Choose life. Choose a lake. Choose a swim. Choose a bait. Choose a rig. Choose sleepless nights under the stars. Choose the nocturnal music of branches creaking in the wind, leaves whispering, and the eerie night-calls of owls and wildfowl. Choose bright moons shattered in the rippling surface of lakes, and purple skies at sunset perfectly mirrored. Choose silent mist-shrouded pools at dawn. Choose visions of white-flowering waterlilies turning green-gold in the half-light. Choose the flashing bronze flanks of carp, twisting below the surface, on the edge of visibility. Choose a heightened heart-rate. Choose an emotional rollercoaster. Choose the psychological assault-course of planning, watching, locating, preparing, casting and waiting. Choose the endless hours of strung-out anticipation. Choose the rush of striking, hooking, fighting, and landing (or losing) the fish. Choose to walk the tightrope between desperate failure and the adrenaline-inducing, life-enhancing triumphant high of success. Choose life. Choose obsession. Choose Carp Fishing.
"Greg Freestone, Carpspotting 2011"

Friday 20 July 2012

Ebro Mad Cats

 
Riba Roja D’Ebre is at the centre of an 18 kilometre stretch of river between the big dam at Riba Roja and the smaller one atFlix. This is the “Real Spain” and there is no commercial development on this part of river. Ebromadcats is based about a mile away from this small, friendly village with its range of bars, restaurants and shops – ideal for stocking up on provisions or relaxing after a day on the river. If you can tear yourself away from the fishing, this is a great area to explore with the Mediterranean beaches just a 45min car ride away. Riba Roja is on the main Barcelona line so even if you don’t have a car, you can still get out and about
 
 
 
 
 
Anglers from all over the world come to the mighty river Ebro in search of the famous Wels catfish. Not surprising as these river monsters put up a terrific fight and give some of the best sport possible in freshwater venues.
The mecca for catfishing is still Mequinenza and Caspe where the record catch now stands at around 250lb. It is perfectly possible to spend a day at one of these venues during your visit but, make no mistake, the fishing in our section of the river is fantastic. Muscle-straining takes with the line streaming out and 150lb of cat testing you and the gear – doesn’t get much better.
This stretch of the river has the dam at Riba Roja about 5 miles upstream and another dam about the same distance downstream at Flix. There are plenty of big catfish and carp in the area and these are wild river fish that will give fantastic sport. During the 2011 season the record catch from the bank was 192lb for this stretch of the river – tantalisingly close to that 200lber.
 
 
 

 
It was a special occasion When me and two of my mates came fishing at Ebromadcats. A 66lb catfish as a birthday present – what more could you ask?
All three of us managed new P.B.s and proved are credentials by fishing without a guide and landing over 400lb in are 5 day stay.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ebro PB 66lb
 
 
 
This was my first ever trip out to spain and i will be heading back out soon to try and bag myself a river monster
 
The Views are stunning and i would say if you have never been cat fishing before you must give this ago you won't regret it
 
 
More pictures can be viewed here and more info about ebro mad cats