The Ebro.

Just back on wed after a week on the Ebro so I thought I would put this up for anyone planning a trip over. We stayed with the Bravarian Guiding Service who are one of the only outfits to supply you with a decent boat, which is a necessity on the river. The log cabins were fine and were only a stones throw from the boat stand.

The 1st day we were advised to fish up at the dam end as there were a few fish coming out and a lot of bait going in, so after we got settled we hopped into the boat that evening with a 25kg bucket of partimix and a sack of pellets, headed up to "the wire" which runs across the river, found a decent swim, put down a marker and baited up into the old river bed with half the bucket and about 5kg of pellet. All ready for the next morning or so we thought...

Arriving before 1st light we were ready to rock and roll, weather was good and looked like a light flow on the river. Geared up with 15lb high abrasion mono, 25lb mantis/snakebite unstripped hooklengths, size 4 bulletproof hooks, 4oz leads and a metre of rig tubing. Casting to about 50/60 yards out into the old river bed (fish were apparently in the deeper water) the lines swung round and leads flew off down the river, this was due to the fact that more sluces on the dam had been opened and the undertow was belting along. Calls were made, 6oz leads were dropped down with the bait run but with no better hold on the bottom even when boated out. We managed to stick out the day but stress levels were rising as our whole intention and the only way to fish the river at this time of year is to bait up a likely area and sit on it.

Talking to a couple of Austrians the following day it was revealed they were using 8/9oz leads to hold the bottom and guide had advised 20mtr snag leaders for the drop off. Fcuk that! not my idea of carp fishing with 50lb leaders and cavity blocks. My brother had decided to fish into the snags on the opposite side where a lot of fish were showing this meant going from depths of 3m to 12m (river bed) then up to 3m again. He dropped 3 baits, had takes from each drop from the bank and in the boat with one fish 15.6lb landed from the boat. The wind picked up and flow increased, enough was had. We packed up the boat in howling wind and waves after hearing one of the guides had turned back after exiting the Segre into the Ebro and boat nearly flipped.

That night it was decided we needed to find a sheltered area out of the wind and main flow, so we set off to a bay we had found down river that looked right. We baited up new spot with another bucket and pellets each day & night and fished it for 2 days without a sign of a fish, one thing was niggling at the back of our minds as all the boxes were ticked with this spot except one, the depth, the bay was 2 to 3m deep. That night we had beers with a father and son who have fished the river a lot. Sound heads. We decided to try one more area of deeper water and sit on it regardless. They recomended a spot we knew and baits were swopped as they were doing well from their new boat fishing over a large baited area in the bed of the main river. We baited up again in our 3rd spot and waited.

Second day, brother's alarm reminded us what a run was and 10 mins and a great fight later he banked a beautiful 23lber.


I had still not had a run so that night the lucky gear went on and the the rosary began, Terry and Jack were reasuring some action would occur. It was the last day. Once again we followed our baiting ritual at first light and settled in, calm, still, sunny day, at this stage I had gone past caring and was happy to have been on the learning curve - for the next trip! 12.45 while tying up pva bags my alarm went and an hour later and again and again then 2 rods went off one after the other. a 33lb, a 30lb, a silver 27lb, two just under 20lb and a little fellow were the 6 fish I had. just before nightfall we headed back for dinner with the lads. Terry had a 42lb plus, jack a couple of 30's and a new arrival Graham had landed a 40plus from between the boys marker and the Iron Maiden swim (we named it this due to he fact the lead singer was renting out the villa for a weeks fishing while we were there) so that was the trip, made some good friends, met some legends, (Gary Allen included!) and learnt a sh*t load. all good.







To round off, heres a few tips - leave your pride and joy rods at home. Bring some 3lb+ ones that you don't mind getting bashed around in the boat, use 15-20lb high abrasion mono, strong hooks, dont expect too much info from a lot of the guides as they are mostly cat mad and what you do hear will be conflicting so do your homework for the time of year you go re. where the fish are as they move up and down the Segre/Ebro. Tool up if you fish the dam and land fish from the boat. Stick to one of the main guiding companys ie. Bravarians or Gary Allen - tons of bullshit artists out there. Take care of prying eyes/big markers when your baiting up as the fcukers will jump into your swim - some guides will even take their guests there if they see a lot of bait going in, be prepared to put a barrel of particles in every day at intervals and a sack of pellets will do around 3 days. wear lifejackets in the boats (you will have to ask for these) and have a powerful torch handy for navigation through the snags at night. Also take a few tutti frutti boilies and try em butterfly mounted on the hair.

good 2 see u got some fish what an adventure,its not as easy as some people say,how much was the trip as i was thinking of trying it sometime.

Cheers Matt, worked out about E1200 for meself and the bro - particles, pellets, boilies, cabin, boat and airport pick up and drop off. GG.

cant wait to see the pics GG.

Nice 1 GG
I put small pics at the end of your post and larger ones in the Ebro gallery

Cheers Natas.

lovely fish lads ,i cant wait 2 get back carping,roll on the warm weather

cracking fish gordon, i seen a John wilson episode from the ebro with him fishign for carp and they really fought hard

are they ALOT stronger than lake carp, and in particular, french lake carp?

I reckon they would be, just look at the size of the fins on the fish. They're massive, needed for the bigger rivers though with strong currents.

sure just look at the fins on that one, picturesque or what, not saying yours are worse GG, no need to get sensitive or anything

yeah Chris they fight like crazy, huge tail roots and fins, spikey dorsals too. as Paul says they have the current and a huge expanse of water to cover so that makes em fit as fiddles. GG.

Gordon Goodwin. wrote:

yeah Chris they fight like crazy, huge tail roots and fins, spikey dorsals too. as Paul says they have the current and a huge expanse of water to cover so that makes em fit as fiddles. GG.

so you`re saying France is for fairies, and real men brave the Ebro?

Does that arm of yours ever get tired of stiring Bonnie? GG.

PMSL

plenty of Rivers for Carp in France too Chrisbonnie - and they grow MUCH bigger, Spanish Carping is a bit like their wine - always 2nd to France!

Now cats are a different thing - one could argue that CARP are for fairies and Cats are for the real men!

Now look what you've started Bonnie! Rioja or Bourdeaux its a personal choice - I happen to love both. it is only a matter of time before a record common comes out of the Ebro, couple of 60's have shown with much bigger fish spotted. GG.

How did ye get on this trip Dave ???

they didnt do to bad 17 fish to low twenties no big ones but thats the way it is out there they have to fish through the smalluns