Good Morning.
I am already losing track of which day it is, which is a sure sign I am settling in! I have got plenty done since I arrived including gathering various documents and pieces of paper you need in order to function. Firstly you need a ‘patron’ which shows where you live. An NIE number is needed, and I am now officially registered in Spain. In order to open a bank account or do other useful things, these documents are required and the sooner you get them, the quicker life can begin. All that remains for me to do is to buy a year ticket for Sierra Brava. I have the national license for Spain which cost me 5 Euros and I will buy the Sierra ticket today. So I could fish this morning, I purchased a day ticket for the princely sum of 1.35 Euros – that ain’t bad really?
A nice looking spot me thinks?
On Monday evening I took a stroll down to the lake. I decided to pre-bait a swim I liked the look of, and introduced 4kg of 26mm Mussel and Oyster boilies from the DB range. I smothered these with the liquid attractor and fired them in with a catapult. I covered a good area surrounding a few visible trees sticking out of the water. This was to be the first attempt at nailing a Sierra Brava carp. That attempt would have to wait till this morning though, as I was going to try my short morning session approach.
These are the baby snags!
I set my alarm for 4am and already had the van loaded. The access round the lake is actually quite good and it is done by driving along tracks. These are not the most friendly for small vehicles but my van can cope adequately. I trundled slowly along to my spot and pulled up. Now it was time to fish!
It was still dark as I flicked out my baits to my marks. I say my marks… in all honesty I cast them to areas in front of the dark shadows that resembled trees in the darkness. I felt each cast down and got a satisfying thud. The water was obviously quite deep here as the lead took a while to touch down. I heard a carp crash in the distance and eagerly got the kettle on for a brew. I looked at my two rods resting on front backsticks only, with the baitrunners done up to the maximum, and a large rock resting on the butt. This would be hit and hold tactics and I was looking forward to an early morning tussle.
The distant barrage.
At 5.30am my right hand rod signalled a take. The fish had obviously got some steam up as a short burst of line was stripped off the tightened baitrunner. Positive I already had a good hookhold I pulled the rod to my right hand side and held on. The fish pulled forwards and I could feel a snag grating on the line. The fish lunged again and I took my chance to walk backwards and got the fish free from the spindly obstruction. I kept the pressure on for a few seconds as there was a another tree to my right. The fish boiled on the surface in front of me and I was sure I had done enough to secure my first spanish carp and a new carp from a new country. I slid out my net and in she went. Victory felt sweet!
Off the mark...sweet!
I quickly got the carp sorted and left it in my Armo weigh sling, staked in the water. I cast the rod back out and fired in another handful of bait. After a celebratory cup of tea, and watching the lake come to life, I figured I had done enough for my first short session – it had been a success.
The carp weighed 10kg exactly and reminds me very much of the carp you see in Bin El Quidane in Morocco. I am sure someone will tell me they are of the same strain! I did some self takes as the sun appeared over the hillside in the distance. I slipped the carp back and watched it bolt off. He may not remember the incident for long but it is a memory I shall hold for years to come. Catching your first carp from a new country is always special and I have a feeling there will be plenty more to come.
The hookbait incidentally was the 360 rig with two 20mm pop-ups. I was using a Mussel and Oyster combined with a fluro white Coconut Cream. A strange combination you might say, but one this carp obviously favoured!
Catch you soon.
Jake and the dogs.
