Euros search for channel catfish
First day at the water's edge, still tired of the road of the day before, we decide to brave the rain to go on one of our favorite rivers, the Guadiana. On the program, fishing with baits of channel catfish, superb fighter.
I have a new set to try out, a light carp rod and a prototype of a disengageable reel that needs to be put in situation to check that everything is ok. At the first landing, I will take out a nice fish which will offer me a superb fight. The day goes on and we continue to fish between two showers, I will also take advantage of it to fish the edges with the fly.
In spite of the very weak luminosity, I take out my first barbel of the stay of about 60 cm, and especially, the first on my new fly set! Some nice carassins will be added to this beautiful day, despite the fact that we came back wet from head to toe.
The lake of Alqueva, beautiful but difficult
With the few sunbeams announced, but a strong wind, the choice is made to save the best barbel spots for the next day when there will be more sun and especially less wind.
Indeed, the wind does not help at all for the sight fishing that we practice and I will take out only a few carp in the day. Divided in two teams, I leave on the windward side with one of my team members, to leave the others the sheltered bank, easier to fish. The plan worked well because it will allow them to put two nice carps on the fly as well as some carassins.
Big sunshine and big barbel
The weather is finally getting better and it's time to tackle the barbel in a small river very suitable for sight fishing. I chose to go up the river with two team members while two others go down. Fishing with three on the same side of a river is not very efficient, I join a shallow area to cross and reach the other bank.
The bet is the good one, I fall on a pretty zone with a little current, I spot three fish there while arriving. The first one refuses me the fly and panics, making his fellow fish go away. I decide to attack the third fish, the biggest of the group, posted in a small counter-current, but which risks to spot me if I move too much.
I put my fly a little too far away from him and I lose sight of him as he slowly moves away towards the main stream. I'm sure the fish didn't spot me so I leave my fly in the water, where I saw it disappear and I slowly animate it. The fish comes up from the bottom and swallows the fly, the fight is on.
At the first start, he empties the whole 27 meters of silk, forcing me to throw myself in the cold water to avoid fighting on the backing. After a few minutes of fighting, I finally reel him in, my barbel record on the fly with 68 cm!
