Stephen Buss reflects on the past year guiding on the Ebro...
Years Summary | Specialist World
Years Summary
I'm sat here in reflection, sporting the biggest grin for ages as it comes to summing this years carp and cat fishing adventures into words. I write wrapped up warm with Lemsip at hand due to fishing's enthusiasm.
To be honest, I was not looking forward to the start of this years guiding on the River Ebro in Spain. Working hard for much of last year had taken its toll, but the quality time off over the festive period gave enough time to recharge a few batteries, refine a few methods and play with some new rods and reels from Father Christmas.
This year's river conditions brought the best out in me. It was a very difficult season for most anglers, even when guided. My lady luck saw to record braces; I recorded my 150th 150lb+ catfish to the pebble rig within just 12 months fishing, told tales of the one that got away, broke my catfish personal best and sowed the seed to cement my career in the pastime I have known so dearly.
The depths of the festive months saw little to no pellet in comparison to the summer's quantity. Due to pellet formulations and its magic ingredient, the catfish were slow to rest and in quest of hunger the catfish switched from large beds of pellet to feasting on large shoals of bleak. The silver fish in realisation turned and headed away from the waters of Mequinenza thus leading the catfish in the getaway chase.
Returning to the rivers edge at the start of a fresh February, I noticed the fish were not to be seen in their usual haunts, mainly due to the rivers water level. My aim in February was to establish areas for fishermen the following month.
These were probably the best conditions as there were very few people fishing but fish location is an art never mastered. Most local guides were struggling and relied on fishing the waters of Caspe in order to save holiday blanks. The usual areas along the River Segre and the T junction where it meets the River Ebro were almost void of life even though being regularly fished. I noticed that very little swim feed in comparison was being used, so my search for bigger fish took me some 15km down stream from the town of Mequinenza.
It all started tucked away in a familiar fruit orchard that brushed two reed lined bays on the banks of the River Ebro. First Light on the 4th March saw my first guided catfish of 2006, a 2m 41cm 203lb beauty, the largest Wels catfish to have been caught by a Dane, what a start. Ironic really as the cat rods had only been employed due to slowing carp action and a sighting of a big cat. However, with this big cat out of the swim and sulking in the margins the carp soon returned to this usual retreat and for the following month many previously uncaught carp graced the bank.
The first week of March produced some 40 carp to just under 40lbs and many low 30's. I noticed the fish were getting in on the bait quick. By the first week of April, at some points in the day, you could not keep even one rod out. One day saw twenty mint 20lb+ common carp to a pair of tired fishermen. As the first week of April drew to a close no less than thirty five 20lb + and seven 30lb + carp had been hooked and weighed.
The carp action in this particular area over the next month or so was to be a real treat to say the least. I had great expectations and enthusiasm. Over 100 carp had quickly fallen foul of the pebble rig, a scaled down version of what is used for cat fishing. Pebbles were oiled and left to soak. Hook baits consisted of single pellet, either tipped with half / whole boilie or single grain of yellow plastic maize. Many personal best common carp fell, a battery of upper 30's and low 40's had visited the bank.
The swim's main feature is a fishable point; either side of this point are unspoilt reed lined bays, one is shallow, the other much deeper with its opening home to a healthy and rich sunken weed bed. There is a wide marginal shelf that envelopes the point, resident fish are here for sure. My intention was to bump into the string of upper 40's and especially the mid 50lber that had seen my net and unhooking mat the previous year.
The pebbles were mostly placed by boat with the aid of an echo sounder. Swim feed mainly consisted of hemp and tiger nuts so as to captivate the attention of shoals of carp rather than groups of catfish - combos of paste and pellet also played a part. Pebbles around 4-6oz were cast short distances, advantages of the pebble over a conventional lead is that you retain the weight for casting and hook penetration but best you obtain a direct line to your hook hold when the fish takes and sheds the pebble from its elastic band retainer.
Pebbles placed in PVA bags were cast further, a pebble gives off more natural frequencies than a lead, they can absorb oils and flavours to aid in time release fish attraction and the bags can be filled with goodies to ensure the trap is sprung in haste. There is an increase in workload when fishing pebble vs. lead. For a start, you have to carefully select and collect. If casting single pebbles, there is also a knack to their banding. Once mastered, which does not take a fishing lifetime, the pebble easily out fishes the lead and is a rewarding must for stalking and setting margin traps for monster Carp, Barbel and Catfish. Dare I say they fit snug in a bait boat!
