[Mike Barrio]

Hi folks,

For those of you who don't read Sexyloops, the annual Scottish Gathering 2014 is going to take place in Spain ..... yes, I said Spain

The event will be held over a weekend in early May in the Pyrenees, not far from Pamplona.

I'm going, if anybody would like to tag along

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

i'll be there  
dates aren't fixed yet. we're trying to work out a more fishable timetable !
that area of the Pyrenees range is very rich in fish. it's a gorgeous place.

[Hamish Young]

I've posted something on 'loops but at risk of repeating myself it has to be a no from me, at present I don't see me making it to Spain for this

Wanted to be there, planned on being there, budgeted for being there but my plans for 2014 have rather gone back to the drawing board - partly this is work related as we go boldly (see what I did there  ) into the UK Future Coastguard Programme.
I expect that as a salute to those who do make it to Spain for the Scottish Gathering '14 I'll pick an evening whilst the event is on (or maybe every evening.... ) to open up a cerveza or two, or perhaps a nice Rioja, turn to face the south and raise a glass in a toast 

Or I might just go fishing instead.

H

[Ben Dixon]

Very unlikely that I'll be going, for what it's likely to cost I'd sooner go fishing!

Cheers

Ben

[Mike Barrio]

Can't see it costing any more than it does for the overseas visitors to come here Ben.

I'll have a hire car with space if that helps.

Cheers
Mike

[Ben Dixon]

Thanks Mike, see how things go but not looking good at this stage.  Already made plans to go and fish the Mayfly on Lough Dearg about that time.

Cheers

Ben

[Dutchfly]

Bit early for me to make this a definite yes, but a Scottish Gathering in Spain sounds very, uhm, interesting 

I'll keep checking Da Board!


Jeroen

[Aitor]

i'll be there  
dates aren't fixed yet. we're trying to work out a more fishable timetable !
that area of the Pyrenees range is very rich in fish. it's a gorgeous place.

Hi all,

Some info to keep things in perspective.
That area of the Pyrenees belonging to Navarra region was closed to trout fishing for three years, from 2008 to 2011, due to the worrying lack of adult fish.

[Mike Barrio]

Hi Aitor,

Welcome to the forum

Interesting point about the fishing, I remember it as being very good, but that was many years ago. Have things improved again after the closure?

Best wishes
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

there's plenty of big barbel and carp ! better than trout !!! 

[Aitor]

Hi Mike,

I don't fish in Navarra since 10 years ago, when it was an amazing fishery. Then the decline came.

Carlos will know better but I suppose that (apart from some stretches of the Bidasoa river that I was told were very good just after the closing) the situation isn't very promising in general.

Thanks.

P.S.
I haven't forgotten about some footage. It will eventually happen.

[Aitor]

there's plenty of big barbel and carp ! better than trout !!! 

Almost no carp on the rivers close to the Pyrenees.
Barbel is another matter but, again, the Baztan area isn't the place for that. Better to try Aragón and Aragón Subordán rivers in Huesca, but the outstanding barbel fishing there is in summer.

[Marc Fauvet]

reservoirs for the carp. they go by in groups of hundreds 

[Mike Barrio]

It will eventually happen.

Sounds like a quote from Mr Arden  

[Aitor]

reservoirs for the carp. they go by in groups of hundreds  

Can you point me out any carp reservoir easily reachable from the Baztan area where the meeting will take place?

[Aitor]

Sounds like a quote from Mr Arden  

Let's hope that the difference in this case is that the footage will actually take place. 

[Mike Barrio]

Great stuff Aitor

Looking forward to meeting up with a lot of folk at the gathering

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Fauvet]

Can you point me out any carp reservoir easily reachable from the Baztan area where the meeting will take place?

sorry Aitor, i remember us having this conversation years ago and i still don't remember wher it was and neither does Tonio or Paul...  . i didn't have a gps to bookmark places at the time and it was a drive-by 'ohhh, this place looks nice, let's stop and fish' kind of deal. glad we stopped though 
marc

[Mike Barrio]

So ..... who is going to the Scottish/Spanish gathering next month?

I know Ben, Marc and myself are booked ... Anybody else?

Hoping to catch some Truchas!

Cheers
Mike

[Hamish Young]

Nope, imminent baby arrival means it's a no go for me 

H

[Kevin Muir]

Hi Mike

Sorry, I will not make it over to Spain, other priorities come first (1200 litres of heating oil )

Have a great time

Kev.

[Mike Barrio]

Ben / Marc ........ any photos for us?

Cheers
Mike

[Hamish Young]

Are you not supposed to be there Mr B

H

[Mike Barrio]

Are you not supposed to be there Mr B

H

Yes, I was going Hamish, but I had to cancel at the last minute.

Cheers
Mike

[Ben Dixon]

Shame you couldn't make Mike, was a good trip.  In addition to the obvious of catching up with friends I do not see that regularly we got some really good fishing.  I didn't take a lot of pics, was not in my own car and kept forgetting camera.  Also, not having a net with me it was difficult to get pics without leaving fish out of water in the heat for a while.
On day one, we fished a lake and flooded football field, got some Freshwater Bass, something else (no idea what but I think small Barbel) and spooked lots of carp.  Camped overnight which was superb until the frogs started up (millions of them) just on bed time, serious noise!

Home for the night


The Lake


Bass on a Humungus


Thursday was trout fishing.....  I managed three trout for the day that ranged from small to really very small.  Was not the best day for it, very bright and no hatch with only the occasional fish moving.  Nice river, I'd like to get back there on another day

River Baztan




Friday was Mullet fishing with Tonio & Lee on the Spanish / French border.  Mullet from Spain, Mullet & Bass from France, cracking way to christen my 690 Method 

All Mullet were on bread flies after being baited up with bread, not at all ashamed of that before any starts 




Saturday & Sunday were shootout & demo days, good fun as always


Monday was more Mullet and off to another lake overnight or Barbel with Tonio, Paul, Trev & Lee M. Mullet was successful but Barbel less so for me.  I elected to fish the river rather than the lake and caught bugger all despite seeing a lot of fish.  Apparently getting them to take in a lake is easier but as always, given the choice I take the river every time.

Dinner time


I'm going to get back there at some point for a weeks fishing, would work out fairly cheap and there are a lot of species to fish for.  Everything we have here and much more, only thing in short supply is salmon really.

Big thanks to Paul for sorting it out and Tonio for chauffeuring me about 

Back in Scotland next year, probably Perthshire for reasons of hotels.

Cheers

Ben