2003-2008

In August 2003 I started fishing Chira, where I met my friends Kenny and his brother Tom who were also there for the first time. We all fished for 4 days and between us we caught 38 fish in 4 days. Most of the fish were mid to high doubles with only a few low 20s.

By Easter of 2004 the level of the lake was lower than it was by the end of August 2003. This was obviously due to another winter with a lack of significant rainfall, not good news. The fishing however was great when you could get away from the Canarian public up at the lake to enjoy their Easter holidays.

It is worth noting that there is very little interest and therefore understanding of freshwater fishing in the Canaries. This is partly because the sea offers far wider possibilities and partly because is illegal to kill and eat the carp and so catching them is almost seen as a waste of time by many. With this in mind and the obvious fact that the Canarian public have as much if not more right to be there as you, my advice is to make the effort to remove yourself far from the maddening crowds. This way you won't end up with your head in your hands wondering if carp will still feed with small children throwing stones into the water, hoping that they do to divert your mind from the murderous thoughts running through it. By the way people usually start arriving at about 11.00am just as you've settled yourself down in that nice looking swim with fish rolling over it, within an easy walk from the car. Weekends, bank holidays and especially Easter week are like this, you have been warned.

Back to the fishing, by May the water was lower still as farmers drew water for their crops. After fishing a swim for two days I had to move my rods forward to keep up with the receding water. The fishing was still excellent Ron Woodward a regular visitor to Chira, bagged 42 fish to 28lb in a week

Through the summer the lake was still fishing well and the fish seemed to be getting bigger with lots more mid to high 20s being caught. I fished for two weeks in July and caught 59 fish up to 28lb weighing 1049lb in total. Later in the summer I fished for two shorter sessions and every day had 3 fish or more between 12lb and 29lb.

Autumn continued much as summer, water levels dropping, sunny weather, lots of fish being caught. 6 or more fish between 15lb and 25lb and sometimes bigger seemed so easy. So on it went until about the middle of December when the big black clouds gathered and the heavens opened....

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