fishydreams

I met up with Norman Smith this morning and we headed off to reconnoitre the river. We did not have too much time. Norman said that if he was not back by 1.00 pm his wife would kill him!

The stretch of river we looked at was well known to Norman although he had not been there for a few years. He has fished this part of the river pretty extensively in the past and there is probably no part of the river he has not seen at some time.

It can be surprising how a river can change. In one spot we took a look at the entire river had been moved, or most likely diverted for some construction work on motorway flyover. The boys with earth moving equipment can also pull a few surprises on us.

Between one thing and another we did manage to do a little fishing and, in the end, we managed to take a couple of carp. The fish seemed a to grow little nervous as the morning wore on. A half dozen or so people on horseback decided to cross the river quite close to us which didn´t improve our prospects particularly! It always surprises me how friendly people are. I´m sure that it never occurred to the horsemen, as they waved to us, that they were scaring the hell out of every fish in the river!

The carp in the river have only put in an appearance in 1979. Norman´s first carp was a mirror which, these days, is very rare capture. Until the carp showed up, the river was the exclusive preserve of gypsy barbel. It is likely that the carp, in the form of fry, made their way into the river from the reservoir at El Chorro. Today, it seems, both species coexist quite happily.

We managed to get back to Villafranco for a quick beer and a couple of tapas. Norman headed back to his wife but just after his 1.00 pm. deadline.

I wonder if he is still alive?

Norman spotting carp

One of the carp

This weir provides a barrier to mullet and prevents them swimming further upstream.

Thanks!