Year in the Life off head Bailiff Rob Walters

I ‘ve been working for A&J for 5 years now and returned to the Croix Blanche after taking a year out due to my father falling Ill. I’ve enjoyed all the experiences I ‘ve encountered while on the Croix Blanche venue so I was looking forward to the 2007 season.

Martyn has always given us goals to achieve to help us learn the various aspects about the sport and dealing with running the venue, fish care and customer care – we always want to provide the best chance for our customers at the various venues under the A&J Umbrella.

2007 saw me returning to the Croix Blanche in March, were we would be preparing the venue before the anglers arrive on the first all-inclusive trip.

There were several self-drive anglers on the venue at this time and they were having a few fish in the cold winter conditions. The weather changed and we saw flakes of snow fall from the sky and cover the banks of the lake; my first call was from an angler called Scott who had landed an upper 40 in the snow! What a picture not only is it many anglers dream to catch a carp in the snow... but an upper 40 was a dream come true!

We said our goodbyes to the self-drive anglers just as the coach arrived with our first all-inclusive clients for the year. The venue was ready and Les our chef and Kevin were raring to go and get things underway.
Our First Ebro Catfishing trip

Martyn had been busy preparing equipment for our first Ebro catfishing trip. All was loaded and we were due to leave the Croix late this evening to avoid traffic around Paris and then on our mammoth journey (986 miles) to Caspe in Spain. Our first Ebro clients would be flying out later.

I have only dealt with catfish on the Croix Blanche up to mid 80’s so learning how to handle these monsters was a bit daunting, but Martyn assured me that all would be fine... yeh right ! After having his shoulder dislocated with a mega cat last year it really instilled confidence in his words!

We finally arrived after our massive journey to Caspe and Martyn treated me to a steak dinner which was very welcome. Just a quick warning - the steaks in Caspe at most restaurants are huge so be warned! After our meal we arrived at our base and settled in for the night.

The next day I was woken with a hot cup of coffee and a long list of things we need to get ready for our clients arriving in 10 days. Martyn took me for a drive around the area to look at prospective areas we would fish over the next 3 months.

My first impression of this River system was its sheer size as it twisted through the mounting ranges - so many areas to fish that had never seen a rod and line before! Martyn has spent many hours looking for areas that hold fish and would be suitable and safe for groups to fish from the bank.

After a few days sorting out tackle and getting supplies in we were ready for our weeks ahead.

Our clients arrived at Zaragoza to be met by the worst weather conditions I have experienced.

I have fished in bad conditions before but the river rising and consistent wind and rain made fishing very difficult. Presenting baits was a real ordeal with the flow increasing day by day. We decided to re-position our baits every 30 minutes or so to help keeping them on our chosen areas.

We still caught well with the biggest fish going 141lb. I finally got to see what this river had to offer. The fish were huge and handling them was difficult at times due to the rapidly disappearing bank space. The sheer size of these fish and the power of them was unreal, it totally blew me away. I couldn’t wait to have a go for myself!

As the season progressed the weather improved and so did the fishing. With the receding water more bank space became available and we no longer needed to fish from the boat.

To say the fishing was hectic would be an understatement. Often no sooner had we placed the baits and the rods were off with a monster catfish on the end! I could not believe how mad the fishing was.

After the days fishing the evenings were spent relaxing with an ice cold beer and a meal at one of the very good local Spanish restaurants in town. We had some excellent clients and had great laughs along the way... it was a shame to see the anglers go home after a great week.

A week off saw Martyn and myself doing a bit of fishing for ourselves, mainly fishing for carp. Even they fought like mad in the flow of the river. Having lost a big catfish on carp gear I decided to have a proper go for these monsters.

I was soon in to what felt like a good fish. I couldn’t believe the power as it surged off with great power on every run. Even when in sight the fish did not give up, powering away every chance it had. You don’t need to go to the gym to keep you fit - just try fishing for cats! My arms, chest and back took a real battering from playing and landing these powerful creatures.

After getting the fish under control and wallowing in the margins, Martyn waded in to glove the large head which had broken the surface by now. Martyn turned to me and said it was a good fish as he grabbed the lower jaw of the beast!

We got the fish to the bank... and yes it was a good fish. We quickly got it into the weigh-sling and looked at the Reuben’s as they bounced to the true weight of my Pb catfish.

The needle stopped on 131lb - to say I was happy was an understatement! All that was left to do was have some pictures took. But how was I going to lift this fish? With the help of my adrenalin and what muscle I had gained over the last few months I managed to lift this creature from the water and in to my arms. It was a real struggle, but I did it and have some great shots.

After a few more groups of anglers and some great catches it was finally time to return back to France.

July
It was now the beginning of July and I was off to Croix2, our runs water, for a week with two anglers - Pete and Kim Homer. It was hot and sunny - just great.

The fishing was a bit slow for the first few days but it soon hotted up with loads of carp caught between Pete and Kim. They both smashed their pb’s & I even managed to catch a few myself.

