I can barely get my arse out of bed in the morning if it is an ordinary work day but if there is an early start for a fishing trip I hardly even need to set the alarm. This morning was typical. I woke at around 5.00 am and decided to get up and hit the road. The alarm on my phone went off when I had already broken the back of the journey to the reservoir and my arrival coincided with the first bit of light that was good enough for fishing.
Concepción reservoir is within spitting distance of Marbella and close to the town of Istán. It is tricky to find a place to fish here if you are on foot but if you can get out in a boat or a float tube you can cover the water easily, or at least part of it, because the reservoir is pretty big – some 5 km from the dam wall to mouth of the Río Verde.
There are plenty of carp here but they generally small and uncooperative, but if it´s black bass you´re after the fishing here is pretty good. There are some big ones too. I paddled around the north arm of the reservoir up to the river mouth fishing one shore on the outward leg and the opposite shore on the return leg.
The fishing was pretty good and fish rose to poppers as well as taking a sinking fly. One interesting observation was one bass which, as I was unhooking the popper, seemed to have something in its throat. This turned out to be the tail of a small fish, maybe another black bass. I guess it had just swallowed this thing when the popper arrived on the scene. Interestingly, the fish were happy to take a sunk fly fished quite slowly. I tended to cast towards the shore and retrieve very slowly or paddle gently. If the fish were there everything would tighten up nicely.
The Río Verde continues to flow and some barbel and carp were hanging around the river mouth but they were not very serious about feeding and I left them to go about their affairs. When the river thins in the summer, or dries out as often happens, the barbel drop back into the reservoir but they seem to hang around in the vicinity of the river mouth. I had a go at casting to them but the odds were decidedly against me so I returned to float tube and went out after bass again. While I was fooling around trying to tempt the barbel to a nymph I bumped into an old guy walking his dog and we got to chatting (the old guy, that is, not the dog)
We agreed that it was a lovely day and a fine place to be. The described this as being the perfect place to “disconnect.”
I guess he hit the nail on the head.
There is a tail of a recently eaten fish in the throat of this bass
The black bass is an introduced fish from North America. The alternative name – largemouth bass seems quite apt!
When you release the bass and they realise they are free they will often dive down and splash you with their tails!
Beautiful country this, here is the Rio Verde. Until the construction of the dam this river would run to the Mediterranean.
One of the better ones
and another
fishydreams 
Hi, I’ve fished a couple of times at Istanbul a few years ago and caught plenty of bass, we were at Concepcion about ten years ago for half a day and caught a few small ones.
I’m hoping to be there again in mid September, can you give me an idea how the fishing might be at that time of the year. We’d fish fly or spinner.
Thanks a lot, Lawrence
Hi Lawrence, first of all my apologies for being so long in responding to your post. I only just spotted it now!
We tend to fish Concepción from float tubes and fish with flies but the fish would respond to lures as well I imagine. You may remember that access to Concepción is quite difficult as it is steep-sided and so it is a big advantage to get afloat if you can. You are welcome to borrow a float tube from me if you are stuck. Our usual approach is to cast flies and poppers close to the margins and work our way around the water. It´s great fun and the scenery is stunning. You can often see ibex on the mountainside. September is a good time to go. The fish should be in good form but the ager levels might be low. It is a little while since I fished there so I don´t know what they are like at the moment but if you keep an eye on the blog I will report back on any visits I make between now and then. I hope that helps! Sorry again about the delayed response. All the best, Paul.
Hi Paul , i just read your post about flyfishing concepcion for black bass i wil be visiting in Oktober is there any chance you can give me some pointers on what kind of fly’s and lines to use ?
Kind regards Dennis
Hi Dennis, thank you for your message. Concepcion has not had any rain for a while so the levels are falling. If I have a chance to look at it later I will update you. When I fish for bass I tend to use a sinking line and standard lure patterns like woolly buggers but friends fish drop shot and often do better than I do! October is probably a good time to fish and I think it might be worth also having a go with a floating line and maybe even a popper. This is a fun way to fish but if it doesn´t produce any response then it´s better to go deep. Often it pays to fish very slowly and close to the bottom. I tend to cast into the shores as it is pretty steep sided but you can find fish in most places if you persevere. I am in the UK at the moment but will probably be able to visit before your October visit and so I might be able to update you and pass on any information I pick up. If I´m around I might be able to join you. Best regards, Paul.
Hi Paul thanks for the fast reply ! I wil be packing both floating and sinking lines then. I wont be able to bring my float tube. So i think i might rent a kayak or something on the lake. Do tou have any suggestions ? Fot that
Regards Dennis
Hi Dennis, don´t worry about a float tube! I have one you are welcome to use and fins too. I also have an inflatable kayak. You are very welcome to use these things when you are over. Just let me know. If you want to send me an email I can provide you with further contact details: paulmhogan@hotmail.com