a bit out of my depth Bless Him. My wife Jo and I flew British Airways from Heathrow to Barcelona where Stephen met us and we were soon on the A2 Motorway to Lleida, two hours later we were pulling into Mequinenza and Stephen was dropping us off at our Hotel, as I had not gone on a Guided Tour we had been booked into the Hotel ‘Zaytun’ which had excellent accommodation, clean and quiet, fresh linen every day, good food and cold beer, what more could you ask for Luv-Em. Situated at the far end of the town a 15 minute walk from the main fishing area, overlooked by a castle, Eagles and Black Kites overhead, Bee-Eaters and Golden Oreals and something I haven’t heard for a number of years the chattering of House Sparrows, greeted you as you walked down to fish a River inhabited by huge Catfish and Carp, what more could you ask for – Great stuff. – Its what dreams are made of.
The fishing area or the Strip as I called it must be half a mile long, it could be more but to be quite honest I wasn’t measuring it, I was fishing from it. It has convenient shops and bars adjacent, a couple of Supermarkets for ice cream, lovely cake shop/bakers, trees for shade, not that we needed shade for the first three days as we had the same storms that hit Britain towards the latter part of the week. But we did manage 3 hours on the Monday evening, Three Cats 68, 55 and 142, and I was buzzing.
Needless to say I did not sleep too much Monday night and Tuesday we managed to get 8 hours fishing but apart from one dropped bite the day was uneventful apart from the weather which was starting to decline. The third morning started wet and windy and we had moved back to the swim we first started in, baits out at 8.00 a.m. and at 8.50 we kicked off with a 151 which was our only fish of the morning. We packed up at 12.00 noon, went for lunch and a Siesta, starting at 6.00 in the evening the wind had got up and we had just got four baits out when the first rod ripped off, this fish turned out to be an amazing ALBINO Cat Fish of 115lbs – Butter Yellow with a black birthmark to the head.
Amazing – 17 hours fishing and already 3 fish over the TON. I was blown away. Three more fish followed the Albino an 88, 74, 63, walking back to the Hotel in the rain with thunder and lightening all around was brilliant, I slept like a tramp in a haystack, waking at 5.30 I was off like a long dog. When I reached the River I could see Stephen had not made it, so I spent the morning talking to a group of lads who were Carp fishing. They had been spanking them out and had caught Commons to mid 30s plus Cats to 156. Some feat on 15lb line and a 2 ¾ Test Rod, they were enjoying their week immensely. Gordon, Geoff, Ian, Mick and Malcolm continually took the Mickey out of each other. They were there to have a good holiday and a good time without getting drunk and out of order and upsetting every body as so many seem to do when fishing abroad. They were a right nice bunch of lads, Gordon who has a Carp Fishery in Brittany has offered Jo and me a trip over to fish his lake, and no strings attached which only comes from a real genuine person, which makes a change.
We ambled through the day and started fishing at 6.00 in the evening, my first fish albeit only 28lbs was a Mandarin Cat, a feisty little tow rag that tried to bite everyone and everything that went near it. We ended the evening taking 5 Cats, 28, 60, 88, 91 and 156. Another action packed evening. Stephen assured me that we would fish the whole day on the Friday which entailed 18 hours of solid fishing.
The weather was getting better, the skies were clearing and things were looking good. Friday dawned clear and bright and we were fishing by 6.00 am taking 4 fish in the morning – 45, 73, 90 and a 148, mid afternoon a 116 and it was not until just after 8.00 in the evening that we started to get bites and a 134 came to the rods.
A big thanks to my son Stephen who had looked after his Dad like only a Son could – If you are interested in trying to catch a fish that in all honesty is capable of pulling you off the bank then go on line and check out Stephens website – you won’t be disappointed. www.carpandcatbussters.com
I wanted to have a couple of hours to try for a Carp so I set up 2 Free Spirit 12foot 2 ¾ with 15lb GR 80, size 4 Talon Tip Hooks, single Halibut Pellet hook baits, 4oz Grippa Leads, these were cast seventy yards to rolling fish, my first bite was a 27 Common, second a 31.8 Common – mission accomplished. My first Ebro Carp. We rounded off the evening session with cats of 72 and 125 – what a week.
Well Saturday morning was soon upon us and we were due to leave Mequinenza at 10.00am and as we wanted to do down to the River to say our goodbyes to Gordon and the lads, we had an early breakfast and went to the River – there they were Bless Em, some with rods bent, and as we stood talking to Gordon and Geoff one of Gordon’s rods ripped off and it was soon evident that he was into a large bit of Pussy and so it turned out, 45 minutes later we were privy to a Cat fish of 174 lbs, a new Ebro record for a Cat caught on Carp Tackle (shame I had to go home, but there’s always next year Gordon!!) all credit to Gordon, played by a professional – Despite his Pink Camo Joggers – Good boy.
I will be going back in late October for a week Carp fishing; my Guide is booked Luv Him like I do.
We will see him in a couple of weeks, doing a bit of BIG CAT FISHING with Ian Russell.
BE LUCKY
RON BUSS