One evening saw me getting my first treble take with Pete on the first rod, Kim on the second and me on the third rod, totally unreal... in all my years fishing I have never experienced this before!

After Pete and Kim returned home I returned to the Croix Blanche.

I managed to get a few nights in and the days saw me out with the anglers giving advice and generally helping out. I also took time to repair some of the swims and completed some re-graveling to improve the swims. It was also important to make sure there was plenty of freshly prepared particles as the fish love them!

I finely got to see the Hippo grace the banks again at 76.08. This fish is in a class of its own, a truly awesome fish. Les the chef equalled his personal best with a 47lbs Mirror, & not to be out done, I managed to bank a few fish, including my first 50+ fish in 3 years. Martyn also got me out during the night with a brace of mid 30’s.

Even the kids got in on the action with Les’s son Harry had some fish from the stock pond!
At the end of July I managed to catch my personal best Common carp from the Tortue at 39.14... what a fish and just under the 40lbs mark!

August
August saw me back at Croix 2 with some new clients. The sun was shinning and the fish were all sunning themselves in the midday sun, dozens of massive black shapes just sitting there.

The week started off slow with just a few fish coming out, but soon things took a change for the better and the sport picked up with lots of fish caught to mid 30’s .

Over the next few weeks there were some truly awesome catches; Rob Soame with his first ever catfish at over 70lbs; Ray McDermid had me permanently camped in his swim, catching loads of fish from mid 30’s to 64lbs.

The same week I managed to catch one of the prettiest fish on the venue – Moonscale. A huge framed fish at 56lbs - it won’t be long before she makes 60lbs.

Ian Beaumont fishing opposite had me out on the camera early Saturday morning taking some photos of a lovely 50+ mirror.

August was definitely a great month with loads of great catches.

September
September saw Martyn and me return to Spain for our final cat trips for the year.

I thought the fishing had been good in the spring... but I was to get a surprise this time as with the water levels down and more bank space available the fish had been concentrated.

Martyn decided to take the clients further up river to some areas he had fished the previous season were he had had good result .

The fishing was better than ever, the cats were bigger with fish this time to over 160lbs.

We caught consistently with loads of fish over 100lbs. It was hard work landing these fish in the mud and silt with sometimes with multiple takes and fish on... it was crazy!

It was a relief to get back and take a break before we were on again. It seemed to the more bait we put in the more fish we caught, some times we were in to fish before we got back to the bank in the boat!
We had some eventful weeks with the four wheel drive getting stuck in the mud and Martyn dowsing his family jewels with petrol while filling the out board motors! Never seen a grown man cry like that before!!!!!!!!!!

The weeks had passed with some awesome fish caught. To say I was happy to have a break before we returned to France was an understatement as we were shattered! A few cold beers and a good rest put us on the road to recovery before our journey back to the Croix Blanche.

On my return to the lakes I took on my new position as head bailiff. In the remaining weeks heading towards the winter season the fish were on the munch, with Steve Lockwood banking a new 70lbs+ fish.

At the beginning of October one young lad fishing on the Tortue had me out in the early hours to take pictures of an awesome looking 47lbs common - what a fish and in mint condition.

At the end of October saw Les and me wading about in the stock pond helping net the remaining fish for transfer to the main lakes ready for the 2008 season. Some nice fish moved... mid 30 grass carp and some short fat mirrors and commons.

It would soon be time for us to return to the UK for the Carp Society winter show. So all that was left to do was clean and pack away all the equipment and get all tidy for the start of the 2008 season. Once this was done we could have some time to fish for ourselves.

Les and I set up our kit and set our traps, it was nice to have the lakes to ourselves and do some fishing without any interruptions .

Les had a great three nights banking 3 different 50’s, all mirrors up to 54.14. The weather had turned really cold when at 3am Les called me on the radio for the first of his 50’s. The temp had dropped to -10, even the gear stick on the Quad had frozen!

On our last night of fishing at around 8pm while I was tucked up in my bivvy for the night I had a few bleeps on my middle rod. The bobbin slowly started to rise... I connected with the fish and was doing battle.
This turned out to be the last fish of the season for me. After a spirited fight I slipped the net under a reasonable fish not really getting a good look at what I had landed. I secured my net and scrambled to my headlight to get a better look at what had graced my net...

I angled the light from my headtorch on to what lay in the bottom of my net and to my surprise it was a better fish than I first thought. I called Les to help and we soon had her on the unhooking mat.

It was an awesome fish... a real stunner. We were both sure she would go 60+ judging by the huge frame. I was still shaking, not sure whether it was from the fight or the cold night air on my skin.

We placed the fish in the sling and clipped it on the scales the needle danced around until it settled on 58.06lbs. Fantastic! A new pb for me. I was over the moon with this result... and on our last night’s fishing it was the perfect end to a perfect season!

I can’t wait to get the 2008 season under way and see what graces the banks of the Croix Blanche. Hopefully I’ll see you there!

Best Regards, Rob.