CARPADDICT ARTICLE - Howards way in the Orellana

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Howards way in the Orellana

Following last month’s ‘Rough Guide’ report on that incredible region within Spain, Extremadura, I was unexpectedly presented with the opportunity and exciting prospect of heading off back down there once more. It became apparent that Lake Orellana, a dammed section of the river Guadiana, had recovered a little from last month’s influx of cold water, and the fish had begun feeding again. So, hoping that the timing of this trip would be spot-on, just two days after speaking to Matt and Myles of Fat Angling Tours, I booked myself on the ferry and joined up with them to begin another adventure.

After the 32 hour boat trip from Portsmouth (it’s hardly surprising that Fat Angling clients opt to fly down there in less than three hours, is it!) we finally disembarked at Bilbao to begin the eight-hour drive south to Talarrubias, but a dramatic change in the weather conditions gave rise to concern. With temperatures dropping to zero degrees amid heavy snowfall, suddenty the outlook for the next few days’ fishing looked to be less than favourable. An angry thunderstorm greeted us at Talarrubias soon followed by a spectacular rainbow. Little did we know at that stage but this greeting was to be the precursor of more to come.

The following morning was grey and uninviting, and the shorts, sunglasses and tanning oil were most definitely not required on this first day-session as temperatures plummeted to an unprecedented 8C. The following day was marginally warmer, although it rained almost constantly and as with the previous day, the carp were decidedly indifferent. Dave Franklin, who had been monitoring their habits carefully since my previous visit in early March, informed me that they had shown signs that they had been preparing to spawn a few days earlier. From that I surmised that the current weather could delay that process, although the undeniable urge would doubtlessly remain.

Further thunderstorms prevailed and, as those first few days passed, my growing fears that the carp would go very moody if they couldn’t get it out of their system were being realised. Although we hadn’t yet banked a fish ourselves, there were a couple of other anglers in other areas that had managed to sneak out the odd fish. Two out of the three fish that we heard about at this stage weighed in at an impressive 21 kilos, which suggested to me that perhaps there was a chance of picking off one of the big girls. That’s if they could escape the attentions of the thousands of gathering male fish for a few moments!

A move of swims the following day saw me setting up in an area adjacent to a huge raft of marginal weed where a large number of carp has been congregating for the annual pre-spawning ritual. Given the fact that they had curtailed their preparation for spawning activities until better weather arrived, it was entirely likely that at least a few might go on the feed in the old riverbed adjacent to it. A few spods of bait were introduced along a bar in about eight feet of water where a few good fish were showing and I sat back to enjoy the first rain-free day of the session.

At around 4pm I had a series of four bleeps, one lifting and three dropping the indicator. I picked the rod up cupping the spool and leaned into a fish, although I realised within seconds that the fish was quite small, it was still very welcome as it was my first Orellana carp, and my first Spanish carp for several years. As just 141b, the young male fish gave a short but spirited fight and swam away strongly after being weighed and photographed for posterity.

A short time later, after repositioning the bait back out on the spot, the same buzzer alerted me to an exact replication of the first series of bleeps. Again, I picked the rod up cupping the spool and eased into the fish. This time, after initially appearing to feel the same stamp as the first fish, there was a totally different reaction. The fish had come toward me slightly as before but then, as it felt the pressure, it turned directly away and revealed its true size. Using its bulk, not speed, it flattened my 3.51b TC infinity as I attempted to keep the pressure on to ease it up in the water and prevent it from dropping over the back of the bar when, surprisingly, the line parted. Under the circumstances, I could have accepted a hook-pull, but sadly, when I inspected it, the line was cut cleanly above the leader (a rock or mussel I presume) and it was purely down to bad luck.

More thunderstorms produced further heavy rain and the slightly improved temperatures had now plummeted once more. Greatly disappointed at the loss of what I fully believe to have been a very big fish, but heartened by the success of getting a couple of runs, the next day was eagerly anticipated as we would be moving to yet another area. This next spot had been pre-baited heavily by the guys from Fat Angling, and late on in the day we saw a huge number of very good fish crashing out over this spot. Also, if there was anything good to be gleaned from the persistence of the inclement weather later that day, it was that it was bound to ensure that any spawning activity would be delayed for another day or two.

