Dans 21st birthday and a trip to the Ebro river in Spain.

Last November Vince contacted me regarding celebrating his son Dan’s 21st birthday in Spain cat fishing on the Ebro in Sept 2013. It would have been rude to refuse!

Arrangements were made and 6 of us had our names down to go. Vince booked a really good angling guide called Paul Fagan http://www.ebrofishingdreams.com/ for our session.

I had previously fished for cat fish on the river and knew that we would enjoy every moment.

The party consisted of Mark, Rob, Vince, Dan, Mick and myself. Arrangements were made to fly from Stansted to Rues airport in Barcelona. Paul and his wife picked us up from the airport and soon we were travelling for a couple of hours to Caspe. We arrived quite late at about 11pm and decided to sleep and made arrangements for Paul to pick us up at 8am.

After a great night’s sleep in a wonderful apartment that slept 10 Paul was spot on time (very reliable) 8am and within 10 minutes we were at base camp on the shore of the river. His wife Debbie greeted us with coffee, tea, orange juice, bread and jam plus cereal and fruit. So after Paul showed us the procedure for him in setting the baits and him towing them out we settled back with more coffee and tea.

We had decided to take it in turns on the rods so that the catches would be very even. 6 cat rods and 4 carp rods were used.

Squid was to be used for the cats plus with one rod used for pellets. The carp rods were fished with pellets. Paul did mention that the carp were feeding at night and that we wouldn’t pick too many up during the day.

Having said this we were there to catch the cats.

Dan was the first into a cat of 55lbs and I followed up with one of 10lbs.

Debbie worked very hard in keeping us filled with food. At midday we were tucking into a full breakfast each which was very welcomed. She was working miracles’ in preparing this in a gale force wind.

Mark was next on the rods and after quite a while he landed a beautiful cat fish of 78lbs. Here is a short video of him playing the fish it’s in two parts.

 

Vince then was into a carp of 18lbs. It was very windy and this made the boat work very difficult for Paul the guide. Having said that his skills were such that he made it look easy.

As the evening approached Debbie worked her wonders again as she prepared a curry and rice for us all. This was washed down with a few beers. During the day I had gone with Debbie to the supermarket and bought a few essentials’ (beer and wine) for the evening when we returned to the apartment. Well I completely under-estimated the amount required and it seemed clear that I wasn’t being asked to go again.

The fishing was difficult and Paul tried to ensure we caught.

The views of the sunset on the river at about 8pm was unbelievable, with it being repeated each evening.

At the end of the day we decided to go straight to the bar and have a few pints. Hopefully the people there wouldn’t mind a bit of cat slime on our clothes. We had a great time there trying in our best Spanish to order beer wine and generally having a good laugh with the locals. Then it was back to the apartment and few more beers and wine.

The next day Paul arrived promptly at 8am again. There were a few sore heads (mine included) and the 10 minute journey time couldn’t be over fast enough for me. While the baits were dropped out and everything set we had coffee, juice, tea and cereal.

Mick was on the rods today and soon enough one of the cat rods was away. It was the pellet rod and after a short tussle a carp of 28lbs 14oz was in the net. It beat Mick’s pb by some 10lbs.

So Robs turn was next. The rod nearest the shore but further along the bank nodded and everyone saying “hit it”

I’ll let the video do the rest

The fish was huge and it took 3 people to hold the thing up as we clicked away with the cameras. It was actually caught on squid too.

Things were much too quiet for Paul and you could tell he was trying everything possible to catch more catfish. He suggested live baits so Rob our resident match angler set about catching a few roach. In no time at all he was catching small roach.

We even set up a zander rod with bleak live baits on.

Paul soon had a live roach out on one of the rods. It didn’t take too long before the rod bent over and clutch screamed as Vince struck into a big cat of 72lbs.

Dans turn was next and again a 70lb cat came along on the live baits. And to top this off after the live bait rod had been out there for another 30 mins or so the rod went off and Mark hit into a smaller cat of 24lbs.

So that was the last 3 cats came to live baits. Paul was pleased with the result and considering other cat fishermen around were struggling. That’s the difference between good and poor guides, the ones who are always looking at finding the best method outfish the others who just stick at one method. Well done Paul!

Debbie had given us breakfast again at noon and meat balls and pasta for dinner before we made our way to the apartment and more beer and wine. Thanks a million Debbie.

The next day we continued with live baits this time on 3 rods. Everyone was now trying to help catch live baits and bleak. Dan caught the largest roach of about 1.25lbs. The fins were bright red.

Mark bleak bashing in the morning.

Rob caught the only zander of the trip.

I was on the rods for the start of the day and it wasn’t long before one of the rods jumped in the rest and moving like a coiled spring I was playing a catfish. This wasn’t one of the larger ones (49lbs) but still gave me plenty of fun.

Mick was next on the rods and I’m not going to mention it here other than a lost rod and plenty of team work he managed to get the rod back and proceeded to play and land a beautiful catfish of 94lbs

Next Rob had a small cat again of 32lbs.

Then Vince was next and he took one of 61lbs followed by Dan who had one of 10lbs. All of the catfish were coming on live baits and nothing much happened on the other rods. The last fish of the day came to one of the carp rods and Rob landed a nice carp of 26lbs 2oz.

Well Debbie continues to feed us really well a breakfast roll for us all and then a chilly and rice for dinner. I tell you what I think this is the best bit of tucker that I’ve ever had on the bank. I really can’t thank you enough Debbie.

The next day was to be special, it was Dans birthday. He was first on the rods for that day the birthday boy just had to catch one. He didn’t disappoint us. The rod buckled in the rod rest and soon Dan was fighting a lovely large cat fish. This was no small pussy and had him going a bit

So that was it the birthday boy had done good 75lbs of beauty!

Next Vince was on the carp rods and he landed a beautiful common carp (as most of them are) of 22lbs 8oz.

Dan was on the carp rods and took a 20lb carp which fought well on the carp tackle. The carp just didn’t want to leave Dan but eventually it swam off.

More breakfasts from Debbie, you are a lucky man Paul.

The next two cats were small Mark had one of 12lbs and Mick had one of 28lbs.

I caught a couple of 2-3lbers on bleak live baits on a light rod this kept me out of mischief.

Throughout the day Debbie and Paul packed the equipment away. We couldn’t all fit into one car so at about 6pm some of the lads left to go and shower. Rob, Vince and myself stayed behind to help Paul with the boat and the rest of the tackle.

Then boom Rob had a cat of 75lbs and at last knockings when we had put almost everything away other than the rods Vince landed a 77lb cat to finish a great 4 days fishing. I’m sure he had a little grin on his face as he beat his lad Dans pb by 2lbs. But that’s fishing.

That evening we ate in a very nice restaurant toasted Dan on his birthday and thanks Debbie and Paul on being perfect hosts and fishing guides. Even though the conditions were very difficult Paul worked his socks off in ensuring we had a special fishing session on the river Ebro.

I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Paul as a guide and his knowledge of the river is very sound.

Please have a look at his web site http://www.ebrofishingdreams.com/index.htm

email ebrofishingdreams@yahoo.co.uk

As for Debbie you couldn’t wish to meet a better guide’s wife. You will not go hungry with Debbie around. And any of my clients who think I’m going to cook breakfast for you in the future had better think again. Debbie would you like a transfer????

A big thanks to both of you again.