World Catfish Classic - Official Global Website
Chiprana, Spain 23rd - 25th May 2012

The first time I fished on the River Ebro was over 10 years ago when three friends and I decided to go fishing for monster fish. I knew very little of the Ebro River and its catfish but I caught my first 2m+/100lbs+ and was immediately sold. After that I had to go back, every year… Once a year or even more.

Back in the Netherlands, I joked to Angelique "we’re going to live in Spain and start a guiding company" but she thought it was a good idea. After six years of reading about, learning and studying the catfish we went to Spain! Yippee!!

I first started as a guide for an English company and Angelique worked at the same company to handle the Dutch bookings, among other things. Unfortunately, due to financial problems with that company at that moment both of us could not stay. After one year working as a guide, we had to come up with something else and so we started our own company - which is currently growing nicely!

The river Ebro is a fantastic natural area with splendid untouched landscapes and a good and healthy flora and fauna. It is a pity to see that not everyone takes care of this environment, such as the slaughter of hundreds of beautiful carp and many monstrous catfish. In addition to this, these barbarians leave their waste behind them all along the riverside. As a fisherman this doesn’t make you happy at all.

But I have had many fantastic and amazing adventures with our clients while fishing the Ebro. This river is so totally different from any other river!

Fortunately, there are still plenty of amazing record fish caught and hopefully we are able to turn the tide together. The organization "Friends of the Ebro" is a fantastic initiative. Because Lake Caspe / Mar de Aragon is a reservoir, you often have different water levels and as a result the litter is spread around the whole river.

Of course, these water levels also affect the fishing on the Ebro. - At low levels there are large areas completely dry and you can’t fish your usual swims but, on the other hand, other swims might show up. Many people (fishermen) are under the impression that because the fish are more concentrated in certain places, the fishing will be easier, but this, unfortunately, is not entirely true. Fishing is and will always be fishing, under any condition!  It’s a hobby which gives me and many others lots of fun and excitement, so please respect the environment and keep the river Ebro alive!

To be able to win the World Catfish Classic 2011 was an amazing experience. Lee, Arnout and I hoped for a result in the top 20, but to end up with first place was a dream come true. Hopefully we will be able to do well in 2012 too, but whatever happens, happens, and without a doubt this year’s WCFC will be a great success again.

Ron Beugelink

World catfish Classic Winner 2011

www.TheCompleatEbroAngler.com