The first night of a two-night session produced a run of three fish, the lgrgest being 351b plus, a beautiful common with full curtains, as you may see from the photo. It fought like a demon, as do all of the Orellana fish. It should be pointed out that these fish are almost guaranteed never to have been caught previously, such is the size and nature of the Orellana, and the vast number of fish it contains. Anyway, after that brief spell of action, the following afternoon, it suddenly went very quiet over the spot as the hottest day so far drew to a close. The fish were once more beginning to turn their attention to spawning and were now moving off out toward the weedbeds en-masse, so a rethink was in order.

The following day we moved back to the previous spot near the weedbed where I’d caught my first fish. This time a small area was baited close to the near margin along a shelf on a deep and rocky drop-off. The baited area was then watched from a high vantage point, 20 feet directly above it, and we were totally taken aback by the sheer volume and size of some of the fish passing over the spot. They were travelling from left-to-right along the margin toward the weedbed, and frequently, stopped briefly to inspect the bait. The larger individual (female?) fish of each group appeared to show far more interest than their smaller brethren (males?) and I quickly realised what was going on.

Often they would drop down to the bait, and now and again one would even suck in a grain or two, but, they weren’t really ‘on it’, and anyway, the smaller male fish soon chivvied them along by nudging against them. It became obvious that the baiting had to be applied just right. Too much and it would give the big girls too much option, and as a result, there would be less chance that they would pick up the hookbait. Too little and they might not stop to investigate at all. Whenever a group had passed through, a few more grains would be added just to maintain a status quo then, I set up a popped up free-lined maize bait on a short length of leadcore to pin it down and watched the action.

During the course of the next few hours, in a steady procession, several really good fish paused over the bait, once or twice snatching a piece of maize from directly around the hookbait. But alas, none of them really got much of a chance to feed freely away from the boisterous activity of the male fish they had accumulated in two. I had by now, become totally preoccupied in watching this scene, totally engrossed by it all, when the other rod, which was back out on the bar I’d caught from previously, signalled a drop-back. Nothing transpired from that, but upon inspection it became clear that I had been done. The helicopter set-up had been picked up and the rig had been pulled over the stop and lodged up the line six feet from the lead. The fish had clearly gotten away with it!

Frustratingly, apart from one possible missed opportunity on the margin rod, when the tip banged round firmly and instantly sprang back again, that was the only action I had before yet another heavy thunderstorm curtailed proceedings for the day. I now had one last chance, and hopefully the final day would produce a fish, or two! I baited the spot a little more before leaving, in the hope that one or two fish might get their tails up over the area, and an early morning raid was planned.

Further storms throughout the night didn’t bode too well, and although I made the effort to be there early doors, I knew deep down that it was probably just wasted effort. Overnight , the temperatures had plummeted once more and a black and angry sky, the prelude to yet another storm, was now threatening ominously. The fish had once again halted their visits along the rocky margin toward the spawning groups and I finally called it a day at around mid-afternoon as I needed to pack in readiness for an early departure the following morning.

That was it and sadly, the curtains had closed on yet another adventure. All I can say is, in this truly massive, wild and beautiful water, I remain totally convinced that out there somewhere is potentially a new world record carp, and a truly wild fish at that. To add further fuel to your thoughts, during my short stay, I heard of a 26 kilo fish caught by a local angler, and among a few others, the biggest of the bunch was a 32 kilo fish, the second carp of that size caught in four weeks, on a common, the other a mirror, just in case you were wondering!

Just as a footnote here, I would like to stress that I don’t condone fishing for spawning carp; I never have and I never will. These fish were very much in pre-spawning mode, and were not actively spawning at any time, they were purely just thinking about it! My biggest problem was that they were ‘thinking about it’ too much and the act of actively seeking out food was nothing more than an inconvenient distraction to them. It’ll be on MY terms next time we meet, of that I’m certain.

On a personal note, many thanks once again to Matt, Myles and Dave of Fat Angling. I had a great time and I’m totally sold on the extraordinarily beautiful Extremadura region and its incredible venues and huge carp. Thanks guys, and to steal a quote from Arnie ‘ I’ll be back, hasta la vista!

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