The catfish by now were awake and moving in large numbers, head and shouldering like pilot whales. Mid April to the end of May saw me fishing new swims within the boundary of the Segre Nature Reserve. River levels had increased as did sightings of the specimen fish this water system is home to. My father was out for his years first visit; a too-short a week still produced more than 80 carp and a handful of cats. Nothing more would please me than seeing him with a 40lb common from these waters, alas this time it was not the case but maybe next time?
April's carp tally was a taste of things to come, eighty 20lbers, thirty five 30lbers and three 40's to 41lb 12oz. April also saw 32 catfish over the 100lb barrier come to the bank and 8 over 150lb. All were very special but two catfish caught within a week enlightened me to the growth potential that these giants of the river have. 35cm was the difference in length, 15lb in weight, the shorter fish was 199lb (2m 12cm) and a well rounded specimen with distinguishing marks along it's flank. The 184 (2m 47cm) was a long fish, almost empty and could easily be 230lb on its day. The big catfish list continues, 199, 184, 170, 169, 165, 159,156 and 152lb.
The carp fishing started to tail mid May as the catfish started to return from further downriver. The weather was warming, more importantly so was the water. In the last weeks of May the catfish started to rule the river. The carp then moved further upstream in impressive numbers, into the shallow weedy runs to spawn, and this saw the start of some real action. May's carp fishing saw slightly fewer carp to the bank than expected, although this may have been due to the catfish activity. The carp that were banked were of a better stamp and we saw the average weight of carp go up even though we caught fewer, the tally was a respectable fifty five 20's, twenty 30's and seven 40lbers to 46lb 4oz.
A battery of new catfish tackle haunted my swims, a step up as last year's equipment unfortunately did not stand the test of time. We switched from two piece 10ft 6 " carbon fibre to a three piece Grey's Popper Rod. Our reels were not to burn out like the Penn 330's had done; our shiny Albacores from Alutecnos bellowed a class finish to an ideal specimen fishing rod / reel combo on our new custom design rod stands from Mick Evans.
Fishing in the depths of prime catfish territory, with the river conditions on our side; a ghosting of good fortune was truly upon us. The pebble rig was still in play for the catfish. The times during most flow saw 'pebbles' being placed that weighed up to 20lb. The carp rods were cleaned and laid to rest with haste. The last week of May saw the months catfish tally at 26 fish over 100lb many young males around the 140lb mark and 6 fish over 150lb. May was the month for the young wild boar, when lure fishing from canoes you would regularly bump into them sunning themselves and drinking from the margins of the nature reserve. Bank fishing one morning we counted 6 babies and two adults swimming some 400 yards from reed lined island to island. The big catfish list continues, 187, 173, 169, 159, 157 and 156lb.
In the 100 nights from the End of February to the beginning of June I had spent just 4 asleep in my house. During this time I was awakened many a time, hearing fish of 150lb hit the top. In addition, the shoals of carp moving in and out the swims under the cover of dark were sounds most welcome.
I then returned to England, in pursuit of a record Wels and a few games of cricket. The month of June on the Ebro and Segre is usually very good, fishing-wise. Was I mad in leaving these waters during what some might call prime time?
The flight was called and accompanied by fellow mild-mannered thrill seeker Dan Baylis, we departed Heathrow to fish 10 days on the River Danube in Bulgaria, the second largest river system in Europe, some 2800km + in length. The previous week had been spent running around in preparation; we were both very excited to say the least. On the banks of the Danube we stood, two Brits, two Danes and a Bulgarian would have made a good joke. To see this river at one of its widest parts was a treasure; opposite in the distance was Romania amidst a pink and purple sunset.
The river boiled at our feet, the flow was fast and consistent, we did not fish the first area we were shown, we opted to look at an inlet some 30km down river, this was where we first wet a line. In hindsight we hit the river at the wrong time but then, the condition of any major river system is a lottery when fishing last-minute. We had to bribe a swim as the area that looked most fishy was occupied by a family fishing for that evening's food, we then later found ourselves flanked by long liners one side and drift nets men the other.
