Post by frim on Nov 19, 2009 23:35:02 GMT
Just a general post for anyone interested in the unusual or something a bit different. After quite a few trips to Canada carping and guiding, both me and Clarkie fancied a change and decided on a late sortie to Spain with a big cat in mind, having visited the area earlier this year to have a look at what was needed, local pellet prices of £85 a sack and tackle and boat hire costs we decided to drive it and take everything we needed with us. This is how it went warts and all, Leeds to Dover then Dunquirk to Limoges mid France to stop the night with Gus and Babs Greaves who have now got the best job and pad in the world, a far cry from bailiffing Catterick.
Good to see em (clarkies got my wine things don't change)
Next day and an eight hour drive South through the Pyrenees into
northern Spain we arrive in Mequinenza at the point the river Segre joins the massive Ebro.
Its been over three days to even get chucked in and this pic was taken just before the middle rod (carp set up) got pulled off the tripod,
when fishing four rods we always toss up for who takes first run "i lost but was still first off the chair to hook our first fish"
after threatening to beat me up Clarkie nicked the rod and landed this on 30lb braid and 20lb hooklength
still next run was my turn to try and beat the 90lber, next day and Mr lucky hits the next bite
4lb mustn't grumble ;D
same day clarkie lost a proper cat and i had a carp about eighteen so streaked into the lead, but the weather changed and the trip was starting to look like a mistake, seventy mile an hour winds stopped us (Paul) rowing baits out to where the cats lived, if you don't go the distance on the Ebro you have little chance and you cant throw 1lb of lead 200yds.
After bribing him with another one of my f*gs he had one last go at getting our cat rods out.
but he bottled it at 150yds "wuss"
3 more days of crap weather we couldn't fish but learned plenty listening to local guides, after seeing loads of cats and carp topping we gave it a final go on the last day.
A couple of mid teens each and as usual the weather was getting better.
The last fish of the trip made everything worth while even though it wasn't what we came for, it was clarkies turn again even though as usual i did all the work (except driving 3000 miles and rowing) after seeing fish rising close in, we were fishing at 80yds at the time i reeled one of the rods in, moved position, baited up with pva bag and cast out right on there heads, after a couple of mins a run, i struck controlled it then had to give it to that spawnie fat sod,
again mustn't grumble he claimed it
but at just tipping 40lb it looks better on me
Looking at things now i can laugh and we shouldn't moan about not catching or the weather, after all its the crack that counts thats why i have just booked another apartment for the next trip
Steve
Good to see em (clarkies got my wine things don't change)
Next day and an eight hour drive South through the Pyrenees into
northern Spain we arrive in Mequinenza at the point the river Segre joins the massive Ebro.
Its been over three days to even get chucked in and this pic was taken just before the middle rod (carp set up) got pulled off the tripod,
when fishing four rods we always toss up for who takes first run "i lost but was still first off the chair to hook our first fish"
after threatening to beat me up Clarkie nicked the rod and landed this on 30lb braid and 20lb hooklength
still next run was my turn to try and beat the 90lber, next day and Mr lucky hits the next bite
4lb mustn't grumble ;D
same day clarkie lost a proper cat and i had a carp about eighteen so streaked into the lead, but the weather changed and the trip was starting to look like a mistake, seventy mile an hour winds stopped us (Paul) rowing baits out to where the cats lived, if you don't go the distance on the Ebro you have little chance and you cant throw 1lb of lead 200yds.
After bribing him with another one of my f*gs he had one last go at getting our cat rods out.
but he bottled it at 150yds "wuss"
3 more days of crap weather we couldn't fish but learned plenty listening to local guides, after seeing loads of cats and carp topping we gave it a final go on the last day.
A couple of mid teens each and as usual the weather was getting better.
The last fish of the trip made everything worth while even though it wasn't what we came for, it was clarkies turn again even though as usual i did all the work (except driving 3000 miles and rowing) after seeing fish rising close in, we were fishing at 80yds at the time i reeled one of the rods in, moved position, baited up with pva bag and cast out right on there heads, after a couple of mins a run, i struck controlled it then had to give it to that spawnie fat sod,
again mustn't grumble he claimed it
but at just tipping 40lb it looks better on me
Looking at things now i can laugh and we shouldn't moan about not catching or the weather, after all its the crack that counts thats why i have just booked another apartment for the next trip
Steve