For 4 nights we managed only small barbel, which in turn we used as live bait for monster catfish. The swim was not void of fish, but the methods employed by the locals may have made this part of the river a bit of a black spot. The stories of 200kg catfish rang true, the river's potential is far from realised.
A trump card was at hand. We decided to move to the mountains, the river looked as if it needed a month of Sundays. I spent another day by boat looking at other potential spots later in the trip, not to fish but to look on in awe. A return is on the cards but a small lake was our destination for the remainder of our Bulgarian adventure.
We arrived at nightfall, the moment saved for a morning's view. The lake is probably 6 acres, a main body with spiny arms and rounded bays at each corner. The two spiny arms looked ideal for stalking, the lake is spring and river fed, very deep and very shallow in parts. Within hours of fishing all four of us had landed fish, several 30lb common carp and a little sturgeon. The fish in this lake had been stocked from the Danube, it contained with what I was led to believe was a 79lb Common carp and an 82lb grass carp, in addition to a handful of dark mirrors around 60lb. The next four days were spent in despondency; it transpired that a vast majority of the fish had been speared in the shallows when spawning by the local farmers and shepherds. Our trump card had ended up a Joker.
On returning to the Ebro in July, a new approach to the fishing was in mind. Reports of a slow June's fishing came as a surprise. The upper lake was and will be the place to catfish; previous reports came back of a massive 100+ cats in a single day haul.
July was a hot one. It saw the catfish spawn for a second time and a run of small male fish, with 27 fish over 100lb to 148, was a good tally for the short time spent fishing. Several canoe trips down the Segre saw catfish rolling together within touching distance; them bumping and rocking the canoes will be yet another moment to savour from being here. One hard-fighting 1m 85cm lure-caught catfish broke the rod in three places before chewing knuckles and left all involved with hearts hanging out of mouths. The big catfish list will continue...
The next six weeks fishing from August - mid September went mad. It was not until this time that my catch results mimicked those of previous years. The warmest month saw 45+ catfish per week to my rods and reels, sometimes I could not row the baits out quick enough as we were having takes on the ones just set.
It was the month to break my personal best and again, like last year, I landed two 190lb+ fish within quick succession. I fished with friends and told the tales of the one that got away and record braces to enthusiastic young locals. The August month was one of many a joy and an obvious heartache, the month that saw regular monster fish to many a happy angler; a month that, like previous ones, had kicked off with a big fish, a pale and placid 208lber. Again on the pebble rig but with a change in hookbait that gave me an increased edge and enthusiasm about the fishing that lay ahead.
I most enjoyed fishing the final days of August with Joe Taylor and ScouseMaster Karl. A six hour session on the 30th produced some 18 catfish with 14 breaking the 100lb barrier. To have had a string of 150s, a trio of 170s, a 184 and a 194lber within hours was an achievement all involved will reflect on for a very long time. The trio of Karl's 170s was followed by Joes 184. This was another hard-fighting lump that fell foul to the pebble rig, an impressive fish with plenty of room for growth, at the best of recent times this fish had the frame to accommodate 200lbs easily.
With my name on the next take our right hand rod bent flat and a ripping take left all with an air of anticipation. On prising the rod from the rest, the fish hit the surface with an explosion of water and steadily started to rip powerfully up-river. I stood firm, 17 stone of pure English Oak, rooted to the banks of a Spanish river, the only bow being my branches. This was a heavy fish that hugged the bottom whilst romping off up stream at a fast pace. I managed to turn the fish twice mid river before it dived for the margins, literally under the rod tip and waiting hand. The scales tipped 194lb, a beast of a fish with a large wide head. With two fish on stringers and twelve bells upon us the rods were retrieved and a sound night's sleep ensued.
When it duly came to photographs the following sunrise, the video recorder was set on play and the cameras waited. Joe's fish was first out of the water and onto the bank; it lay calm on the wet mat and was carefully freed from its stringer. The fish, whose head was facing the bank then writhed round in a single slap and wriggled ferociously, back into the river within a blink of an eye.
We all stood in amazement, shrugged and hummed but the sudden realisation of "your turn next " hit home. I decided to take the stringer out in the water and have just water shots with my new prize. The fish soon hit the surface and I wrestled for a position to free it's retainer. On doing so I managed to get a grip on both pecks, with the fish's chin on my chest. With a single flick of its tail, the fish in its entirety then slipped through my grasping fingers and back to where it knows best. Once the dull feeling from inside had risen, both Joe and I both chuckled. August had been a very kind month.
The big catfish list continues, twenty fish over 150lb, six fish over 160lb, twelve fish over 170lb, eight fish over 180lb, six fish over 190lb and three fish over Two Hundred pounds. In addition to this pocket of big fish we also landed 52 fish between 100 and 150lb and 82 fish less than 100lb. 150 x 3, 151 x 3, 152 x 2, 153 x 3, 154 x 4, 156 x 2, 158 x 2, 159, 161, 164, 165 x 2, 167, 169, 172 x 2, 174 x 2, 176 x 2, 177, 178 x 3, 179, 181, 182, 183, 184 x 3, 186, 189, 191 x 2, 192, 194, 195, 196, 201, 202, and 208lb.
The end of September to mid October saw a welcomed slower pace to the fishing action; the first rains brought a sharp rise in water level, repeated rainfall ensured inconsistencies with regard to river colour, flow and level. The carp rods were back out and with the first common being a battle axe of a 43lber - only twenty two 20's and five 30's were caught.
I moved from the area fished in August, downstream against a rising level which could have been a step in the wrong direction. I think it is very possible for pockets of large fish to get trapped in certain areas of the Segre, dependant on water level. These pockets of fish may take weeks to return to their usual haunts but there were still a few fish to be had to where we had moved to down-river. The big catfish list continues, 191 (caught on carp rod), 178, 177, 169, 167, 162, 156, 151 and a 155lb albino.
My father returned as the conditions had calmed some. A short time into his week and after banking a pretty mid twenty pound fully scaled, the conditions worsened, and looking at the river, a few weeks rest was in order. In this time off from fishing the river, an invitation was accepted and I travelled South in pursuit of the Golden Comizo Barbel. I had caught a fair share of Andalucian Barbel on previous Barbel fishing efforts but the Specimen Comizo is the one shrouded in most mystery, it was not until visiting their home that I realised why.
Some 15 crystal clear, reed and forest lined lagoons with weedy margins connected via small streams and fantasy waterfalls set in a hilly gorge was enough to see me somewhat lost for words. I fished alongside Pete Staggs, a pioneer of Barbel fishing from the depths of the Spanish heartland who has accounted for many specimens in excess of 30lbs.
During the few days I spent fishing I wished my dad was by my side, especially when looking some 8 metres down into the clear patches that we were fishing brought back childhood memories. Putting three common carp on the mat to just over 29lb, I was also lucky enough to claim a near 18lb Golden Comizo. Releasing it back into the cold, clear waters was warming when I watched it roar off from my hands. All fish tore off like stallions and the Spanish lagoons is an area I will concentrate more efforts in next years fishing adventures.
Returning to the river week 45, I spent many hours watching the calm waters around Mequinenza; I even managed a few hours carp fishing that resulted in a pristine mid 20lb common carp. This month was a weird one fishing-wise; the fish seemed to be running up and down the river as if it were Christmas week. Fifteen 20lb and 5 thirty pound commons were banked in the short time spent carp fishing. Two more weeks catfish guiding was all that lay ahead. The conditions leading upto mid November gave me the sense of bigger fish to come, especially with regard to the carp fishing as a number of low 50's and a 59lber had been seen on the banks.
With over 500kg of catfish swim feed sat in the garage; I thought it best to end the years fishing where it had started. From the 23rd of November to the 12th December I watched 3 big catfish lost to other hands. To start and end the year on a 200lb + catfish would have made this a truly fishing fairy tale write up. I landed a pristine common of 31lb 4oz, it was almost jet black and a strain we call Coal-miners. It was the biggest coal miner I have ever seen, with dark black scales all over the underside of its belly, seeing this one makes me think they must go over 40!
However, the river in this time was again calm, like a mill pond for most of my stay. Having seen over 15 fish over 150lb to 186 on the bank in the space of a week, I knew I was on the fish. The last three nights I fished alone, which was a treat even though I saw few fish. Fishing single hook baits on 6 catfish rods for 42 hours without a sniff was enough to call it a day and I returned home to complete this write up. Looking at the Calendar as I write I still have 5 days from the 26th Dec to bump into one last big catfish! Fingers crossed. Christmas week will see the carp tackle in full use as many think a new world record common carp swims these waters so close to me. The big catfish list draws to an end, 186, 181, 178, 176, 175, 172, 167, 163, 159, 157, 156, 155, 153, 151 and 150 x 2.
This year does not come without thanks, firstly to those that have fished with me and taken part in a cracking years fishing. Roll on next year. Many new personal best fish were caught this year, some may be beaten but most not forgotten. Tightest Lines to you Brian Westergaard, Troles Taylor, Mick and Paul Wheeler, Benji and Louis Jaques, Joel Crozier, Lee Hazel, Frank Jennings, Adam Cole, Callum Derby, Graham Benyon, Dave Moore, Dan Moran, Pete and John Wilson, Phil and John Straw, Bill Collins, Mark Adams, Ray Albone, Del Bullfield, Steve Powell, Adam Turner, Maurice Savage, Jonny Jensen, Jaspers Rasmussen, Gary Norton, Gary Drew, Mark Fossy, Ian Cooper, Carl Knight, Adrian and Daniel Hull, Tim Cadman, Alan and Shaun Brown, Joe Finnis, George Bagnall, Stephen Bucknall, Wayne Shipp, James Burke, Shaun Vincent, Brian and Alan Danbury, Mark James, Tony & Sam Davey, Phil Burr, Tony Swann, Nick Ratcliff, Denis Lynford, Stewart Ely, John Medlow, Graham Glue, Dale Maxim, Martin Turner, Dan Baylis, Rob Anderson, Graham Noon, John Tattersall, Peter and William Staggs, Tim Sumner, Maruis Le Roux, Dan Aplin, Ade Robinson, Joe Taylor, Steve Morrison, Darren Gallaher, Dipesh Patel, Howard & Sean Lamb, Caspe Chris, Scouse Master Tours Karl and Mark and Lenka Hofirkova x.
Secondly, to the tackle and bait used to tame these lumps to the bank. Thanks to the Greys Popper Rods and Albacore reels used for cat fishing. Berkley and Triple X for my hooklink material, the pebble rig and CatBusster Continental hooks for a reduction in fish mouth damage and an increase in rig mechanic efficiency. Mick Evans for our catfish rod stands and Tim Reese from Dana Feed, Jan and Steve for our Indicat alarms. Our sponsors Bob Baker, Richard Gardener and Ian Russell who's bits and bobs and bait have made this years fishing so much easier; Danny Fairbrass and crew from Korda for sending us their running rig systems to incorporate with our pebble rig; Cemex Angling and Michael Anderton for continued web support, Paul and Joe Griffiths from Hook Line & Sinker, Mathew Prisco my cricket captain and soon again opening partner for a peppering in the middle; Gary Allan for some sound advice, Woking & District Angling Associations Officers and members for installing my passion for angling and last but by no means least my Mum and Dad for being in my corner.
Carp:
Year / Weight 20lbers 30lbers40lbers 50lbers
2004 (1 month) 62 245 0
2005 (2 months) 65 4011 1
2006 (6 months) 217 8011 0
Totals 344 14427 1
Grand Total of Common Carp over 20lb in weight = 516
Wels Catfish:
Year / Weight 100lb-150lb 150lb-175lb175lb-200lb 200lb+
2004 (2 months) 116 3216 0
2005 (3 months) 149 7238 2
2006 (7 Months) 214 6131 4
Totals 479 16585 6
Grand Total of Wels Catfish over 100lb in weight = 735
My tally of specimen cats has given me a new thirst for big fish. With well over 1000 specimen catfish to date under my belt including over 150, 150lb + catfish, 85 over 175lb and 6 different guided 200lb monsters to boot, the globe of specimen fishing is knocking on my door. I intend to cast my net further, in an attempt to offer anglers global specimen fishing consistency. Fully backed by a battery of family and the industry's best contacts, in addition to some of the world's best fishing guides and expert consultants, I promise next years fishing write up will be worth more than a read!
